Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-05-30
CHAPTER X.
COPYRIGHT Ieee srJ JB.LiOPincoTI COMPANY.

Keep thy heart with all diligence"
said the preacher, ''for out of it are
the issues of life" After him the
psalmist sang: with God the Lord
belong the issues from death" I'm
equal to the full comprehension Of
such words, yet trusting in their 6i-
vine inspiration, We accept them as
Thomas a Kempis counseled regard
ing the sayings of the ancients-not
to despise them, for they were not
uttered without a cause" 1t seemed
strange. and not very rSconcilable
with the ideas even of pious people, for
Cullen Amerson to be struck down In
the midst of a young manhood SO
happy and manful and apparently so
vigorous. Yet the same pious people
said they had not doubt hut what it
was all for the best, and Cullen him
self, from the beginning to the end Of
his sickness, spoke not one word of
complaint.
'It's all right, Hannah" he said
when, in answer to pointed inquiry
put to his physician, the latter replied
that the case was hopeless.
She fell upon her knees at his bed
side, and, with affection child-lilze as
it always had been, wept bitterly. The
outpouring consoled him much; for an
apprehension, vague as il was, had
been in his mind for some time past
with a soreness which he could not and
would not try to explain to him
self He had not asked about what
passed between her and Wiley;
but her continued avoiding of any
mention of his name, and an oc-
casional cloud on her face, had been
troubling him. 1t was perhaps well
that he had not earlier known all thai
occurred during her visit, because the
revelation might have hindered the
resignation with which he was meet
ing death. AS it was, he heard with
calmness the confession which she
could not withhold. Weak in some re-
spects, she had wholesome fear of
wrong-doing, and now She felt that
she could not endure to go without his
forgiveness for what, If he had known
it when in health, might have exasper-
ated him to deadly resentment against
his brother.
''It was not until then, my dearest
Cullen" she said, "that l saw the dan
ger of the planning my poor, weak,
foolish mind had conceived to bring
about some sort of proposal from
Wiley that might lead to fair settle
ment between you and him, a thing
which I know Sister Julia desired as
eagerly as 1 did. God knows l did not
and could not respond in the smallest
degree to his feeling, so much stronger
than had believed. did not tell him
so in words, keeping before my eyes,
IN spite of the shame / felt, the end ]
had in view. But on nay bed that night
/ called upon my Maker to witness my
resolution that such as that should
never be again. Thoughts of You and
Pearce, and added pity for poor sister,
kept me awake almost the livelong
night. Her delicate instinct, or some
thing she noticed in my manner or
looks, made her seem rather less cor
dial during the, rest of my stay, aud
when left she did not ask me to come
again. Oh, Cullen, CullenP'
Throwing herself upon her knees,
she covered with her hands her burn.
ing face. During her story his lips
quivered several times. He now said;
Hannah, get up and sit in the
chair where l can see your face"
She obeyed and looked with shud'
dering fear down upon him.
Hannah, when l and sister are
out of the way, if brother should pro-
pose to marry you, how"
Instantly she rose, on her counte.
nance an expression of mingled anger,
horror and despair. Placing her hand
upon her bosom she looked at her hus'
band as If he had pierced her with q
dagger which was searching for every
recess in her heart Then, lifting both
arms high above her head, shs cried:
90 my God, you know that from the
first day when my husband was laid
upon this bed of sickness my constant
prayer has been to list up from it this
light of my life and put me in his
place! And now you let my thoughts
be turned away from him to another
man, who, of all l know and all !
ever did know, is the most odious to
my heart! O. you terrible God! If you
won't let me die, won't you-won't you
take some pity for what you see isupon
me?"
She stood painting, looking upon her
husband as if he was one from another
world who had come to judge her. Sad
as the smile was, never one more