The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-07

and hid the frightful Creature from hi
sight. Again their ranks divided, an,
disclosed a new and awful figure
crouching to the ground. with tear
streaming from its eyes. Old befor
its time. haggard before its time. an,
utterly, utterly hopeless. It raised it
wasted hand, it turned its face Heaven
ward in despairing appeal. And in it
lap, with pallid. pitiful face, lay tn,
form of once beautiful child, cold ant
dead.
For the third time William felt tn,
cold touch upon his arm-the toucl
that now chilled him to the marrow
tor the third time the voice Whispered
in his ear:
'.Remorsk.
The momen. the word was spoken
the throng of phantom shadows giided
into their snow-tomb and vanished
from his sight. The snow closed upor
them like the resistless wave of s
mighty sea. and the great plain lay
naked in the eye of Heaven. But Will
lam was not alone; once more the
voice of the Invisible Shadow addressed
him.
.'BEna and infatuated! Upon thi.
evening. when the universal heart Of
man should be turned to love and
charity, have you allowed to be sown
in your breast the seeds of doubt and
mistrust. Upon this holy Christmas
Eve have YOU allowed to be dcfiled the
love which hallows life? She whom
You love. and who loves you with per.
feet faithfulness, is stainless and truth.
full. This morning Faith filled your
heart. This night Doubt occupies is
place. Beware. lest tomorrow comes
Remorse! Behold what you were.
what YOU are and what you shall be il
you allow passion and unreason to blind
your
The voice ceased. and William, start
ing forward in terror, threw up his
arms with 4 wild, despairing cry. For
the white plain was forming itself into
q vast valley, shelving into depths
which appeared illimitable, and into
which he was sinking. In vain he
strove to save himself. Down he sunk.
lower and lower still. until he was dir
zily fearful that each moment would
disclose 4 frightful precipice, over
which he would be hurled and dashed
to pieces. But although the soft, white
snow enveloped him, and this terror
cncompassed his soul, he was sensible
of the presence of shadowy spirits ac-
companyinr him in his flight: and ever
and anon, in the course of his descent,
there cleaned athwart his otherwise
blinded sight visions which enthralled
him. Blue eyes and brown; faces Won
earously beautiful; white hands that
played about his hair; lips that smiled
and Knocked: persons for whom he en-
tertained affection; his mother who
died when he was young, and the pref
ty child who was hurried with heroine
and all cleaned before his sight. like
stars falling from heaven into the
depths. 1t seemed to him that he con-
tinued thus TO sink for DAYS and weeks
and wears, anu that to this horrible fate
he was eternally condemned: but at
length the end came. Darkness fell
upon him, and he knew nothing more
until he found himself standing before
a house surrounded by waving fields.
the golden corn cleaning in the sun.
The musical wi.isperings Of the waving
:sheaveS fell melodiously upon his ears,
and he experienced an inexpressible
sense of relief For q brief space he
gave himself up to the spell of a calm,
delicious rest, and then he looked more
narrowly upon the scene.
Strange: 1t was his own house be-
fore which he stood; these were his
own fields that he saw around him.
Not as he had seen them last; the evil
Gence of more careful husbandry and
cultivation was everywhere apparent.
1t was the realization of what he had
dreamed his home and farm might be
in few years after he married. And
there, in the garden, was Laura, more
matronly and more beautiful than in
her maiden days. He stepped TO her
side and laid his hand on her shoulder,
but she did not turn to look upon him.
He spoke to her, but she betrayed no
consciousness of his speech. He clssped
her in his arms. but she melted from
his grasp. and he saw her locking with
a glad light in her lovely eyes toward
the distant landscape. Wonder upon
wonders! He saw a man approaching
himself with 4 little girl upon his
shoulders-his child and hsrs, by the
likeness in her pretty face 70 himself
and Laura-crowing and clspping her
tiny hands at her mother. who ran to
ward them with joyous cries. and was
taken 70 her husbands embrace. And
then he learned that he was . shadow,
invisible, impalpable. and that his other
SELF had taken his place in Laura's
heart. He accompanied them, and
walked by their side, listening to the
fond terms of endearment that passed
between them, 8 witness of their true
and faithful affection. The day passed.
and he saw them in the evening, sitting
by the window, her head resting upon
his shoulder. He heard her speak in
sweetest accents of love; he compre-
hended the worship of her eyes IS she
gazed upon her husband. and he
croaned in despair at the thought that
he had faded out of his place in the
world, and that another filed it.
.Shall l buy your thoughtse" asked
her husband, in reference to . sweet
and pensive expression he observed in
her face.
What will you give for them. Win.
iAm?''
He kissed her; she nestled closer te
him.
Il am thinking Of the past" she
said; ''of something that is often in my
mind. yet of which Ihave never spoken.
Do you remember the LAST Christina
Eve We spent in my fathers house be-
fore we were married?''
Surely. my darling"