Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-03-12
REDEEM AND FLORA.
By ARTHUR sAnrH 1.


It Is two years since that evening,
And dear Flora by me stands;
From her eyes the tears are falling.
While IN mine clasp her hands.
white her cheeks as are the lilies,
And her lips have bloodless grown;
Her blue eyes have lost their brightness;
And her youthful beauty's gone.
sishaII mover" signs she softly,
siSee my darling Reuben more?
Though love, oh, so fondlyi
Shall never see him mOre7"
AUST two yenrs ago my Reuben
And 1 stood within yOn grove:
There he told me how ne loved me,
And he asked me for my love-"
Then tried TO soOthe her sorrow,
But her grief would burst anew;
And she'd murmur, sweetly murmur;
"Is he false, or is he truef''
'sOh, I'm longing just 70 see him
Ere die, just once again;
I forgive him for the suff'ring
Which he's caused me. and the pain"
Yet one more year, and the May-time
With its lovely flowers has come;
And the birds are singing gayly
Flora on her bed is lying
Nigh unto the gates OF death;
And she looks out through the window,
And she whispers with each breath:
"He is coming. he is coming,
shall see him yet once morel
Ere close my eyes in slumber,
Reuben I shall see once mOrel"
Fv'ry day her voice grows weaker.
Yet she whispers: Reuben, dear,
He will come ere comes the evening,
Once again I'll meet him herel"
Though three years have slowly vanished
Since l have my Reuben met,
Ere 1 close my eyes In slumber,
shall see him, see him yeti"
1t was on a lovely morning
In the latter part of June,
When the skies were bright with sunshine,
And the birds seemed most in tunei
And In through the open windows
Came the scent OF flowers fair,
OF the old hall gardens roses,
Violets and lilies rare,
That heard light footsteps coming
Quickly up the graveled path,
But the lilacs hid him; thought
1t IS Reuben. or his wrath.
AS 1 gazed out through the window
saw Reuben at the door;
ale IS coming" Flora whispered,
II shall see my love once morel"
snow what makes you look so joyful?
Why the gladness in your eye?
Is he coming9 Do you see him2
Is my Reuben, Reuben nighT"
But she knew not who was waiting
AnxiOusly her then TO seei
Soft she whispered. ''He is coming
For the angels have told mel"
Then told her that her Reuben
Had come back to her again.
And outside the door was waiting
TIL I'd bid him 10 come in.
God be praisedi" she fondly whispered,
'.GO and bid him come to mel
j shall die ere comes the twilight,
But, thank God, him shall seei'
Then I opened the door. and Reuben
Entered with his face aglOW.
II have come" he told her gayly,
''Nevermore 20 leave you, Flo"
AS he knelt down by her bedside.
And he saw how pale and thin
We're here cheeks, once like the roses,
Tear drops stood his eyes within
"Greati" he said. ''the wrong I've done you,
God have pity on my SOulI
i knew not you loved so truly,
That was your all in all!'
'-Do not thus upbraid me. Reuben.
Love and not love 1 can mott
1 was true to you. loved you
After you had me forgot.
II forgive you freely, Reuben,
Clasp me now unto your heart.
Let me feel your arms around me
AS OF old before We partI"
Tight he clasped her TO his bosom,
And he whispered words of loves
Fond her eyes she fixed upon him,
But her lips refused 20 move.
Then he laid her on her pillow,
And he kissed her forehead white;
One long gasp, and all was over.
Her sweet soul had winged its flight
All day long he knelt beside her,
His old love had burst anew;
And he'd moan. 30 God, that was,
Oh. so false and she so truei"
Thirty years have passed, and Reuben
Stiu remembers his sweet FlOi
Oh. that he had bee=I more faithful
In the long, sad years ago.
BELCHER- n. Y.