The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-17

He sat with his face slightly upturned,
as is the manner with blind people, his
hands resting on the head of his staff,
and as she looked down on him, SO fully
visible to her as he was. he turned in
conversation to his companion and
smiled. DO not the old colors of the
regiment, riddled with shot, battered
and stained out of all their early beauty.
bring to us a sigh of loving tribute to
the glOries SO present to the spirit. so
little discernible otherwise now? The
tears rained from the old woman's eyes
as she looked. 50 changed and yet with
such an ineradicable likeness to the days
of youth was that smile of her former
lover.
The carriage stopped. The younger
gentleman dismounted with some pa
pers, with which he disappeared for a
few minutes into the hotel. The old
man, gay, active, handsome Ernest
Picardy that once had been, sat still,
patiently and calmly, as one who knew
well how to wait. And who knows that
his heart did not respond with some deep
seated sensation of peace and fulfilled
desire to the fervent blessing breathed
on him from above, by the woman
watching SO near-the woman he had
loved so passionately long ago? Face
to face they had met at last, although
only one was conscious of that meeting.
and her soul cried out to his, full of old
love and new-yes. love even now,
freshly-born of tender truth and wO-
man undying faithfulness.
His friend joined him, and the car
rage drove on. 1t was ''adieu pour
jamais'' between them now. But
when the last sight of him was lost,
she covered her face with her trembling
hands and murmured forth:
THANK God! All, so much, much
better than the meeting had hoped for
and SO oftened planned. What Heaven
gives comes always mystical with salts
faction. What could we have done if
we had spoken of it all, but mingle our
tears and pierce each others soul once
more with unavailing regrets? Better
for us both to be spared it. But OH!
nv love, my love! true to me, know
and feel it; only parted by our own mad
pride and folly! We are calm enough
now! We have both grown old, very
old. nv dear. but it has been together,
although apart. If your brow had been
smooth as remember it, and your locks
raven rs when l saw them last, l could
not have claimed you for my own as |
do now. We should have parted COM
pany then: but ssOsc we are one-we
were young together. we are old to-
gether, and the tie of mutual age has a
sacredness in it which nothing can dis
turb. And then, when this last brief
portion of our life is over. we shall meet
mt last, nv love, without a tear, young,
and perfected. and blest for ever IN the
kingdom of God"
Again her tears strcamed forth. EX-
element and weakness had shaken her
self-control to its foundations; and for a
few moments of rare indulgence she did
not stem their flow. Only few mo-
ments, however, for aged eyes can not
weep long.
When Laura came back, Aunt DorO-
thy had returned to perfect calmness,
and greeted her with a smile that had
conquered sorrow. This girl was GER
tainly growing more and more kindly
natured from contact with her aunt.
She said, quite gently now:
''Was he greatly altered, Auntie?
You must have seen much change in
him. 1 fear.''
Il knew him." returned her aunt.
And then, after pause: He was my
lover for many years, and Inever loved
but him. Only, misfortune. chiefly of
our own making, rash and foolish that
we were, came between u.s."
you are very white, Aunt Dorothy.
Had you not better, after all this, let me
bring you some wine?'
mo, my child, nothing. Leave me
here alone a little while longer, for
want to rest, and may God bless you and
make you truly His.
Laura looked at her aunt half-fright-
ened at the solemnlty of the words and
tone; but already Aunt Dorothy had
turned from her and was gazing alb
stractedly on the moor, where the gorse
and broom caught from the sunset
blood-red reflections, that ripping like
waves over their surface, left shadows
of deep purple in between.
When she was alone: II have had
a very happy life," said Aunt
Dorothy; although some things
were denied, and the greatest joy
granted me was followed by the direst
sorrow. But buried the sorrow. 1t
was the Joy that lived and has been my
companion and comfort all these long,
long years: the joy of having known
love fully once; the certainty that all
true love holds Immortality within it.
Thank God that He gave me strength to
take up many cares and interests and to
live with all my might 1t has not
been useless life. and now at the end,
He has given me the great wish of my
heart. this browning joy-to look even
vet again upon the face of Ernest
Picardy."
She had no tears to shed, they were
done with for ever, and she was very
calm. Two or three signs she gave.
but there was nothing to tell whether
they sprang from sadness or from the
satisfaction of deep content.
When Laura returned she found her
aunt still sitting there, but her spirit
had flown. Disease of the heart had
long threatened, and agitation so I'M
wonted at her age was all that was
needed to snap lIfe's silver cord. The
fullness of her cup had overflowed. and
the hour in which she had looked again
upon her early love had been her last.
In one heartfelt Nunc Dimittis, she had
passed from age and helplessness and
pain into the country where such things
are not. and it is many year now
since Ernest Picardy joined her there.
When she lay in her coffin and they
went to look at her and give her q last