The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-26

ment and almost Immediately left. He
accompanied me to the door, and there
was the same impatience visible in his
manner as again urged the absolute
necessity of complete rest and change
for his wife.
1T was quite evident that something
was out of joint in the household, and
that II there had ever been any sympa>
tiny or understanding between the pair.
it had not been maintained. The popu-
lar preacher, to whom worldly success
and the applause of the multitude had
come, was hardened by prosperity. The
adulatlon and the praise of others had
made him dissatisfied. critical, harsh, to
those of his own household. His pastor
| al visitation took him into the homes Of
the rich and leisured, where he was much
made OF and hattered; it's effect was to
make him fastidious over trifies. hard to
please, dissatisfied with his own plain
home. where his wife. struggling with
| failing health and limited means, did the
best she could. If he did not absolutely
regret the marriage, which had been the
idyll OF his student days, he was bitterly
| disappointed over it's issue, and too sell
| fish to hide it. All that 1 guessed, and
my estimate of the situation was abso-
luteiy correct. Do you think have pre-
| sented an impossible picture, dear: It is
the naked truth. The soul of the man
was stunted and miserable thing,
| against which his wifes pure, womanly,
| unselfshness shone with the whiteness OF
| heaven, only as l said, his eyes were
| holden so that he could not see. Well,
| this condition of things went on for some
time. until the hot weather began in earn
est. visited Mrs. Fleming at intervals.
| sometimes professionally, but oftener in
| friendly manner. The baby improved,
but she did not, and I soon forsaw the
| end. We had many long talks. Do you
remember how in the early days of our
acquaintance you used to quiz me about
my religious views and 1 did not give
you much satisfaction? I was not very
| sure of them myself. Medical study is a
| crucial test Of religious faith, I think,
either makes shipwreck of 1t or estab-
fishes 1t on foundation of rock. Your
| husband will tell you the same thing.
Just ask him the result of his own expe-
| rlence and observation. 1t will perhaps
astonish you, that is, if you haven't talk
ed 1t over already. Well. I was for some
years in transition stage. Nora Elem
ing helped me out, and set my feet,
| please God, on the Rock forever
Here DR.. Glen paused again, and saw
| that she was moved as 1 had seldom seen
her. l sat very still. waiting for her to
! go on.
| "She lived through the summsr till Au-
gust. and then slipped away, and I
thought that, but for the child, she was
not sorry. Life had cheated her of the
highest gifts. She had grasped only a
| shodow for the happiness essential to the
-
marriage had been for her, in it's inner
| and most sacred sense, failure.
Tell me about it. the end, I mean;
that is. If you care
| Il do care; the story would be incom-
| plete without it: because l think Nora
| Fleming accomplished by her death what
her life could not do. Her husband will
| never forget her.
We'll 1T went on, as I said, all the
summer, she fading early like a flower
fhn co.. Il n
| the end was very near before he saw it..
I will give the man his due, he had many
engrossing interests. The rector, being
very frail, was away nearly all summer,
and the claims on Mr.. Fleming's time
were undoubtedly heavy. The proba-
bility was that ere long the living would
be vacant and of course it was natural
! and not blameworthy desire on his part
to make it impossible for the congrega-
ton to pass him over. Therefore he did
his utmost to make himself indispensa-
BILE to the church, and he succeeded.
"Well at last the end came. She was
not in bed; she went about, poor, frail,
brave creature. to the last. About 8
o'clock in the afternoon I had looked in
| to see her and had found her lying on
the couch in the sitting room and did not
like her look. Her smile was very faint
and feeble, and she could do no more
than press my hand when I asked her
how she was. I went out of the room
|
minister was in the house. He was not,
having gone to open a sale of work at
the church. He came in shortly, how
ever l saw him pass by the window,
| and went out to the hall to meet him.
Sir I said and don't know how my
voice sounded, only I know my heart
was wrung with pain, your wife is dy-
ing
"He stared at me in simple incredibly,
and replied hastily:
was all right at dinner time. It is only
the heat: it is very warm today
"'She is dying, repeated. 1T will be
| all over probably before sunset
yaee es tel all
ra dying. How dare you say such thing p
Come and Us, see l said, laying my hand
tly You must not trouble too much the
II saw him grow white and haggard, and
the great pain lines which have never left
it again, deepen on his brow, and softened
to him.. as every woman must soften, even
anguish az and he was not 10 a bad man-only
one who had made a gigantic mistake.
$50 led him in. And directly we were in
strange cry rang through the room-the cry
| of a strong man in bitter agony, made in
his knees by hr sde and
stepped out to the hall and there paced to
and fro. nervomsly waiting till I should be
1
should be soon; but had no business with
them in that supreme and awful moment,
| when the heart of each was laid bare to
the other in the fierce light of final separa-
ton on earth. 1t seemed long time, and
at last I tapped lightly at the door and
| couch but leaning against him and her face
| turned toward the door was radiant with
the sunshine of heaven. His was hidden,
but l saw his broad shoulders heaving nor
was the hand which supported her as
| steady as it's won't
"She held out her hand to me with a love-
ly smile, and I took step forward.
Then he looked up, and met my eyes with a
Save her. Miss Glen, save her to me,
for Gods sake, for the salvation of my
soul!
could not keep them hack.
If you cannot, then pray to God to
| help me. I know now what I have done.
| When she is gone shall feel that have
| murder on my soul
'She laid her hand on his lips and kept it
| there while she spoke.
Though 1 am gone I shall be with you,
| Wallace. Heaven Is not far away. Nay, it
is about lis everywhere and the spirits of
the redeemed are nearer than we think.
He b!anes himself too much. DR.. Glen, and
see more clearly than did. think per-
haps l shall help more when I am gone
than by his side; my spirit will give him a
message when he needs it most. God will
grant that as compensation to me and to
him SO will his ministry be blessed as it has
never yet BEEN
perhaps these were not her exact words,
but they convey her meaning to you. She
spoke with extreme difficulty. and appeared
so worn out that asked him to rise while /
laid her back upon the pillows. 1 did what
| I could to relieve her. and went away; COM
ing again sorrowfully in the evening not
knowing whether should find her in life