The Irish standard., 1894-04-14


~ things which in Cullen's lifetime had
not seemed practicable. Not few
reasonably good church members adj
mitted to have been struck by the UNI
expected soft words which Wiley spoke
of his late brother.
The forebodings about his wife in no
long time were justified. Most benign
is that one of the ways of Divine Provi-
dence wherein He leads those whom
He is to take soon to Himself to the
desire of doing some special good that
may follow. them into the eternal world.
The prospect of a Judgment where
every idle word is to be counted makes
dying woman. more often than dy-
ing man, feel like forgetting or extern
uating all evil doings except her own.
Things in her husband which used to
distress her to evaporation did SO NO
longer If she had loved him more,
rather if the love INDUCED for brief
period had not been insulted and driv-
en- out of her being, the coming of this
condition might have been more diff
cult. AS it was, the only concern for
him she felt was that he might be saved
from the ruin which she foresaw in the
path he was following. Towards Han
nah she did not indulge a feeling of
personal resentment, nor would if she
had been in robust health. Dissociated
Anderson. she only pitied Hannah as
she pitied other poor women who were
in the habit of selling themselves to
him. The compassion begun at the de-
lection Of Hannah's weakness had
deepened more and more. and now,
since Cullen's death, she hoped she saw
way by which Hannah and Wiley
might atone for all past wrongdoings.
When she could no longer rise from
time in the house. and, with her broth
er and her widowed sister, rendered
every possible service. Occasional
words of comforting came from his
mouth. which were answered with
calm thanks. Selfish. earthly of the
earth as he was, he pitied her for whom
he was obliged to feel much respect,
and the thought that soon he must see
her face no more touched him with
some feelings of sincere sympathy. He
was not wicked enough to admit great
Joy at the going away of one between
whom and himself what affection had
been was long gone, and in that pres
ence of death his conscience, that new
or had been sensitive, troubled him no
little while thinking OF disappoint-
ments now past remedy which he had
wrought. His changed attitude COM
forted her much. and she began to in
dulge hope of good to him to come,
after her own death. from his more
satisfactory home conditions. One day,
whispering to the others around her
that she wished to speak with him in
private, when these had withdrawn she
said:
'sMr. Anderson, l want to have some
talk with you. It is about Hannah,
and I hope you will understand my
feelings in what am going to say. My
belief since Cullen's death has been
that after my own and after what will
seem a becoming lapse of time, you
and she will marry each other; and
what I've been wanting to say about it
is this: 1t is not only my wish for it to
be so, but it is my solemn belief that it
will be the only means of reconcillng
the troubles over your brothers estate.
l have thought much. very much about
it, and felt it my duty to let you both
know my views and my feelings And
/ want them made known in the COM
munity, so that people will have no
cause to remark on any improperly of
it or it's taking place, as earnestly
counsel, with little delay. That's what
l had to say to you
She looked at him with as much
calmness as if never tie of any sort
had been between them. The shame
which so long had been dormant in his
being came forth, making him shrink
before those dying eyes. When he had
somewhat recovered he said:
s'Why. Julia! why. how can you talk
to me in that way? didn't couldn't
believe you thought so poorly of me-,
Hannah? Why, Lord help me! can't
talk, and I can't bear to hear You talk,
about my marrying with Hannah or
anybody else.
''Why not. Mr.. Amerson?" she asked,
in tone cold as her cold hand.
"Recause-because it's a thing l
can't even think about: and I've no
idea that such a thought was ever in
Hannah's mind. Good Lord, Julia!''
She looked for several minutes at his
evident embarrassment, and then, in a
tone almost masculine, said:
eve been supposing that at least
you had been so expecting, and
wanted both to know that my wish
was for the speedy fulfllment of your
expectations. If in this was mis-
taken. the case is indeed an unhappy
one. l don't think you can doubt that
Hannah would marry you if you were
to ask her. If you do not, she is to be
ruined. Oh, Mr.. ANDERSON! you put
wrong, more than one wrong, upon
your brother which will have to be
atoned for in some way. The dear boy
died not knowing the kind and extent
Of some of it, and without suspicion OF
what would have seemed to his gener-
Gus nature far the greatest. During
his life, playing upon the weakness OF
his wife, whose loyalty he was too pure
himself to suspect. you-to what ex-