The morning call., 1891-07-01
THE STORY OF A LIFE

AS the solemn words fell upon the sorrowful,
hushed hrong around the open grave, looked
w at the cold. winter sky and around upon the
brown desOa e hills and bare meadows. few
somber pines near by moaned drearily, and the
wlntry wind came sweeping down upon US from
the purple mountains.
This was the end then. OF this fair woman's
life. To be laid in The dark. cold, lonely grave
oh this bleak winters day. The end? In one
sense yes; IN another, no. Her beautiful life
could not end in that horrible tomb. For three.
score years i.hld shed its sweet perfume upon
the hearts and lives of those around her. Such
lives do not end Eele. She had gone home,
where her sad heart would find The joy of her
yOutk. her tired hands case from their labors.
knew something OF her story, but lODged to
hear II ail-the >Ioy Of mat lovely face, with its
sweet Cdik eyes and snowy hair.
She was iad away for her long rest. with the
heavy earth upOu her heart. The last word
bad died away over her owly grave. ami we
slowly and sadly TetIacrd steps to The
places which should know our Gear old friend
no more forty YER
That evening. as we sat together around the
glowing wood Ire, ask the dear Old grand
mother 10 iel us the story of Miss Magnets
life. Size took of her spectaces and polished
them slowly with her hdndkei chief, looking
meanwhile, thoughtiully and very sadly mo the
me. linen, tuning around TO u.s. Size said,
You ali loved Miss Margaret, cuidr. II, but
YOU could not APPRECIATE her love lllesS as Que
who knew her 10 her youth, and through tie years
OF her beautiful, pathetic life, We were nearly
Tie same age, she a lew weeks younger Than |.
From cur bahyhOOd we were constantly tOget er
cannot remember tile time Margaret was not
my OIner sell Our homes always stood where
they do tO-day-Bine here. hers Just over the
way. Our mothers were dear III. Hds, and the
friendship ended To-day in the grave began with
our 1TSt pralile and lettering footsteps"
Inc dear old voice was very tremulOuS and
the glisteniuE teais fell upon her folded hands.
She was sadly shaken by the death OF ner life
long friend ana companion.
When Nc we're years old We commenced
our childish schOOl-lile together Side by side
We plOddrd through the GIst stages of our new
career. and llaN time study -
seperdbe. So Tie years Went on uutil We were
great gus ready Tor The academy IN The adiOu
ing town of Alden. No, there is none there now.
This was iory-hye years ago. my child. Our
parents were Nery anxious that We should b-ne-
q by all tie advantages offered In such PROM
ls'"E institution. We began this Chapter in our
lives togeIher
bow wonde fully pretty Margaret was grow
ing! 81 was always very slender and pecu.
haIly graceful. You know how handsome she
WAS, even IN her old aye. She had beau lul
dark brown. wayy hair; her gray eyes were very
lovely her small, pale face, with us delicate
nos, fresh, deNy lips and tim little chm, was
delightful 10 look upon. Sweet tempered, mod
est, diguifed. she was the IDOL of her parents
and admired by all who knew her.
"lu our Ven,eentn year we left the academy.
Margaret was TO return at the fall term as
teacher. How We enjoyed that bright summer!
We took long WALKS Ia The wood, rOwed on the
shining iiYer ana spent happy hours ia the sad
die, covering miles of beautiful county during
Tie long summer days All beautiful things are
soon over; the autumn cane; and with il, our
mrs! serarailon. She went to Alden Monday
morning, ana Friday evening always returned
her TO Us again.
The weeks passed on, and Margaret was very
happy In Ter new life. Another interest had
arisen Ia my young lie, but Il could not eclipse
the beauty of my Venus. | was your grand
fathers promised Slfe, aud IN the spring time we
Neie 10 commence our new life tOgetu-r.
II was about tins time that first noticed a
change in my Margaret. I could not define II
In LeT sweet eyes there shone a solemn noIy
light. temuluus soIt Of beau seemed TO rest
on brow and lip. She grew more beautiful each
day. Her sweet reserve was never broa en-, even
10 me-
1t was 4 beautiful day in the latter part of the
winter when Margaret came 10 me win a new
LOOK upon her pure face-a look which woman
never wears but once In life-Ehen she loves as
Margaret dd.
'kaIe, have something to tell YOU said she,
ana When size was costly seated Win me In my
room she told me the story OF ner betrothaI
MI. Edmouds was principal of the academy
al Alden lie had taken charge OF the nstiru-
ton Theu Margaret went there In the fail. He
was the son OF widow. who was poor. and
lived IN distant college town. where her
younger son was student. Mr. Elmonds was
her sole support. His brother was IN college at
bis expense, and with tHls double respon sibnHy
be had heStated about speaking OF his love to
alsaret lie hhaily decided TO tell her OF IL
and explain 10 her his situation. lie said that
ne mad not The presumption, eV-u II she could
return hi, love, To ask her TO walt for him
through the ye4rs which must necessarily inter-
bis own.
al told him. said Margaret. that 1 would
wall Tor him foreyer-IOr love him.
