Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-08-25
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The weak voice broke, and Margaret,
incapable of word, could only press
the hot hand between her own cool ones
while her eyes burned with the tears
she found SO hard to withhold
She was very glad VIXEN tho rector
came in II few moments later and she
could leave the room to overcome her
emotion and write tho following note to
Brian:
DEAR BRIAN-Do not expect me
home to dinner. Mrs. Ivens is very i'll.
Will you como here this afternoon? |
am anxious to see you"
Finding a boy, Margaret dire cted him
to leave the note at Llmwood.
CHAPTER XIII.
BRIAN's CHRISTMAS GIFT.
When Brian came to the rectory that
afternoon Margaret asked him to go up
and see Mrs. Ivens.
Il wish your candid opinion" she
said. Il think she is very i'll, for Ellen
is not the one to give up until forced to
do co.
From his brief visit Brian came down
with a serious face. Margaret was
standing in the lower hall, and one
glance made her heart sink heavily.
The case is hopeless" he said, in
answer to the question she was trying
to frame. Il am SO sorry for you.
Rather be sorry for them," she re-
joined, trying to shut out the sympa-
thotic face, which made it more difficult
for her to be calm. "Who will tell him?
Do you suppose he can ever be recon-
ciled to her loss?"
Il don't know" interposed Brian, for
want of better answer. II suppose
We must all be reconciled to whatever
comes to us.
"Ah! don't. 1t is cruel to talk of
being reconcled. I'd never be recon
ciled. Never!"
With these abrupt words, she started
to move away, but her tears blinded her,
and she would have fallen had not
Brian, quick to detect her weakness,
caught her in his arms.
This will not do, Margaret, he said,
with some authority. Il think you had
better go home with me. You will make
yourself i'll.
What nonsense, Brian! III from
watching u few hours with u sick
friend? 1 wouldn't be fit to live if toat
were the case. This is not physical
weakness"
Aren't there others to do for Mrs.
why should it all fall on your Shout
ders!"
All fall on my shoulders? Oh, Brian,
how you do exasperate mel OF course
there are others. Plenty Of them.
EveryL ody loves her, but for some rea-
S Ii she likes to have mo with her. And
with her intend to stay"
Then stay you may" he answered,
meeting her defiant eye. Il sha'n't
carry you away by bodily force, though
l don't think you should have your own
way in every case. | have one request
to make Perhaps you will condescend
to respect it. Don't kill yourself.
Il am not ono of the killing kind, re-
joined Margaret, going up stairs. Good
by for the present. You may call to-
morrow, if you will.
Brian did call tomorrow, and this
second visit only confirmed the opinion
expressed in his first. Mrs. Ivens was
dying-from no special disease, but from
Il gradual giving away of the vital
forces. A life of care and Anxiety, vex
ations and prlvations, and wearying
struggles to make both ends meet, had
told at last on the delicate constitution.
Many who fall by the wayside are not
less brave than those who reach the
lnuIlyE > Stdh bIti, IL Cuc ii ucoC llSloSo
are those who bear life's burdens I'M
complainingy, Mrs. Ivens might justly
wear the crown OF herOlSm.
Margaret was faithful to her trust.
Others came and went, but she remained
by the sick bed. Brian exhausted his
treaties in vain, and even Christmas
Eve could not tempt her to leave her
friend.
You tell me her hours are numbered.
Let me stay until the end. It cannot be
very long now.
And Brian said no more.
Mrs Ivens' hours were, indeed, num-
bered. The flame of life burnt fainter
and fainter. and when the night Of
Christmas Eve passed into the dawn Of
Christmas Day, the angels of life and
death crossed in their pathway, and the
tired soul found the land of perpetual
rest--the joys of an eternal morning.
The incidents of those closing moments
were indelibly photographed on Mar
garet's mind.
She had to be brave and strong for
the sake of those SO sadly berr aved.
Mary had sobbed and the rector had
bowed his head in anguished grief, but
she had shed no tear. She had brought
the solemn, awe-struck children to their
mothers side; she had seen the kiss Of
infinite tenderness pressed upon each
sad little face; her heart had echoed
E!sie's cry of anguish when for the last
time that little head was pillowed on q
dying mothers breast; yet her eyes had
been hard and dry. though the painful
tightening at her throat had made her
promise to be friend to these mother
less little ones, SO hard to speak. And
even now the tears would not come,
though she had thought and thought
until her mind was weary.
The sunshine lay all about her, the
bright, glad sunshine of Christmas; on
the floor, where the carpet looked so
faded and worn; on the very spot that
Ellen fingers had mended so often and
so patiently in their old busy days; on the
old chintz sofa, where she was lying
now-so carelessly, so thoughtlessly-
while the heart whose tender, unseliish
love had made this house home, In all
that gives that word its highest, hottest