Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-08-07

ing her anguished face, and passionately
crushing the parchment under her FIN
gers. "Oh, Gerard, 1 dare not remem-
Der that time-to-day."
"For me-" said Gerard, softly, "it
should be good to remember it to-day.
The liberty was given me for" de
broke of suddenly, seeing her piteous
suffering. "Lina, I viii think OF 1t no
more. viii you burn that for me2 1
need it no longer. Let me see you de-
stroy it."
And she burned it; standing to watch
it consume because he watched it, though
she did SO in passion of weeping which
abe tried In vain to suppress.
"My dear, my dear, the greatest grief
through all was, that you should have
to bear the dishonor I had brought on
this name of ours, and that you must
fight alone that battle OF life which
once felt 90 strong to fight for you. Oh.
Lima, what . shattered plan mine is
But, darling, even of these fragments
One Hand can make q perfect plan at
last; and you will do the work for which
was not worthy"
Gerard, Gerard, I cannot bear it
Oh, my brother, talk of other things T.
A little silent pause, while her face was
hidden on his wasted hands; then he
spoke with his old brightness, only the
tones were SO low and weak:
"Lina, do you remember the first time
I took you ont to sea alone, and how
could not frighten your"
"You never could frighten ne,
Gerard"
Not q word more of the separation
that was coming not a word more of the
life she was to live without him; only
loving, CHEEKY memories now of that life
which they had spent together, long ago
before the clouds had gathered about
them. And the angi1shed weeping
ceased at last, and the girls eyes (brave
in their grief could look again, without
their binding tears, into the patient
ones upon the pillows.
Higher and higher rose the sun, in all
the brilliance of its morning strength.
"Lina, want to see Jet once more"
"He is here, dear Gerard. I will
fetch him, if you are not too tired,
now"
"Not-not too tired"
Jet came in, treading softly, and with
his small hands tightly locked before
him, in the determination to hold back
his tears, at cost of any struggle. And
then the young man and the child
looked into each others eyes, until there
grew there the old, quiet light of laugh
ter which had been so familiar in the
busy days which they had spent togeth-
er in these little rooms.
"Laddie" said Gerard. presently.
with q beautiful, tender smile, which
the child never could forget through all
his life, and kissing the sorrowful little
face as men but rarely kiss, "don't for
get me. Try not ever quite to forget
me, and some day we shall find each
other again-and know each other, I
hope-in our Fathers home. Good-by,
laddie kiss me once again-the last of
the kisses that used to be so pleasant to
me-"
And still the child could keep back
his tears, while he stood there, knowing
he looked his last upon the man who
had taken him generously into his warm
heart, when there was no one else in all
the world to do so but Gerard heard
the sobs burst forth beyond restraint
when Lima led the boy tenderly away.
The sun rose higher still, strong and
untiring in its course, and the bright
spring day was nearly in the zenith of
its beauty.
Lima" said Gerard, as he lay look
4AR Oub A4bO Ct1u1 DAuO
the floating clouds, "1ong ago, in those
weary days among the convicts, I used
to get weak and tired sometimes ct
nights-not often, dear, but sometimes
so exhausted that I used to fancy the
possibility of dying there, and-to fear
it, Lima. feared the agony Of death
ITSELF feared the-the Judgment af-
terward fancying Gods verdict might
be what mans had been. Now all fear
is gone. know how He who is the
highest in Judgment does not judge US
as we Judge each other. So have NO
fear, my darling-only peace. Is not
this knowledge worth the pain which
taught it me, dear little sister-the pain
which is not great for me to-day ?"
But she could not answer the words
whose truth was so intense, even while
they were uttered in physical pam.
"I will not ask you to read again"
he said, touching the book which lay
upon the bed, and looking sadly into her
wide and pitiful eyes "but will you
sing to me? love to hear your voice,
my darling. Sing of the Kindly Light"
The last notes died softly in the hush,
and Gerard's thoughts seemed far away
as far, perhaps, as where was break
ing, even now, that morn of which she
had been telling.
"Lina," he said presently, turning to
her with his own bright smile, "you re-
member how We sung together, in the
old days when we fancied we were very
lonely children-lonely with each otherI
Oh, how often have some of the words
come back to me in your own dear voice |
I should like to sing with you once again
if I can. Will you begin, darling? You
know the hymn you spoke of last night. I"
Gazing out among the sunny leaves,
because she could not trust herself to
look into his face now, Lima sung,
"Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distressed?"
And he, his white lips weak and trem.
ulous, took up the words and notes, and
softly sung the answer
"Come to me, saith one, and, coming,
Be at rest"
Through each verse those answering
lines grew fainter, while Lina's sweet
tones struggled through her tears
III hnd Him, II follow,
What His guerdon here?"