Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-02

fate had been Of itself an error. Should
he resist now? Seeing that his sister
had come to him for refuge, should he not
hide her-that was impossible, nor, had II
been possible, would he have stopped TO
any concealment-but openly protect her
against her husband, her mother and all
the word2
His head dropped In his hands to think
It over" But he had grown unused to
solitary thinking now YEARLY he looked
round for the second self, always beside
him, ready at least with the sympathy
which Is often almost as good as counsel,
sometimes even better still
But II was almost nm hour, quite the
middle of the night, before Silence came
In. She looked very pale and tired. but
there was deep joy in her face. With
her light curls dropping over her white
dressing-gown, she stood beside him,
vision of peace.
Dear, you put me in mind Of one Of
Fra Angelico's angels"
But have been doing no angels work.
l have been washing baby. She looked
so sweet, though she is so very, very
small. Then put her to bed beside her
mother, who said she felt quite safe and
comfortable
Poor Bella! And you'll fear you are
terribly worn out, my darling"
"Oh, no; | like looking after people.
And you-you are glad to have one Of
your ain folk under your roof? Is it
not strange, after our talk tonight"
Every strange, And" with kind Of
sad apology, you will be good to her?
You don't dislike herY
Dislike herW
"No; there are likeAble points about her,
poor girl! And she has suffered so muchl
What shall we do with her? have been
wearying myself with thinking Can she
stay hereY
"Of course she can. We have contrived
admirably; | rather like contriving. She
brought no clothes for herself, but she
does not forget her baby. She had
great bundle of all things needful. | do
not believe she cares for 1t after all. She
laughed, actually laughed, when she saw
1t SO happy in Its bath, which was Dur
wash-tub. Only think! neither she nor
have ever washed a baby before; we were
quite afraid but Janet, who has had lit
tie brothers and sistcrs-siX, l think
came to the rescue and helped us, Poor
Janet, she was so proudW
The simple, wholesome, domestic de-
tals-comedy neutr9lizing tragedy-Rod-
erick laughed ut them, and felt more
comforted than he could tell Then,
turning to his wife, he pressed his lips
on the small right hand, so soft, yet so
busy and so strong.
"Coals of fre-coals of fire." he MUIR
INJURED, much moved.
Silence did not at first understand the
allusion, then she said, eyes, Goals which
melt and purify all sterling ore; that was
how my father always explained the
text. And who knows?-she may be
softened yet"
my mother?"
81 have been hearing all about her. how
good she is, how generous and warm
hearted And she was always so proud
of you. She thought you ought to marry
O. countess at least, and you married only
me! 1t really was little hard for her"
Roderick drew his wife down upon his
knee--a Era Angelica" but a mortal
woman still-and buried her head on his
shoulder. He did not speak, or nothing
that she could hear, but she felt his tears.
The. said "coals of fire." when duly
heaped up, warm others besides those
they are meant to melt. Seldom had
there been brighter breakfast table
than that in the little parlor at Blackhall;
even though Bella kept it long time
waiting-"which must never happen
again." said the young master to the mis-
tress. But for once both forgaye. and
when Mrs. Alexander Thomson sailed in
her splendid clothes contrasting strangely
with her piteously white face, knelt with
her brother and his wife around the fam
lily hearth, and then took her seat at the
simple family table, all the misery out
side, the dreary past, the doubtful future.
could not take away certain sense of
peace.
But the simple breakfast of porridge
and tea, bread, butter and eggs, which
always satisfied Roderck, had, to con-
fess the truth, its difficulties with the
guest. Despite her condescending smile.
it was evidently not exactly what Mrs.
Alexander Thomson was used to, and she
felt that she was understanding. Also,
after the first warm pleasure of meeting,
both brother and sister became conscious
of that curious sense of strangeness
which, notwithstanding the closest tie
of blood, rises up after awhile between
those whose lives have drifted wide apart,
never to be united more. So much so,
that by and by conversation tagging, it
was quite relief to hear feeble wall
overhead.
(To be continued)