Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-04

Il rode in here ON my way back from
the station. not caring to meet all the
good people going to church. 1 felt like
an outcast
Il, too, am a recreant today. 1t is
the first time have missed service in a
long while. Mamma felt too unstrung
to come, and / had given mp the idea,
but both she and Aunt Grace urged me.
was too late for the omnibus and
walked up, and then 1 would not go in
because service was begun. and want
ed to be home again before noon. 1 can
not bear to be late at church or to leave
it until everything is over, but I can't
be away from mother so long today.
Shall we walk that way now?"
I'm minute l must find my horse
He is in here somewhere. Tell me how
the colonel is feeling and Mrs. May
nard ~
Both very nervous and worried,
though 1 see nothing extraordinary in
the adventure. We read of poor hungry
tramps everywhere. and they rarely do
harm"
II wonder little at your venturing
here in the wood paths after what &C.
CURED last night.
why, Captain Armitage. no one
would harm me here. so close to the
church. Indeed l never thought of
such n thing until you mentioned il.
Did you discover anything about the
MANI
Nothing definite, but / must be ut
the station again to meet the up train
and have to see the colonel meantime.
Let me find Dobbin, or whatever they
call this venerable relic I'm riding, and
then I'll escort you home. -
But Dobbin had straycd deeper into
the wood. 1t was some minutes before
the captain could find and catch him.
The rich melody of sacred music was
again thrilling through the pcrfumod
woods, the glad sunshine was pouring
its warmth and blessing over all the
earth, glinting ON bluff and brake and
palisaded cliff, the birds We're all sing
ing their rivaling psaltery, and nature
seemed pouring forth its homage 10 the
Creator and Prcservcr of all ON this his
holy day, when Frank Armitage once
more reached the powered lane where,
fairest, sweetest sight of all. his lady
stood waiting him. She turned to him
Us she heard the hoof beat on the turf
and smiled.
Can We wait and hear that hymn
through
faye, sing il.
She looked suddcnlys in his face.
Something i'll the very tone in which
he spoke startled hcr-something deep
cr, more ftrvcnt, than she had ever
heard beforehand the expression in the
steady. deep blue eyes las another rev.
citation. Alice Rcnwick had n woman :
intuition, and yet she had not known
this man Il day. The color again mount
cd to her temples, and her eyes fell after
one quick glance.
II heard You joining i'll the TIE
Deum," he urged. Sing once more.
love it. There. they are just begin
| ming again. Do You know the Words
She nodded. then raised her head, and
her glad young voice caroled through
| the listening woods:
"Holy. holy, holy! All
Heavens triumphant choir shall sing,
When the ransomed nat .ons fall
At the footstoOl OF their King.
Then shall saints and seraphim.
Hearts and voices, swell one hymn
Around the throne with full accord,
Holy, holy, holy Lord
There was silence when the music
| ceased. She had turned her face toward
| the church. and as the melody died
| away in one prolonged, triumphant
chord she still stood in rcvcrcnt atti-
| tude, as though listening for the words
| of benediction. He. too, was silent, but
| his eyes were fixed on her. He was 35,
| she not 20 He had lived his soldier
| life wifeless; hut, like other soldiers, his
heart had had its rubs and aches in the
days gonc by. Years before he had
| thought life black void when the girl
he fancied while yet he wore the aca-
| demic gray calmly told him she preferred
| another Nor had the intervening years
been devoid of their occasional yearn-
| ings for a mate of his own in the isola-
ton of the frontier. of the monotony OF
| garrison life. but fitting fancies had
left no trace upon his strong heart. The
| love Of his life only dawnCd upon him
II this late Day when ho looked into her
| glorious eyes, aud his whole soul went
out in passionate worship of the fair
| girl whose presence made that sunlit
| lane q heaven. Were he TO live n thou
sand years, no scene on Garth could rival
in his eyes the love haunted woodland
pathway wherein. like forest queen, she
stood, the sunshine and leafy shadows
dancing over her graceful form. the
goldenrod enhancing her dark and
glowing beauty, the sacred influences OF
the day throwing their mystic charm
about her rs though angels guarded and
shielded her from harm. His life haC
reached its climax. His fate was sealed
His heart and soul were conferred in one
sweet girl, and all in one brief hour il
tho woodland lane ut Sablon.
| She could not fail to sec the deeI
emotion in his eyes as Mt last she turnet
to break tho silence.
"Shall we go?" sho said simply.
1T is time, but wish We could re
main"
You do not go to church very Otter
at Sibley. do you?'
II have not heretofore. but you woul;
teach me to worship" You hav,
taught me-" no muttered below hi
breath rs he extended n hand to assis
her down the sloping bank toward thu
avenue. She looked up quickly ono
moro, pleased, yet shy, and shifted he
great bunch Of goldenrod so that sh
could lay her hand in his and lean upol
its steady strength down tho incline
and so, hand in hand, with old DobbiI
ambling placidly behind, they passe.
out from tho shaded pathway to tn,
glow and radiance of the sunlit road.