Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-26

4 "
Always leave an opening through
which you can see Heaven
Olive looked at her, and was struck
| by the light on her wasted features.
Lucy's life was widening at the close;
her view of Heaven was broader than
it had ever been before, and the glory
| that she saw was reflected on her face,
which was 'sas the face of an angel"
| sob, Lucy" she said, in timid tone,
ST know you are much wiser than am,
and sometimes fancy that you can see
| farther into the future than others can.
Are you looking into my future, and
| seeing things thatiyou will not speak of
plainly?"
ssDo not frighten yourself about my
| forecasting, my dear child,'' Lucy an
| swered very tenderly. ST can foresee
| no trials in your life that brave spirit
cannot live through. Only I would
| warn you not to part with the very
| portion of yourself which will enable
| you to bear those trials. Keep your old
| trust in Power that is over all; listen
to the voices that tell you of that peace
| which shall assuredly follow the strife.
Do not let the world so blind and deafen
you that, when sorrow comes, the true
light may shine and the true voice
speak in vain. Oh, Olive, it is not
trouble that is to be feared; it is the
| loss Of those qualities in us which help
| us to meet trouble bravely."
'sBut, Lucy fOlive's lips were trem-
| bling, 81 shall have Michael by my
side, and he is so strongl Think of all
| the difficulties he has conquered! Can
be afraid of anything while he takes
care of me?''
Lucy was silent for a, moment. It
was true indeed that she saw things in
| Olives future that she would not plain
| ly speak of. It needed only little
knowledge of humanity to foresee that
this girls deepest suffering would come
| to her through the man she loved.
81 am afraid you. don't like him. the
poor child went on. "What has he said
that displeases you? All! I am disap-
pointed; thought you .: 2uld say was
Lucy bent forward and kissed her.
''Olive,'' she said gently, 81 shall like
him better when he thinks more of you
and less of that great idol-success.
see that he is clever, dear-very clever
in his own way; and so determined that
he is almost sure town the things that
he had eyes to see the treasures that he
| passes by while he runs the race. I
| wish that he would sometimes give
| won by mighty effort, but given freely
given by Fathers bounty and love.
Surely life need not' be all striving,
| Olive"
ooh no." fnurmuredOlive with sigh.
or 41o4 fol 10
make me perfectly contented. But men
| are different, suppose; they want far
[ more than we do, and they must strug-
should love to live in, a cottage with
Michael, and be justsmyself. But he
| wants me to be more4 than myself. I
daresay he is right; to him must seem
/ a very ignorant uniformed creature"
"You are not ignorant. considering
| that you are a village girl Lucy an
swered. THE old vicar, who helped
Michael so much, must have been your
friend also. It surprised me, when
| first came here, to find a, girl who was
| a reader and thinker. Take courage,
my child; you are not as far behind
Michael in the race as you suppose.
And Tiff our plan is really carried out
1 - s
uncle Wake.''
| s'Lucy," Olive said, looking up sud-
denly, 'syou have never told me how
you came to know anything of my uncle
| Wake"
A slight flush rose to,Lucy's face and
was gone in an instant.
''Mr. Wake keeps a secondhand book
shop in the Strand,' sheIreplied quietly.
ga friend of mine, who was very fond
| of books, used to take me there often,
and your uncle talked as only those who
read can talk. It was pleasure to go
to that shop; some of the happiest mo-
ments of my life were spent among
those piles of old volumes, and Mr..
Wakes cheerful voice and kind face
can never be forgotten. That man I'M
derstood everybody, and sympathized
with everybody, believe. He was a
large man with a large heart. He gave
people chances of snatching little bits
of happiness. Oh, Olive, I think an
old book-shop is one of the most de-
lightful places in the universe. If you
happen to be missed, no one thinks of
looking for you in such dusty, musty
retreat. The most glorious fragments
of life are often hidden away in dull
spots where few can find them. Be-
tween the dingy covers of some of these
ancient books one might come upon
poems that sparkled and glowed with
immortal light and beauty. Some of
| our brightest memories are shut up,
| believe in the dimmest hooks and cor
ners of the world!'
Olive looked at her in silent surprise.
The beautiful worn face had grown
young again; the eyes were shining.
sBut you love the country, don't you,
Lucy?" she asked, after a pause.
"Yes." Lucy's face grew pale and
still again. eyes, it is good to be here.
feel that I am resting before go to
, rest"
81 wish you would not talk So" Olive
said, with tears gathering in her large
brown eyes. "Lately I have thought
/ --.-- l,a44o,. door: and Michael tnld