Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-19

repeated Jokes were t1resOme, ana ne was
undeniably fussy about his food, and he
had a childish, loving temperament that
made him happy when he was caressed and
humored, all of which traits palled upon
Margaret.
Nothing could have been more simple or
natural when they were first married, than
for her to have put her Bible in his hands,
asking him to read; or for her to have
drawn him down with her as she knelt to
pray. He would have been glad to kneel
and find again the Father that he used to
know when he was a child, for, bigwhisk-
cred fellow that he was, he was but boy,
and lonely boy at heart.
But as weeks passed into months and
into years, it seemed impossible for her to
do this
She put the thing at last out of her
thoughts. Life was long before them. If
John should be i'll, or lose all of his mon
ey, or any supreme moment like that
should arrive, she would bring her faith be-
fore him with victorious effect. She would
show him then how a Christian could en-
dure and triumph. But the years logged
on prosperous and dull; no supreme mo-
ment came
As time passed there came between
them silence, not of words, but OF
thoughts and feelings. He probably did
not believe in a love which was not de
monstrative. She had an older, more mas
culine nature than his. People who knew
John well noticed gradual change in him.
| He had been a man full of gentle enthu-
siasms; a man who gave and eXacted much
| kindness and affection. He had been, per
haps, Jealous and unreasonable in this eX-
action hut he now grew slowly Indifferent,
cold and cynical to his friends. There was
wistful look in his eyes, like that of a
man who has lost something out of life
which he shall never find.
Occasionally he occupied a seat in the
pew which Mrs. Carter owned in the
church in which she was an energetic
worker, and sometimes, meeting the min
lister afterward, he disputed his arguments
ood-humoredly.
"a most interesting man. the rector
said to his wife one day. "Full of keen
perceptions and sensibilities! l wish We
could draw him into the Church.
"Why do you not bring the subject
home to him?'
81 do, in the pulpit, as directly as can
He is a man who would require the tender
est touch. If his wife has been laborinl
in vain all these years, what can l do?''
So it happened, by these easy, natura
chances, that when John Carter last win
ter fell i'll and came down to the edge o
that outer darkness which lies so near L
us all, nobody had put into his hands tn
lamp which would have lighted his way.
Mrs. Carter nursed him skillfully. |
was not in intelligence nor energy that sh
failed. But the time came when the con
suting physician, with the usual grave
gentle formula, suggested that ''if ther
were any matters of moment which MI
Carter should attend to? His will, proba
bly?"
That is done-it is not that" gaspe
Margaret. "But l must speak to him
And he does not hear. He lies there i
that helpless stupor.
! at is a phase of the disease, madam
an alarming phase, to be candid.
Mrs. Carter hurried out of the room.
} Il suppose" said the family doctor, 81
t is his religious condition than she is think
ing of. Too late to open up that subieC
to poor Carter. His brain stopped wor
an hour ago"
: Miss Tracy, who had helped to nurs
John, met Margaret in the hall.
''What is it! What have they tol
S you?' she cried, seeing her face.
r HE is dying. Don't touch me. l al
D not going to faint. ! understand.
r She had never been more keenly awaB
5 or alive. The whole future yawned befol
e her-empty.
Il see it all now she said, turning he
CHASTITY face to the door of his chambe
p Il see what a lonely life he has had. II
y never knew how loved him. There va
never any way for me to show IT,
= wasn't my fault that the chance did II,
o come"
e The two women went to the dying ma
i and were left alone with him. He W;
+, sunk in a heavy stupor.
He is going, said Margaret land viii
e has he to take with him yonder? / hay
!, given him nothing
He reused at last little and looked {
!, her with dulled eyes.
at is l, John, l, Margaret. You kno
y that loved you? l have not shown yc
as l ought Oh! for Gods sake say thi
B. you know
IS His eyes closed drowsily.
Don't reproach yourself, my dear,
:, he said. in the gentle, hopeless tones 81
n knew so well.
1t 'Shall l pray with you? Oh, job
think of the Saviour, think Of
l. But he did not hear her He muttert
" something about sleeping awhile, and tur
ed away. He never Weakened from u
sleep.
Y Mrs. Carter, when she had laid her hu
band in the earth, went abroad to forg
,r her old life or to begin a new one. Mi
k Tracy was left in charge of her HON
S. One day she opened the box in which Il
Z the priceless Indian web; it had been hi
1t den out of sight in the dark so long tn
Y the moth and dampness had done the
a work. Nothing was left but mass
'e rags and dust. &,
N The old woman shook her head
ID 'More precious things than this gre
worthless if hid away too carefully" s.
lg said, with sad significance.
n Rebeccd Harding Darts in the Ind
ar pendent,