People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-01-06

BILE to brighten her few remaining
days, she showed no appreciation Of it,
and at last died as she had lived, unfor-
giving and unforgiven. For two days
before she died l never went near her,
my presence having such a disturbing
effect on her that for hours afterward
she shook like one with a chill. Hers
was sad death, her life going out in
darkness and deep regrets, with no fond
memories to cheer her.
Itwas several days before | could ap-
proach my sister, sle was so cold and
reticent. | learned from my father
that her married lif had not been hap
Ply, and that after en- years of strife
she and Hanley had separated, he going
west to the mountains and she coming
back to her parents. The separation
was not final, my father hoped, but
there was no telling how long it might
last, since Hanley had becolco extreme
ly uncertain in his habits and it was
evident that he had no love for his
wife.
Learned that Mary was cross and ex-
acting with her husband, and that after
five or six years of married life he had
taken to drinking steadily, running
through with all his property, and
at last leaving hG in q fit of disgustN
So long as my father had money Mary
had called on him COR help, and he hi
given so freely thatin time he serious
embarrassed himself, and was, - a ast
resort, forced to pllce his hcHne under
mortgage. -
yearned to comfort my sister, but, re-
Numbering what she had said about
never wanting my love or sympathy, l
was chary of approaching her. But at
last had an opportunity to speak, and
disregarding what the result might be,
l availed myself of it, and opened my
heart to her as a sister should, speaking
to her tendcrly, soothingly and sympa-
thetically, but not as one havinga right
to advise. l av6ided all semblance of
condescension or superior virtue, and
talked as one erring creature might talk
to another.
After awhile my words had effect
with her, and the flush of resentment
that first marked her face faded out,
al tears followed. At last she became
So ar reconciled that she leaned her
head on my shoulder and allowed me to
place my arm about her.
Agnes" she said, when we had
talked long time, 81 don't deserve
such kindness from you. said once,
you remember. that | never would
want your love or sympathy. was
wicked and silly then, and little knew
what was before u.s."
I'VE all do and say things" ! replied,
"that we are sorry for afterwards; but
we should learn to forget them"
you can afford to be generous and
forgiving, Agnes" she answered, "be-
cause you are good. 1t is not so with
me. | have been selfish and mean,
and when was prosperous / disdained
you. You ought to despise me and re-
joice to see me brought down to what
am"
Il would do myself no credit and add
nothing to my own happiness, Mary, if
exulted over you now. was poor
once and friendless, and know what it
is to be so; and for that reason | can
sympathize. Let the past be buried,
Mary, and let US begin new life as far
as our relations are concerned. If eth
er Of us has done or said aught that was
wrong and injured the other, let it be
forgiven and forgotten"
II would to Heaven, Agnes, that it
could be so, but fear it cannot. You
do not recall all have said to you, how
misjudged you and impeached your
virtue. That, Agnes, was the cruelest
thing of all, because l knew it was not
true"
had not till that moment recalled
what she had said of my virtue, and the
remembrance of her words for an in
slant checked my love and sent a pang
of resentment to my breast. But let
it pass directly, and looking down into
her eyes said:
THAT was the cruelest wrong you
ever did me, Mary, but l forgive it.
Let it go with the rest of the past and
be forgotten. You regret it now,
know"
81 do, l do. Iregret it sincerely, and
would give half my life to be able to
recall it."
Mary felt better after our conference,
and appeared much happier. She need
ed sympathy and love, for she had long
been denied them. promised that
Charles and / would do everything we
could to reclaim Hanley and bring aim
back to her, promise we kept with
such good result thatin time hereturned.
He and Mary settled down in a
small town where Charles secured a po-
sition for win, and, though l cannot say
they are happy, they are better con-
tented and more prosperous than they
had been before.
Soon after my stepmother's death
my father was compelled to ,give
up his home, the last of all his poses
sions. He was adrift in the world, just
as l had been years before when wa;
driven from the same sheltering roof
but there was difference, for while nc
heart beat in sympathy for me, one
heart beat in sympathy for him.
opened my door and took him in; Civ
ing him a daughters love, and making
the few years remaining to him a.
pleasant and comforting as l could
] C1,orlac canOpdad INV a4ror+c axar+;,,r