80 they were engaged. Margaret wore his
modest little iiug, aud L do not think he sun
sh"he upon happier pair Of lovers. he was
worthy even OF her
The, spring came, and with the first song OF
the birds aud the perfume of the flowers | was
married II needed but the fruiton of nv Mar
carers love TO complete my happiness We
went 10 housekeeping in pant OF the old house,
anu mus you see. Margaret and were still To-
gether. he came ard went from her school in
Tue sweet sprihgtime, fun Of de y, quiet happl-
BesS. When the summer came she went home
WIN MI Edmonds 10 visit his mother, who had
written cons Antly 10 her since The engagement
SSe letuned 10 US In season for tie eOpenIng
OF Inc academy where she was still 10 teach.
She and Mr.. EdmOuds taught and studied to-
geihef, lie was a fne scholar and she was fast
following II. his footsteps. Their love ana happi-
ness increased with every passing day.
- be winters followed tie summers and found
tnein SUI working together. They were making
plans Tor their new home together in tie near
future. lhe brother, for whom lie was sacritc-
me SO much, would suon be enabled to relieve
INN OF much responsibility. She spent many
happy hours with me and the LITTLE ones for she
was Neiy fond OF my babies. She was not 4 girl
10 taik-as l often hear OF gHls talking nova
days-oi love as a trivial thing, ard her hopes
were too sacred for common con, ersatiop. Not
even 10 me did she often refer to Il; but | knew
now her loving heart looked forward 10 The con-
summation OF her bright hopes.
never saw man so entirely devoted to any
woman as Mr. EdmOnds was 10 her He seemed
beautiful tor him.
MaTGarers years OF waiting were finally at
an enu ana IN lew weeks she would enter upon
her new lie. house was ready for them al
Alden, where, after a few weeks trip, they IN
tended TO locate. How should miss her! But
That was thought tried TO keen in the hack.
ground, and enjoy the present TO the utmost.
IL was lovely day In October, week before
me wedding day, that Mr.. Edmonds came Into
Maigafets paTlOr. looking fearfully Ill., He
st0utly Insisted that IL was nothing but a slight
cola, ana iaughngly refused 10 be docfOred' as
Ne eAbfes-ed II. The next morning he was
aDie 10 use aud the doctor pronounced his NAL
ady diphtheria OF the most malignant type As
Tie long day wore away he continued to grow
worse ana al nlghIfal was delicious aud suffer
ing tcEiiDig. MaTUaget followed ~
INFO tie hall and told Them II there was any dan
:. ger she wished 10 send for his mother and
a. ...nrr KIND old DR.. SeatOn, who had known
MafgaIet from Her BIRTH laid his hand gently
VI on tier shoulder and only said:
Send at once, my child
For Two days lie suffered terribly Margaret
never lett MN. Pale fearless, strong and tender
she was oY his side day and night. His mother
100, was with him on lhe third day, when the end
came.
The sunset light stole into the room as he
opened MS eyes upon Margaret and smiled. A
sunbeam ieli aslant upon The pillow, ana III up
me dying lace with angelic beauty. Margaret
knet duWu and LAID her head beside his and
WI, when; few p moments after. we raised her, he
was dedd The beautiful young life had ended.
Mafyaiet Stood looking down upon the dead
lace vi her love without a tear. without sound
she penf down and kissed him, then turned and
leit HE room, waving aside any assistance and
no one saw her that day. When night came a
pdie-ldc o. hOiiow-eyed woman issued from the
room ana spent the long dark hours alone with
her dead. WIN
TINS was the end of her beautiful dream, my
breakfast looking AS If years had D sssed over
her head Ii eyes had great dark shadows
Dehe IN lheln, her lips were drawn With suffer-
ing But ilom this fist morning OF her sorrow
lul lie no one ever heard a moan over her be.
reavement. To her loving father and mother
sue was the spirit OF devotion. Well as | knew
Margaret. did not dream of The strength which
lay behind thai fIall exterior. To Mrs. Edmouds
s,T was the dniIful. loving daughter. aud TO-
selief lley took their dead to his childhood's
nome and laid him beside his father
,,iai,, never ever IN all the years heard her gay.
ofIght laugh again Patient. sweet, strong Of
soul, lhSeil,h her life benceforth was spent for
Others And thus Tie seasons came aud went
anu Iounu ler ever at her post OF duty, among
me soltowiui, tue sick and afflicted. A more
beautiful lie never knew And now the long
waiting Is over and she has joned The lover Of
her youth up yOuder." -
lie dear old grandmother leaned her head
against ber chair, and with closed ewes and
lIembilnR nus concluded tile story OF her frend's
life by repeating softly:
We meet at one gate. when airs over;
the ways they are many an WIDE
And seldom are two ways the same. Side by side
May we stand At the same little door, when airs
donel
theva t.