The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-02

- Y ssT''; S Ess's ::
Money, credit, honor. Oh. for Il sudden
death blowl 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 Il church
clock strike, and like Il sudden vision
came Il thought of the mother who had
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. Who knows?
He was Il 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 bc 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 awol<c the body of the
church was still dark, but several black
robcd 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: "Oh, rest in the Lord it
said "Oh, 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.
hcartsiclI 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" trouble,
her and she sang it over again and
again, while the soul-Stirrcd man dow i,
in the dnslly corner drank in every
word. Yes, he would bc patient. Com.
mt thy way unto Him, and trust in
Him. the sweet voice intoncd. and
much OF the trus in the singers heart
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! lie did not think OF the money
now; he had no bitter feeling towards
the man who in cnriching himself had
ruined so many; he only thought of his
promised wife and his long-dcad moth
or. 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
mach talk and laughter, entered by the
side door and the man passed out.
Sang while he, buying 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 endowment
of her own music was furnishing great
amusement for the other singers
Z She did not know why she was so
blissfully happy. She never knew about
lohe newborn beauty her friends no
ticcd from that time on; she never
I 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 TO drcam-lille rec
objection. She never knew she had
saved soul
She had just come back from the
sunny south" and pinned at her collar
was great yellow dandelion, the
checriest, most joyous of flowers. which
would be so popular if only each scpar-
ate blossom had a money value of half
Il dollar. And rs she stood waiting for
car most OF the passcrs-by glanced. IL
no more, at the little flower-sun. and
the visions they saw in it were piled
high around the unconscious girl.
Ghosts of long-dead people looked over
ler shoulder old lovers mot obooo -,