The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-11-08


Client sum for bis present purposes.
which he promised t. return in Il few
days. and the two bidding each other
farewell. the captain went at once Il
New York and Charles boarded u train
for hi, home in a New England city.
There seemed; to be a deal of mIS-
terry about the young man. even though
now mingling with the people among
whom he had been brought up. He
had frequent interviews with a woman
dressed in black. and who never failed
10 have d heavy black veil drawn over
her face. She may have been Young
or she may have been middlc-aged.
She may have been beautiful or ugly.
Possibly Charles knew. No one else
could. unless il were the woman her
self. She came mvst seriously. and went
, with the casual air of unfamiiarity Y
with the outside world. No one except
Charles seemed to care who She Nas.
hat she was. or whittier she went.
Charles 1t once obtained a position
where he could learn telcerapning and
| railway station business.
in his conversations with Louis on
shiphoard. Charles had heard his con-
punion speak Of his know ledge Of tel
c4.rap.ly. hat Louis knew. tilarl.S
never Jil'tt ttitli I1t' lcSti'!l'I the StH-t
In connection with hi, d,itie, IL he
telegraph Office he became Il diligtnt
student. and was soon quite as fanlIlli;r
with questions of politics rs had Louis
been.
For several weeks the woman in
black was missed. Upon her return.
she and Charles held many interviews.
and. seemingly as if in somewhat con
ncctcd with these meetings. Charles
one day sent the following telegraph
dispatch:
Halifax, June 49,, ISIS,
Mrs. MATILDA PATTERSON: have just land, d
here and will start at once tor home. May
reach you by Thursday. Was kidnai ped, taken
10 Cnlcutta Oh the voyage home ship
wrecked det"i'ed on an unknown land for
nearly two years. w ill tell you ull When
you. Love to Mary. Hope You ure both we'll.
Louis PATTERSON.
When the the messenger brought
the dispatch. Mrs Patterson Wa, lying
on ner couch sick almost unto death.
She was surrounded with loving friends
who sought to prove their devotion by
little acts OF kindness. but either kilt
nor kin were there to comfort her.
Yet Mary Nordrum had been to her
Mother Patterson all that child could
he. Their tears had mingled together
their hopes ccntrred on the same oh
j"ct of affection. and the heart of one
knew no pain the other didn't expert
cncc. except the mysterious secret
about Ma jor NOrdlrlm' 5 will. which the
refused to divulyc.
Mary read the message first. The
trials and SORROWS she had experienced
ncrved her tor amy event. no matter
what it might be. For IL moment She
", l,-t h.. =. Il II
thoughts went out to Mrs. Patterson.
fnr she feared the ctfcc: OF sllcn joyful
tidin~- upon Louis mother. With
head bowed upon the poor sick woman's
breast. and with arms trndcrly en-
twinrd around her neck. Mary told her
adopted mother of the expected az
rival Of her son.
Mrs. Patterson listened unnlOvcd,
then turned her head toward the wall.
a. if she would be alone with her
thoughts. An hour passed. Then.
:.rouslng herself and hccktOnng Mary
to come to her bedside. she simply
sad she prayed to live long enough to
take her dear boy by the hand. place
ii in Mary's. bless her children. and
commend her spirit to the God who
gave it.
Was her prayer answered?
Several days and nights passed. and
the hour of Louis expected arrival was
near at hand. \ kind neighbor had
offered to meet Louis with Il carriage
and bring him to his home.
During the day Mrs. Patterson APP
pcared to sleep. Hercycs were closed
and she hreathcd naturally. Suddenly
she raised herself up in bed ani looked
eagerly about the room. She was not
excited. but calm and sulf-cOmpOsrd.
Lifting her hand and pointing her
long. bony fingers toward the open
window. through which the setting sun
Shonc bright and clear she exclaimed.
in Il voice loud and distinct to,. one so
near the grave:
Sec there. Look yondcr. What a
beautiful light. How brilliant it i.
How grand Watch its golden ray,
spreading out on ali side, and in every
direction. Nearer and nearer il comes.
wider and wider its pathway is eN-
tended. and brighter ANA brighter
grows is -littrrinG RAYS. and now il
srcnl> 70 cotrr he lanI with n"w life.
new joys. new hopes. new cNpcctati ions.
and Il brighter future"
On AID on she went describing htr
wundrou> vision speaking IL ore in
>pirrd. Suddenly she stopped ANA
g.:rd uron he wondering group. The
silence WAS then broken 10y the sound
"f r,,ttlin- wheels of Il carriage :p-
preaching the house. The expected
one mas come. The little grouparound
the bedside retire. al save the weep
Ing Girl. who has clasprI her hand in
that Vt the dying woman. and the at
tending physician.
he door t>l,Ii. a 1tfl,,tr ,>lul, fn,i,,,i-