Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-31

eyes, WE'LL SOON BE THERE"
been, and he seemed perfectly aware thai
his days were numbered, and he could not
bear to have Isabel out of his sight.
"And l did not know you, DEAR" he said.
''How the affectionate heart must have
been grieved.
''But you know me now, father" she
said. smoothing his white hair.
"Yes, dear, and I can tell Alicia all about
our little Isabel when l get home"
''My poor, poor Chesterr' and Mrs. Penn
broke leaned over the bed and shed great,
burning tears of pity and distress at sight
of the white, drawn face.
''Not rOor Chester any more. dear little
mother" he said, gently; ''but ricn, happy
Chester, now; he who was lost is found
again, and is going home"
1t was impossible to mourn for him as for
one cut off III their full strength, and grief
was tempered by rejoicing that his memory
had come back to him so marvelously.
my dear niece, do not, 1 beg, reprOach
YOURSELF" said Major Darlington, earnest
ly: 'the issues of life and death are in
Gods hands, and l look upon it as a re-
markabie Providence that my poor brother s
life is ending so happily. If he had stayed
with US he was exposed to danger, also, so
do not grieve, l entreat you, on that ac-
count" for she had reproached herself bit
terly, thinking that if she had left him in
his quiet home he might have lived many
years.
He had seemed unusually cheerful after
the arrival of his friends, and they hoped
he might be spared for some time. His life
for the past twenty years was perfect
blank to him now, and he was curious to
know what had occurred during the time,
and so far as he thought prudent, Major
Darlington had answered his many ques-
tions.
He dropped to sleep quietly at the usual
hour, and the watchers took their places at
the bedside.
At midnight there was a change, his
breathing became more labored and short
er, and a heavy, gray pallor settled over
his thin features. Mrs. Montford flew to
IsabePs chamber. 'Come, Mrs. Falconer.
come quickly" she said, hurriedly, and then
went on to awake Mrs. Pembroke and Major
Darlington and his wife.
He was still sleeping when they reached
the room, but there was deaths imprint on
his sunken features.
''Oh father, father, can not you speak to
she watched beside him. He opened his
eyes feebly, and looked at her long and
earnestly, as if endeavoring to fix her feat
ures in his mind.
Mrs. Pembroke took his hand in hers.
"Dear Chester, you are almost home!" she
said.
Eyes, almost there" he whispered, faint
ly, and again his eyes sought Isabel; each
foin hn
dews were already on his forehead. He
gave her one look of unutterable love, and
with last dying effort, gasped brokenly:
''Isabel my darling Chi" and breathed
his last.
There was look of perfect peace and hap
piness upon his face as he lay in the dark.
ened parlors in his coffin; the noble look OF
his young manhood had come back to him.
and the family felt that it was indeed wronl
to mourn for him, who, after so long period
of darkness and mental Imprisonment, had
found light and liberty, and IsabePs grief
was soothed and comforted by the thought
that his last look had been for her, his
last word had been word of low for his
child, and she thanked God for the remem-
brance.
They carried him back to his home in the
South, and stately monument marks the
spot where he, with the sweet bride of his
youth, sleep sweetly and quietly together,
separated in life, but united in death.
A strange thing occurred when Major
Darlington and Mr.. Falconer, with Isabel,
went to remove the young wife's remains.
The sexton remarked upon the unusual
weight of the coffin, and, at his suggestion,
it was opened; the body was petrifed, and
there lay the young Alicia, a beautiful
statue, every feature intact after twenty
years of interment, and Isabel looked upon
the mother, whom she had so longed to see.
with feelings which may be imagined but
not described.
Lottie is the cherished wife of DR.. Conroy.
who has set her up on pedestal in his
heart, where he burns the incense of un-
ceasing devotion before her; her home,
though not as grand as Isabel's, is ample.
and is furnished with the pure, sweet taste
of its mistress throughout, poem, the key
note of which is purity and love.
She is well now of her lameness, and is
able to accompany her husband on many
errands of mercy, and is looked upon by the
poor, and especially the childless, as white
angel of goodness.
One more scene and our story is done.
The home room has received many offerings
since its first establishment, and the most
important one is lovely satin-ined cradle,
which stands in the corner where the laugh
ing Cupid can peep over at its occupant,
beautiful, rosy babe, who lifts her chubby
hands and crows delightedly when her
parents draw near.
They stand looking down upon her with
love beaming in every feature. "My love,
my darling, my Isabelr' he said, turning to
her with eyes full of deep feeling.
She leaned her head upon his shoulder,
her eyes full of the tears of unspeakable hap
piness. THANK God, my dearest husband"
she murmured, ''for one of His brightest
and best Of gifts to Ris children, happy,
happy homer
THE END