Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-28

lllllC-CttPt pN Nllt NlNt W " 'lNNN'
which sung in quiet under-toneS, like
the brook in the wood whcrc he djued
50 happily when first ut liberty He
could not move.
At first it seemed terrible to face
death thus. 0utcaSt and alone. and all
the scenes of his life flashed past him,
and the strange anguish which falls
on us at the thought OF dying in the
midst of Sorrow, before any hope has
been fulfilled, seized upon him with
vulture hcak.
Did his mother bear him With bitter
pains for this, to die in his prime Of
want and hardship? An the high hopes
and rich promise OF his youth Smote
upon him With keen anguish, and Cy-
rilS one message to him in prison,
"IIe shall make thy righteousness
clear us the light, and thine innocence
as the MONDAY" shot across his brain
in letters of fire.
Some feeling of family pride re-
vived within him, and he thought how
much harder it was for an Evcrard to
perish by the way than for one born
by the way-side and nurtured in want.
He thought of Leslie. Did he lie
alone thus face to face with death,
when he got the wound which in the
end proved fatal? How different that
dying on the field of honor must have
been! And vet how small, how
phantom-like everything earthly
seemed in that hour of tremendous
reality! Did not one event happen to
all?
The green fields, dcwy bright in the
rising sun, reeled before him, and he
summoned his failing forces and APP
piled them to prayer for all who had
been dear to him.
He was now no more alone; the
sweet and awful consciousness Of Il
Divine Presence came upon his
claimed soul, Lilian'S beautiful voice
seomed to speak passages fun of
mighty hope from the Scriptures; he
heard the brooks low murmur and
the light whisper OF leaves above his
head. He seemed to be resting on
some kind of arm which was now
Ilian'S, now an angels and the rose
flushed morning sky at which he
gazed opened and disclosed indiStnct
forms moving i'm light. He saw his
mothers face, LcSlic's, the baby Matt
lands, so long dead; majestic pres
i,,;t I,i II,
noble dead hovcrcd near in august
silence through which mighty music
of unutterable JOY swept in melodious
thunderS
The vision vanished in keen chill
and he woke to find rain pattering on
his upturncd face. The fresh shower
renewed his sinking energies. and
cleared his brain; some animal in
stinct told him day was declining He
knew that the bitterness of death was
past 1t was sweet to feel the soft
rushing of the cool rain on his face; it
seemed a pleasant thing to die thus. to
cease from painful being, and minglc
with the kindly elements and dissolve
into the gracious componcntS of the
great universe. The brook sung on
and the leaves rnStlpd lovingly to-
gethcr. and a little wren suddenly let
its strong heart of song loose upon the
air; such a volume of melody from
such a tiny breast! lie remembered
what Cyril said one day of the wrcn's
song IF the mere joy of animal eX
istcnce cvok"S such a passion Of rap
turc, what must be the fullness Of
bliss called forth by the conscious
ness of pure spiritual life. unfettcred
and unclogged by sin or sense"
1t did not seem strange that Cyril
was sitting there by his side, diScoulS-
ing In the old bright way, with the
old familiar kindness and something
more than the old radiance of youth
in the blue eyes, whose light was
blended confnSingly with that Of the
broad heaven above, whence the
clouds We're rapidly sweeping. Cyril
spoke of the broken SevrcS vase laugh
ing at the childish terrOrs of that by
gone tranSgreSSion. You got the
blame, old fellow and the punishment,
but got the suffering" he said.
Yes" he added, in the thoughtfulneSs
that was wont to descend upon the
twins In their lightest moments; "the
sorrow Of sorrows Is sin"
Then Cyril seemed to fade, and only
Lillian remained, unseen, supporting
him till he lost all consciousness.
at Is case Of want and exposure"
said the doctor, bending over the life
less form beneath the tree, and ap-
plying brandy 10 the closed lips.
stand back, If sou please wonder
that you picknicers let the man lie
alone here all these hours
1--WE thought he was drunk" re-
piled young man, with an air Of
conjunction I'VE passed him at noon.
and did not pass again till five, when
he seemed 70 be asleep. Tramps 50
often sleep half the day"
"And Smith saw him at nine. and be
was begging in the village yesterday
and must have lain here all last night
and 1t Is eight o'clock row. What 10
you think Of that, Inspector