The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-02-02

of infinite space are visible through
riffs Of roseate vapor which close in
upon them, again shutting out all
sight, only to reopen upon new
stretches, where beautiful shapes are
| dimly seen, or imagined, and q rush.
ing sound is heard which is like falling
water or the trembling of a mighty
| forest CT leaves in the breeze, yet
which the spirit knows is neither, ard
i niarvels not.
1t seemed only a little while I'M
til the Presence at the side Of the
spirit said softly .'Rest.' =
He had known but vaguely of this
other Presence, but he answered with
out surprise and as to something
familiar and very dear, s"Why should
| we rest? l am not tired"
| And that other said: cit is not for
repose l would have you pause-it is
for action"
! Then the spirit looked at the Pres.
ence by his side, and whereas before
be had known only an infinite
| peace, now great Joy thrilled him,
for the face was the face of his below
| ed.
"Is it Thou?" he asked. >1
'"It is l." replied his companion, and
her eyes were Illuminated with the
smile he had known and loved on
| earth. ....~s T..
Then the spirit felt the lingering
memory of the last doubt he had
known fall away from him as a gar
ment, and he gave himself to this new
happiness.
II know thee!' he cried as they rest
| ed with locked hands, and he tried to
call her by the name she had borne on
Garth.
She smiled again in answer and led
| him to place, where beneath their
feet was q dark chasm. s...... -.
Then for the first time the spirit had
a feeling of dread.
'Do not take me there,-I am
| afraid" he said.
Supporting him with her arm she
replied. cit is the way by which thou
hast come" ..
And am Ito return again?" ask
{ cne spirit sadly.
Then pointing, she answered,
"Look."
The spirit gazing far beneath him
saw nothing. Then, as one passing
from great light into darkness be-
comes accustomed to the gloom, he
saw, dimly at first, the outlines OF a
house, q room, a bed and 90 the
bed lay a shape.
1T is L. said the spirit shrinking
back.
mo, thou art here" said the other,
gently, "look again"
And now the spirit saw a man be.
| side the couch who spake into the
ear of the dead, and who was shaken
with grief
ut is my friend, ," said the spirit, with
great pity; "and he is speaking to
me-"
"Listen if thou canst hear" said
his companion.
The spirit, listening, heard:
'Why is it that can hear this and
feel no sorrow?" he asked at length,
turning to her beside him.
She smiling, answered.: beloved,
! where thou art there is no SORROW"
sis this heaven?" he asked.
"Not yet," said the other softly,
and supporting him in her arms, she
said: "Oh! my beloved, 1 know not
your language, yet 1 would answer
what you ask of me. would help you
with all my strength in the duty still
to be done. She whom you loved on
earth, whom you trusted as the an
gels OF heaven, was a mortal, good
and lovely, with the goodness
and the beauty that am l who
hold yon in my arms-weak and
stumbling under the burden of the
| clay she carried on earth-that
which lies buried beneath the
mound you see in the garden below.
How have ], whom you loved
in her, struggled with that
mortal weight which was part of the
| who was, and which was often
stronger than 1 who am. That which
was weak and wicked in her was moth
ing OF what you loyed and have me,
who am the Soul which comes from
| God and cannot sim. While yet the
odor of earth clings to your garments
and the descent to the place you
| behold little way beneath our feet
is easy, return a moment and tighten
| the load of :.him who sobs and beats
his breast beside the bed whence YOU
have arisen"
And wil5 thou 60, too?" asked the
spirit, still afraid. $50,
~ will await thee here,'' she re-
piled.
Within the room there was silence.
The voice of the Living ceased after
the outburst of agonized self abase-
ment, ard for long time he remained
with bowed head beside the man who
| called him friend. ~- "
When at length he spoke again it
was with a heavy voice, from which
all expression, even that of sadness,
| had fled. -
"Arthur, have told you. For
| three years have borne this secret in
my breast, and lacked the courage at
this last supreme hour to see the light
Of affection die from your eyes
whence looked a soul so loyal and
white that it never sought for evil in
others-and to behold in its place the
terrible surprise, the anguish, the
hatred-1 have added perpetual sill
ence to ray dishonor. But now that I
have told into your dead ear how vile