Middletown transcript., 1891-07-30

dreams. Was this, too, a dream
Would it now dissolve? Would they
all yanish-his love, the preacher,
and the rest-in a strange phantas-
magoria? Would he awake to the
striking city clocks ? the dawn at his
window? He buried his face in his
hands. No; she was there still. How
ever come, or why, she, Helen Bever-
ly, was there, the lights falling upon
her, the people touching her on either
hand.
The sermon was ended, the bene-
diction was pronounced, and he STUN
bled out into the street.
On, on, on, through the Johanna
Park, out beyond the Nuns Meadows.
on and on. "God bless her /! God
bless her!'' The mist was gone, the
night was cold, the stars were bright
in the frosty sky. Her face was all
ways before him her clear and beau
tiful ace And the words they used
to sing at home went ringing through
his brain
"And thou shalt walk in pure, clear light,
With kings and priests abroad;
And thou shalt summer high in bliss
Upon the hills OF God"
And oh, for the end ! Oh, for the
weakness and woe of earth to pass like
the mist from before the stars
He thought it was midnight when
ne reached his lodgings again and,
exhausted, crawled up the stair. But
it was only nine o'clock. Frau Seidl,
lowering about as though waiting for
him, followed him into bis room.
"She was down here tonight" said
the woman in her usual whisper.
"She stood in the hall as | came with
the lamp, and she said, SIS this his
room?' And she came in after me.
Oh, indeed she is ine lady, and very
free with her money. And she walk
ed around and looked at the pictures
and the books. I thought | saw her
set your slippers straight, and your
dressing gown over the back of the
chair. But she is wonderful for order
always Strengthening things in the
young mans room upstairs. He is
an old friend Of mine, she said. And
then she laid this bit of card mere on
this book you were reading, and went
out suddenly. / was afraid you might
not notice il"
"Thank you. Good night! . said
Fletcher. When he heard the door
close he turned and read the name.
There came a knock. He could not
answer it. The door opened. He
could not move. He saw her stand
there, and he put up one trembling
hand as though to ward her off.
She stood a moment, calm and
beautiful. MAY I come in?' she
said Il could not wait for tomorrow,
Frank" Her voice quivered through
him. The weight Of the long years.
silent without that voice, smote upon
him, and tears ran down his face.
She crossed the room to him. She
knelt beside him. Her arms were
about him. How strangely weak he
felt! That this might be the end |
"Helen," he said, family, 81 have
learned to wait; but it will be good TO
have it over" eyes, it is over" she
answered. There was such joy in her
voice that his heart beat again, and
he sat up and looked into her glowing
face and eyes.
"And we need not die either, Frank,
lhoagh you did look like it moment
ago. Perhaps it was wrong for me to
come to you SO suddenly, but |
thought you. had seen me in the chapel.
And how could I wait any longer?
You must not deny me. You must
not say anything. l decided before,
and was right then, and I am right
now. Have / not been Harold's con-
science keeper these years? Though
the boy littls knew what he was doing
when he filed his letters with you.
But if | had not heard one thing
about your life here, to see you-as |
have already when you did not know
it-as I do now, would be enough.
Oh, my lote. you humiliate me! You
have gone beyond me. Teach me,
Frank. All my life | shall want to
kneel here, as I am kneeliDg now"
That was a touching little wedding
in the American chapel, every one
said, though just why it was SO, and
what made every one cry SO, perhaps
no one could have explained. 1t was
hard to have Fletcher go, dear old
chap-that was clear. It came at last
like a shock to all. And that recep-
ton afterward, which the people in
sisted upon giving them at the Hotel
de Prussewell--that was hard upon
Fletcher. He was such modest
fellow! He wandered about really
bewildered; couldn't seem to make out.
But his beautiful wife enjoyed it, and
we'll she might, with each man and
woman pouring into her ear some new
story about her husband. How the
Germans did gesticulate! The
Americans were mournful. Do the
best they could, their eyes followed
his gray head everywhere. They
couldn'tseem to give him up. Well,
the colony will wait long before an
other such comes. Curious, too, when
there are host of good people and kind
people. But, somehow, no one else,
whose goodness and kindness never
irritate you, nor wound you, nor
harden you; no one else, who SO lays
all he has, never thinking twice
about it, at your service, and himself
God bless him lat your feet.