Saint Mary's beacon., 1888-04-12

meant Judas. don't think he woult
have been afraid to say Hudson Hop
kins If he had meant him. HEAVIER
forgive youl' cried poor Dulcie. "But
I think it would have been kinder in
yoa to have gone to help take care Q.
Adam Trife, than to come here trou
bling me-"
adam will need no more nursing
he is dead" said the woman. as she
closed the door, having. apparently
risen so far above rheumatism and
neuralgia that she did not need LEI
cane, for she left it standing menac-
ingly beside Dulcie's little SEWN 9
chair. 1t fell to the floor as Dulcie
sank into the chair, crying as though
her heart must break. Paul's des-
ponding reflection came into her mind
directly: "Only a windmill, not a
giant after ALI And little Adam
dead The little boy she had loved,
and petted, and nursed. Her head
sank upon her breast, and she would
have fallen had not her husband, at
that moment, opened the door and
caught her in his arms.
my poor little wife, he cried, "who
has been so unkind as to tell you. l
wanted to say it so gently to you; but
he is better off, We know. I talked
with his mother; and Dulcie, darling,
his father has signed the pledge"
Dulcie threw her arms around her
husbands neck. "A giant = she cried.
''No one but you, Paul, could have
slain it; and that poor mother told NE
her husband never listened to any one
as he has to you. But, oh, Paul 4! il
you only had better wifel" and then,
with sobs. and little whispers of SELF
reproach, and pleadings for forgive
ness, cut came the story of her MOI L.
ing's trouble.
It would not do, Paul saw at once
to blame her, or let her know what
she had done, for. with prophetic Wis
ion, he saw the Hopkins empty Pew,
and be felt his purse lightened Of the
Hopkins liberal subscription. But
his little wife. whose physical condi-
tion was that of weakness and depen-
dence, must be soothed and quieted; ;
and so Paul talked gently to her.
And they wondered about Heaven,
where little Adam had gone. ITO
think" said Dulcie, "that his little
hands have opened the door SO closely
shut to us |"
Then he told her of his morning )
work; and how only one of the Com
mittee of FIVE agreed with him in
thinking they could not get through
the winter with the church in its di-
lapidated condition; that it must have
a new roof. They seem to think, "
said lie, that doing anything for the
church is thrown away. When l
think that have had to beg for my
salary after have earned it, an in
dignant and grieved."
Then Dulcie forgot herself in her
husband. my own darling Paul, ."
she cried, 1--WE can still trust in Him
Ii comforts me to think He says, The
steps Of a good man are ordered by
Himself. I never see you going in 4
rough path but think OF that. And
you know, Paul" she added in her
sw ct, deprecatipg way, you know
that am stumbling along beside you.
They cheered each other, and helped
each other, when every day seemed to
bring some new perplexity; for the
people among whom they were living,
though not Intentionally unkind, were
unt~inking. There were factions in
the church, and elements which could
not harmonize.
Dulcie's time Of trial came all too
soon; and when a dead baby lay upon
the mothers hear::, and Paul saw the
white faces Of both, he thought in a
moment of the lily and its tud, W ich
the storm, that very morning, had
broken rom the stem.
Then Dulcie, with the strange, aEeet
siEi,e upon her face. which the angels
.ive to the dying, whispered, 1t is
b, ST 50, Paul; never was gooI eLongh;
but I hope He will give Us little
place in heaven, near the gate, Paul
baby and me; and We will watch foI
you, will teach her. Doa't P.ui,
sic said, as he hid hi face in hi:
hands, and groaned, then he took lei
to LIS heart, as though that strong
warm grasp could keep her from death
Itself
i cannot let you go, my darling,
he said.
But, smiling still. she whisPeEed
ag,in. There are the giants for you
II frl,t- Paul: I never could; some