The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-14

Money, credit, honor. Oh, for q sudden
death blow. Rain came and he never
knew it. The damp wind chilled him
to the bone and he never felt it. Night
fell and he did not miss the daylight.
Aimlessly he wandered on, thinking
vaguely of his lost possessions, Of his
ruined partner, OF the girl he could not
marry now. Then he heard church
clock strike, and like a sudden vision
came a thought of the mother who had
taught him TO pray. He had not
thought of her teachings for years, but
now, in his hour of need, they came
back, with gentle force. He would
enter the church and pray. Perhaps
the spirit Of that loving mother who
had died in full confidence that some
time the Good Shepherd would reclaim
her dear black sheep whispered the
thought TO him. Vino knows?
He was a Presbyterian if anything,
and the church into which he crept was
adorned with the crucifix everywhere,
but that did not matter now. A starv-
ing man hardly cares whether the
bread given him be white or brown.
For awhile he prayed as drowning men
are supposed to pray, then tired nature
yielded to the solemn, peaceful silence,
and he fell asleep.
When he awohe the body Of the
church was still dark, but several black
robed priests were decking the bril-
liantly lighted altar ready for the next
mornings early mass. Then, ere he
could rise. glorious voice swelled soft
ly forth: ooh, rest in the Lord" it
said: ooh, rest in the Lord" over and
over again with all possible shades of
expression. Rest and he was SO
tired, SO tired. ''Wait patiently for
Him." sang the angel, for SO the weary,
heartsick man had mentally styled the
singer, although it was, in reality. only
the new alto practicing to-morrow's
solo before the other choir members
came. The word patiently" troubled
her and she sang it over again and
again, while the soul-stirred man down
in the dusky corner drank in every
word. Yes, he would be patient. Com
nit thy way unto Him, and trust in
Him." the sweet voice intoned, and
lhuCll III Ii1C tILS III tilt SiuSeT 1lttTC
was somehow transmitted to that other
heart so fast losing its despair. And
while he listened. knowing now that
the singer was human, the opening
strain began again and passed with a
glorious crescendo to the closing words:
And He shall give thee thy hearts de-
sire" His hearts desire! His darling
Agnes! He did not think of the money
now; he had no bitter feeling towards
the man who in enriching himself had
ruined so many; he only thought of his
promised wife and his long-dead moth
er. That heavenly strain had washed
all evil thoughts from his soul and
brought on its incoming tide all the
good qualities, so long hidden. to the
surface. The wandering sheep had re-
turned.
And all the while the tender voice
sang on. Sang until the choir, with
much talk and laughter, entered by the
side door and the man passed out.
Sang while he, buying 4 paper, discov-
cred that the market had changed
again and that, though he was no
longer rich. he had still enough left TO
begin life again Sang till the leader
called the choir to order and the owner
woke from the ecstasy which possessed
her to find that her evident enjoyment
of her own music was fuI Gishing great
amusement for the other singers
She did not know why she was so
blissfully happy. She never knew about
the newborn beauty her friends no.
ticed from that time on; she never
knew who sent the flowers she found
lying in her place on the music rack
next morning: she never knew that one
man blessed her memory many times
day long after that hour in the quiet
church had faded 10 dream-like rec
objection. She never knew she had
saved I soul.
She had Just come back from the
sunny south" and pinned at her collar
was q great yellow dandelIon. the
cheeriest, most joyous Of flowers. which
would be so popular If only each separ-
ate blossom had money value of half
q dollar. And as she stood waiting for
4 car most OF the passers-by glanced, II
no more, at the little tiower-sun, and
the visions they saw IN il were piled
high around the unconscious girl
Ghosts Of iong-iead people looked over
her shoulder, old lovers met aboTe her
head. loving bat half forgotten play
mates kissed again in front % her and
the wreathes OF countless defunct din
rers crowded and iost1ed each. other
-sx-sE- h.s- .1saSa = nd Owes
An cid man passing gazed 81 the
CHEEKY flower, and straightway there
arose before him grassy field taielily
dotted with its sisters. ana IL the midst
OF it. he saw himself trying - I'll his
arms with more Of them than he could
carry. The old .aan sighed. for IL that
moment be saw how al through the
lo.,s, Ya.rS since Inc. Le had bceu ,osl-