The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-08-21

ing and this was Christianity For til,
next three days can not account o
the remainder of the week know but Lit
tie. At the end of that time, still as in .
dream, found myself in q little, peaceful
village, thousand miles away. Why Of
how I went there know not.
had hardly reached it before like on,
in trance, walked out into the country
On went for mile. Finally I stopped
before little three roomed cottage.
entered the yard with no purpose what
ever in view. 1 stepped upon the porch
Then, without a thought, opened O doc,
into a room.
| My heart stood still. There she was
My love, my fate; before me, and alone
With pitiful, passionate half moan she
threw herself into my open arms. why
did you Gomez" she cried. 81 knew YOU
would. have been expecting you, but il
is death, death, death"
For minute, hour, day, I know not
how long, we sobbed in each others arms.
Then felt q dead weight. She had
| swooned- Yes, that was all, though ]
tried for hours to awaken her. Her limbs
grew stiff and cold; her face bloodless;
could feel no pulsation Of the heart. Could
she be dead?
The thought struck me like a thunder
bolt. Crazed and almost fainting rushed
out into the open air, and on out into the
country. 1 must have gone miles when I
came partially to my senses and found my
self sitting on the road side, hot, weary
and dusty.
was a fool to leave when I did, and
started back to find out the true state of
my darling. l reached the house after
dark slipped around to window and
looked in. There was a group of people
talking in low mournful tones They were
shrouding the body, and wondering at the
death. Soon they all went out, even the
death watch
I must see her once more. Softly I en-
tered the window, stealthily I reached her
side, and removed the cloth from her cold,
stiff body.
A heavy, dry sob escaped me. How
white she was! How pale and bloodless
the face! On her lips was frozen a smile
an angelic smile
My heart was bursting, and cried out:
"Why did you dies Oh, darling one, /
know you were too pure and holy for hui
man love. Holiness triumphed, but twas
as you said-death, death, DEATH,
out one word from your lips. know you
loved me, and love me yet. Fate drew us
together and through fate you must speak.
Come back, my own, and speak,
Slowly the color entered the face of
marble. Slowly the eyelids quivered and
opened. Slowly, the now pulsing hand
reached mine and pressed it. Softly she
spoke: Glove, I come from Heaven at
coll ovA1 M
color fled. The hand went back and
crossed the other on her breast. The eyes
closed and all was still. With smothered
shrek of horror 1 fed. The next day,
from distance, saw the body lowered
into the cold grave. That night I spent
groveling on the mound, swearing to fol-
low her wherever she might be.
Suddenly there was a death-like quiet
ude, and I seemed to freeze. Somebody
or something was present, but 1 could see
nothing. heard soft, low voice saying:
eff you would follow her, you must enter
as she did, through love Of me-"
remember no more until I awoke in a
large Eastern city, cool and collected, with
the above facts burned into my memory.
Reason and deep thought followed, and by
the grace Of God my heart was changed
sought quietude and came here.
My being is full Of love for a merciful
God and Redeemer. Ihave striven to live
right and have prayed increasingly for
strength. Now leave you and go to my
Master. He has conquered me and is
uppermost in my mind. He used her, one
of his creatures, as an instrument to point
out the errors of my way and lead me to
Him. I am filed with joy for the call has
come. Him first and then my guardian
angel. The time has come. I see you
the church. Meet me in
heaven. JACK.
For weeks the little Alabama town
was shaken with excitement No
traces of my friend could be found. I
Kept my letter secret, but continued in
The search. The people all loved him,
and finding no clue to his departure,
came to a strange conclusion. They
knew him as a perfect man, tender,
owing, and to the extent of their !
knowledge without sin. He must in |
heir opinion, have been taken bodily |
10 his Maker.
would give them no opinion, and |
said nothing of what he wrote to me. |
Now that years have passed 1 have |
come to the conclusion that no harm |
san come of making it public. Many
of the town will doubtless +
be strengthened in that belief by read
ng his story. It is certainly strange. |
Where is he?-Alf. Harper in Atlanta