The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-31

anu cut UO pleCes, anu uuHue UO serve buo
human will, as he had seen it, as he
had felt it, all his days and in all his be-
ing, could not the ter derness of one SOL
itary woman be won? What was a man
for if he could not do it? Why was a
woman q woman, unless she needs must
yield? He brought his lips together
under his gray beard, and watched her
without disguise; she knew how it was
with him; there was no passion either to
conceal or to confess between them"
II don't see," be said with the alb
rupt candor of long acquaintance, "thst
you look a day older than you did
when you were thirty-fve. OF course
you know that you are handsome wo-
man, though [ don't know that 1 have
talked about that. But to-night-what
ais you tonight"
ut is because feel so young; think,"
laughed Annie Laurie, turning her fine
gray head in the penumbra OF the rose
colored lamp. Il am fifty-one to. morrow,
and fitty-one of my boys are coming to a
birthday party with Mrs. Tombs and me
on Christmas night. Will you come too?
That will be delightful"
II never knew anybody to do such del
icate things for rough people. He
touched the dainty trifle she was twist
ing, with a tremor in his strong hand.
"You cast your precious pearls before"
"No, no p she cried; 81 never felt their
tusks-never once. You know better
than that, Martin Derrick. How was it
in the strike last winter? Did they be-
have like"
"They behaved like lambs led at your
feet by piece of blue ribbon added the
master of the Granite company. "You
saved the Company hundred thousand
dollars; and the hands-but the thing of
of it was, they couldn't understand what
you saved them. They took the trouble
to keep out of ruin and starvation and
the poor house, with no idea in their
skulls except that they we're doing IA
vor to YOU" He brought his clinched
hands down heavily upon the table among
the bonbons.
$50 they were," said Annie Laurie;
"the greatest they could do me. 1 was
very much obliged to them. 1t was de-
Ighttul." She repeated this favorite
phrase in the hearty, girlish way she
had.
The senior partner of the Granite
Company smiled. "You attempted to re-
duce the whole tremendous labor prob
lem which is convulsing the world to-
day to the solution found in the inhu-
ence of one extraordinary woman. That
is not political economy"
"On the contrary, reduce it to the
solution wrought out by one extraordin-
airy man." return ed Annie Laurie, in a
low voice.
"Who is that?" he asked, forgetting
himse elf.
"He died some nineteen centuries ago."
she answered, gently.
"Oh, if you make religious question
of it"-He waved his hand lightly, but
the look in his gray eyes was not light
Perhaps Miss Laurie's way Of speaking
had the more weight because she was
not exactly what was called it Stoneport
ga pious woman" dealt more in hannels
than in tracts, and was more apt to bring
you beef tea than Bible; was SO des-
titue of "gift in prayer" that it was said
but one poor woman, paIalytic, whose
only child had been killed by premR-
ture blast, had ever heard that strong,
merry, merciful voice pleading for the
help of God.
81 have offered no political economy
to the Stoneport Granite Company" she
said. 81 have nothing for anybody, be
he in the quarry or in the counting room,
but little good sense that / happened
to find in the New Testament. I have
never done an. thing for your quarrymen
except to love them and TO scold YOU"
"And T." he slowly said, 81 have done
nothing but reverse the process. have
scolded them and loved"
"Hark |" cried the woman; 81 thought
I heard-did you hear anything? Any
thing outside-in the storm"
For the storm was rising now, and the
night was growing wild. She went TO the
window and flung it up with one strong
hand. The wind rushed in, and snow; it
was turning deadly cold. The fierce
cry OF the sea filed the air, and battled
with the sound of the gale, and beat it
down, and conquered it.
"There is nothing," she said re stlessly
nothing else. 1 Thought heard"
She shut the window and came back.
Snow was ON her hair and her black
dress; she glittered in the red light by
the lamp; her cheeks blazed; she looked
like one who has the secret of eternal
youth. His heart rose and worshiped
her. His love came upon him with the
power of the passion of middle life. But
he only said /: "You sing to the men
som etimes. Give one song to the mas
ter, won't you? You know the one /
like-everybody likes-to hear you sing.
Let me have it, please, for Christmas
sake"
She obeyed him, silently moving to
her little upright piano, looking gentle,
dumb and sorry. Her rich voice slowly
rose and sWelled and filed the warm