Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-25
LYDDY'S TRIUMPH.

taught term OF district school
in small country hamlet near Mt.
Desert two years ago.
The house in which went TO board
was one OF the most lonesome places
imaginable. A low. randi ny farm
DIV cling, surrounded by woods fields
and meadows. No other house was in
sight and the road in each direction
lost self in n dense growth OF trees.
A turn OF the road quarter OF n milo
away brought ono TO tho school house.
church. half a dozen dwellings and
the one store OF the place.
The family with which | boarded
consisted OF Mr.. Enoch Blairc, an tim
Grant preacher with n fair education,
but an inherited dislike OF work. his
wife, Mary orc OF the best women
ever knew, thorough housow 'c,
with sound. practical common sen .,
pure, ca nest love OF religion. hich
she expressed In deeds more often
than words, and their son, Jem, Il
years of age.
One evening, after had been mem.
Der OF tho family seve al weeks md
the strained relat ons OF schoolma am
aud boarding mistress had worn away
Mrs B.aire asked me TO brin. my
books into tho kitchen and cit with
her. lem had gone TO bed with u
toothuchc. and Enoch was at u rc . wal
meeting in the nest district. lie
would not b. homo until very Lite and
she was going to sit up for him.
Iaccepicd the invitation gladly for
the bright cheerful kitchen was my
delight was spotlcssly clean aud
homolike, tn pleasantest room IN the
house A warm fire added 20 tho
cheerfulness for the fall nights had
grown chilly.
Mrs. Blairc did up hcr dir S
brushed tho floor strained the milk.
while looked over the next d. les.
sons; then we drew our chairs nearer
the fire Tor one OF tho talks | had
grown TO en- oy 70 much.
What shall we talk about?n said
Mrs. Blaire, as she clicked her knit
ting needles, ''Rclgion?n
This was her favorite theme and ]
loved TO hear her cypress her Baptist
views OF lie and death. So | led her
to talk, till at length | looked at the
clock. 1t marked 1880.
Where can Enoch be?n said Mrs.
Blaire gathering up her work. 'he
was never so lats before"
She arose, went to tho window and
peered out into the intense darkness,
shivercd slightly came back and
threw few more sticks on tho fire.
We sat some time in silence watching
the sparks fly out through the hearth
Of the cooking stove.
The old clock in the corner struck
the hour OF ~ with slow. deliberate
strokes.
A sudden breeze sprang up and
swung a shutter TO with loud clatter
Then all was fearfully still, when
slowly and distinctly from the far dis.
lance came low. musical sound
Nearer and nearer II came louder
and louder il grow, until the whole
room was filled with the sweet melody,
1t was singing, but singing such as
had never hoard before. II he words
were unintelligible, but the sentiment
was OF Joy and happy re oicing.
sat spellbound until the sweet
sounds faded away as they had come.
| could not tell whether they were
within or without overhead or under
our feet. The melody was everywhere
1t gave me strange unexplainable
feeling OF awe. | turned to look at
Mrs. Blaire. Her face was ashen.
The lines abuu, h. mouth were ght-
ly drawn. and the nervous hand that
grasped the back Of her chair shook
visibly.
A feeling that | could not account
for Of wishing to shut out ~ q night
prompted me to dra the shades close
over tie black W ndows and come
closer TO the warmth and glow Of the
fire. All this | observed and did be-
fore | asked:
Did you hear anything Mrs. Blnlre"
Eyes, | hoard" murmur,d Mrs,
Blalre, in scarcely lore III IL whis-
per.
ut couldn't have been ! rs.
serted. but to 60 o
tho stairway Ua..
only III ard regular brca,n of q
heavy sleeper.
What was It, Mrs. Blaire?" asked
again.
Mrs. Blaire had resumed her accus-
toned placid EXPIRE sion and said
with light reassuring laugh;
'Oh, IL was nothing at all. Come
lot us 90 to bed. We will not sit up
longer for Enoch. will come in and
s with you till you go to sleep, II you
want me to-" said | was not in tho
least afraid. But lay awake for a
long time, wondering over the strange
scene felt sure Mrs Blaire had &
story. and | wanted to hear II
Though not a believer in spirits
anything supernatural had n strange
fascination for me.
Mrs. Blairo and | were left alone
again the next ey Ming. As we again
drew our chairs up before the q ack-
ling fire, my companion said without
any introduction;
my dear I'm going to tell you I
strange story
did not speak.
"Twent years ago my only sister
then beautiful girl OF eighteen mar
ried. just fifteen months after she ant
her baby were buried In ono colin
Before my sister died she discovered
that her bosom friend, Lyddy Baker
! mad cared for her John and had honei