The Red Cloud chief., 1892-05-06

II know you are much wiser than l am,
and / sometimes fancy that you a see
farther into the future than others a
Are you looking into my future. and
seeing things that You will not speak Of
plainly?"
do not brighten yourself about my
forecasting, my dear child" Lucy an
swered very tenderly. II can foresee
no trials in your life that a brave spirit
cannot live through Only l 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 q Power hat is over all; listen
to the voices that tell you of hat 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."
But, Lucy" Olives lips were trem-
| bling, ~ shall have Michael by my
side, and he is so strong. Think of all
the difficulties he has conquered! Can
I be afraid Of anything while he takes
care of me?"
Lucy was silent for a moment 1t
was true indeed that she saw things in
| Olives future that she would not plain
ly speak of. II needed only a little
knowledge Of humanity to foresee that
this girls DEEPEST suffering would come
to her through the man she loved
Il am afraid you don't like him." the
poor child went on. What has he said
that d~ispleases you? All! / am disap-
pointed; | thought you would say was
the most fortunate girl in the world!"
Lucy bent forward and kissed her.
.'Olive," she said gently, II 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 to win the things that
he is seeking. Only l could wish that
he had eyes to see the treasures that he
passes by while he runs the ace I
wish that he would sometimes give a
thought to those things that are not
won by mighty effort, but given freely
given by a Fathers bounty and love.
Surely life need not be all striving,
Olive"
'Oh no." murmured Olive with a sigh.
Il feel that it takes a very little to
make me perfectly contented. But men
are different, I suppose: they want far
more than we do. and they must strug-
gle till they get it. For my part, Lucy,
/ should love to live in a cottage with
Michael, and be just myself. But he
wants me ( be more 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 beer your
friend also. It surprised me. when |
first came here, to find a girl who was
a reader and a 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
You will learn a great deal with your
uncle Wake"
Lucy" Olive said, looking up sud-
denly, you 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.
MIR. Wake keepsa secondhand book
shop in the Strand" she replied quietly.
"A 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. 1t vas a 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, / 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 a 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
Dur brightest memories are shut up, l
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.
But you love the country, don't You,
Lucy?" she asked. after 4 pause.
Yes" Lucy's face grew pale and
still again. Yes, it is good to be here.
1 feel that am resting before ] go to
rest"
Il wish you would not talk So" Olive
said, with tears gathering in her large
brown eyes. Lately / have thought
you better, dear; and Michael told
me that you were not as i'll as l had led
him to suppose You could talk and
laugh with him, and it made me happy
to see you SO bright"
Il would do q great deal to make You
happy" Lucy answered. stroking the
girls smooth cheek. And nov that
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