Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-13


fetch help TO carry you none:'--I not pe
long gone, promise you
But old Aaron had sunk back into semi
consciousness, and for while Ralph fails to
rouse him.
Apnarently. however, his voice reaches the
old mans ears and sounds familiar, for by
and by brcienly he begins again to speak, so
low thar only by STOPPING close can the
anxious listener hear his words and catch
their meaning.
GAy. uy. it's Ralph-him as the lass;e said
she Ioved-and I'll never see her bcnny face
sgain, and we PARTED with never word O.
kindness. Tell her I forgive her, and-ye-
and oh. lad, make her happy if We can"
Then the old mans bead falls back on the
strong Young arm that raises it, and all is
still
Too well does Ralph know the meaning of
that terrible silence.
Death has won another victory.
Vet another task lies before the young and
yorSted cou1batant, and with white and
trembling lips and aching heart lie sets out
70 bear 70 her he loves the knowledge OF Der
loss.
Youth gr5evss ard youth despairs, but
vouth loves: and where love fingers ffe's
greatest sorrows can be borne. and the deep
est, sorest wounds viii heal
Winter passed, and Maggy learnt again to
wear her winsoale smile, though the old
father lay in the churchyard on the hill.
She still STAYED at the lonely farm, with
only hind to help her IN It's management;
but the house was to have new master ere
the summer came again.
1t was early springtirne now. and the grass
was growing green, ard the tiny garden wa;
sweet with primroses and waiifiowers, while
about the porch crept the sweet scented Jes
samine and budding brier.
There Maggy loitered with her lover in the
golden twilight, and q snow white dove flew
circling round their heads, or perched amid
the opening leaves in the porch.
The strange fair visitant of that stormy
night still fingered, and Maggy had grown t.
love the creature with rare deep tenderness.
Perhaps the loneliness made her more imagi-
native, more dreamy, for a sweet poetic
fancy had taken possession of the girls mind.
The bird had flown to her breast at the
very hour her fathers soul had taken fight,
and to her loving, half remorseful heart it
seemed as though his spirit had come in this
gentle guise to tell her of his forgiveness and
his love.
The long rays of the setting sun
slanted across the valley and touched
with light here and there the distant
hills, and glinted upon the churchyard whore
slept the last Of her kindred, and the girls
eyes followed them and filed with tears.
Tell me once more what he said at the
very, very end, Ralph, dear" she whispered,
and the lad repeated the old mans dying
IL, he
closer and kissed her tenderly.
She smiled, though the tears still trickled
down her cheeks. "And you risked your life
for his. my darling, and he has sent his bless
ing. To think it should have come just in
the very hour he died." she said, and she held
out her finger for the gentle dove to'come to,
and it nestled to her heart
Ralph watched her reverently. It was
pretty fancy, but he did not credit it himself;
only, it pleased her, and he was not going to
be the one to say word against what she
found comfort Inland folks did say there
was something queer about pigeons. 1t was
well known white one flying about strange
house meant death, and maybe after all this |
one was kind OF godsend to the lassie's sore
and lonely heart
Whether there was anything in Maggy's |
fancy or not, one more strange thing hap |
pened.
As she came out of the old church on her |
happy bridal morn she passed the place where |
her father lay.
The sunlight fell on the newly set up grave
stone that marked the place, and tinged with |
gold the feathers of a snowy dove that rested |
there. 1t vanished even e she gazed, and |
never more in answer to her loving cali came !
Maggy's dear and snow white bird
Whence it came and whittier it went she |
never knew, but to her happy faith there was I
no trouble in the problem. 1t was a heaven |
sent messenger, she held. and why should it I
have fingered when its work was dones
Foolish her trust might be, but wiser ones !
may envy 1t when their loved ones go into /
the silent land, and when to them no messen- |
ger of peace brings tidings OF forgiveness and |
Of hope, and envying Maggy may dream that,
in the girlish fancy was perchance a germ
Of truth.-Isabella Weddle in Belgravia. |