Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-11-08

In due time" and Hannah spoke with
great deliberation.
THAT Is quite true, and undoubted-
ly it is only those among US who are .
trifle worldly minded that show dis
position to hasten these thiuga" Jane
Spencer was always very meek under
reprooi, and felt glad that Others sus
tanned her desire that Uncle Joseph
should be little less deliberate In bis
action.
II can hardly think that he realizes
Sarah's worth" said a late conner
ION the contrary" it was Rhoda
Longstreet's voice, n Am sometimes
inclined to believe that his doubt rests
upon his own merit II he were ofthe
worlds people should say he was
bashful As 1t Is, call him slow In
pcrceiving his adoption to any pecul-
lar calling"
"Thee may be right" responded
Jane Spencer, md | was struck with
the note Of merry-making that &C.
companicd her words III so, j. can
only wish that somebody would give
him q hint, for | really believe that
Sarah has perceived their true rels.
tionship, aud that her spirit is troubled
since no sign Is given unto her."
"Ah," interrupted Hannah, shall
we never learn that God does not wish
US to call upon Him for signs?"
Now II had CHANGED, although none
OF those present were at that time
conscious Of 1t, that Sarah Sidney had
given up her seat In q friends carriage
to person who was suffering from .
weak limb, and had walked briskly
along the frozen road toward our
house.
Uncle Joseph, too, had chosen to
leave his vehicle at home, and, seeing
in the distance familiar, plump little
figure, ho made haste to ovcrtakc her.
For few moments they talked TO-
gcther Of the lesser things Of life.
Then they fell into silence which was
at last broken by Uncle Joseph voice;
MY mind has dwclt much to-day
upon the Bible teaching OF tho relation
OF Ruth and Doaz."
! am sure that the throbbIng heart
beneath the white muslin kerchicf Of
Sarah Sidney must have bounded .
little at this. lie went on:
Has thee ever thought II over and
applied the test to our own lives?"
1t was certainly not strange that the
good woman hesitated before she an.
swcred:
"If thee means to ask whether II hes
been shown to me that am chosen Of
the Lord to be thy companion, ! will
admit that It has, but, Joseph, thee Is
not an old man, nor am ! young hand
mailen."
Uncle Joseph stopped short In his
walk, aud, catching frightened look
upon the honest face beside him, 10
gravely said:
ut was not upon that relation that
my mind ran. thought rather Of the
increased duty In this day and genera.
ton which belongs to the husbandman
and his cleaners, or, In other words,
the responsibility Of him upon whom
the benefits Of this world have been
showered, and the loud call ever sound.
ing in my eur to extend help TO those
who need; and II has been whispered
to me that thy material goods haze
been slipped from thee, and-apd !
wished many times that might make
bold to offer my aid"
Can one marvel II feeling Of faint.
ness crept over the gentle Sarah, or
that q beseeching look set the seal
upon the awful stiffness that followed.
Uncle Joseph's voice sounded strange
In her ear She feared she should fall,
but as the tones grew clearer some.
thing else impressed her.
Sarah, thee has a more receptive
spirit than my own. have sometimes
longed to see Alright in regard to tho
formation Of closer bond with thee,
and rejoice that through my III
chosen speech thee has been led to
point the way"
lie took her trembling hand between
bis own, and smiled down upon tho
sweet, but fearful face; then her lipi
opened, the pain went forever out Of
her heart, and she whispered only;
Dear Joseph"
But her trial was not quite over.
We were already summoned to the
dinlng-room when Uncle Joseph and
Sarah Sidney entered the door to-
gether. glanced about me, and was
certain that | saw more than one look
OF satisfaction exchanged by the com.
pany present.
Tho moment Of silent blessing was
past. My mother moved Is II to DO.
gin serving the soup, but she caught
Uncle Joseph's eye, and awaited his
slow words. ~
Dear friends" he said, with little
tremor in his voice, ''rejoice with me,
for to-day has our beloved Sarah Sid.
ney revealed TO me the message that
the Lord has given into her keeping
He paused, and with q flush bright.
ening her soft cheeks, Sarah asked,
calmly:
Joseph, will thee kindly explain
thyself2"
never knew him to do anything 10
well a. he now related to US tho man.
ner In which he had obtained an In.
sight into the secret knowledge Of
Sarah Sidney's heart
Az he ceased speaking her own
rhythmic tones allied the room in ten.
der Thanksgiving To the Lord for his
gift Of companionship, and this has
svermorc remained in my memory ~
,ne Of the most beautiful aud fervent
applications have been privileged to
aear.-From Quaker Tdylls
Funston Given . New Trial
JEFFERSON CRY, Mo-, Nov a.
III -. n..-.k~.. - n...L...~ .~.-A