Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-31


The tears she is unable 10 repress now
chase each other over her cheek from
which all color has fled
"Dou't cry like that. can not stand il.
my dar-" IL mean there Is nothing for
YOU 10 feel SO bad about Then after IA
moment IN which he has conjured up IA
smile, that is indeed painful 10 see, !
dare say I'll recover from il, come let Us
be frieuCs again, with an assumption OF
the caree,sncs- that has ever characterized
him. 1t is very poorly done, and Bee,
looning at him, can not help but see how
miserable he Is really feeling
a. am so sorry, she says brokcnly her
hand Is still resting in his strong clasp,
and the eyes she raises To his are heavy
with unshed tears that she l. irving val.
antly to subdue
At this most inoppDr;une moment Bart
comes from behind bend in the path IN
to full view of them, and taking in the
situation, is exceedingly wroth
You had better hurry; they have been
waiting for you this half hour, says he,
in hard uncompromisiug tone.
He comes up to Bee, never glancing at
Rolla. indeed he might have been inyisi-
BILE for all the attention he pays him. picks
up her basket and in disagreeable tone
says
If YOU don't want 10 be laughed al
you d better dry your tears, you'll have
time enough for that sort of thing when
you get home
Not another word is spoken until they
reach the wagon. once Bee had trpped
over trailing vine and nearly fallen. Bart
caught her roughly, with "a little angry
shake sets her on her feet agnin. Until
now he has not looked at her How very
pale she looks; how tired \ little re
morseful feeling creeps into his heart. BY
and by he looks ut her again; this time
she Is asleep Even in the dim light he
can see the panied expression around the
childish mouth the last remnant of anger
dies within him Surely, she Is uncom'
]
darkness. ne slips his arm around her, aud
draws her head down into a comfortable
position on his breast. \ feeling OF rest
of conteniment steals over him oh that
he might have her always with him They
are almost home; he bends and kisses her
once or twice The wagon stops. She awak-
ems with start, surprised TO find where
her head had rested all through the long
drive. He helps her out, trying always TO
see her averted face, which she keeps
turned from him until she reaches the
door. then she turns and gives him a little
wan smile. She is not angry his heart
beats gladly and some of his joy is eX-
pressed in his voice as he bids her good
night.
1t is sunday evening; the air is cool and
delicious truly there Is no hour half SO
sweet as this. Who does not love the
twilight. Who says old age is repulsiye
When one has led pure life, is 1t not
rather like the last hours of the departing
day, calm, and peaceful, waiting for the
new day to dawn in the new jerusalem
Bart is standing on the porch waiting
for Bee They are going to walk to the
little church where nearly every Sunday
of her life Bee has gone. Ii is nearly SIN
weeks ago since Bart came t. the farm.
All the happiness. of his life seems bound
l.. 81 s ~
told Bee of his great love for her because
he is not 10y any means sure Of her WHAT
would life be worth without her. Moth.
ing. he tells himself. Just then she comes
out the door looking lovely in her white
dress and pretty Leghorn hat She is
strangely silent tonight and walks along
quietly by his side; and he: He i, con
tented only to have her near. They reach
the church Just as the first hymn is being
sung; they enter and take their places
quietly As the last note dies away the
minister rises to his feet. He is man
grown old in his master service When
he speaks Bart is surprised by the power
of his voice. Sweet and clear the text
echo through the church For God SO
loved the world. that he gave his only be
gotten son. that who so ever bcieyeth in
him should not perish but have everlast
Ing life
Never had Bart been So affected by a
sermon, as he was when this old man told
them of the JOY he had found and they
might ind in following Christ precepts
He glanced at Bee all the mischief seem.
ed to have died out of her face. leaving
only tenderness in it. her eyes were moist,
and he could see faint trcmble of the
sweet lips.
When at the close Of the sermon he
said he never closed sermon without
asking if there was not some one present
willing to give their hearts to God SeY
eral arose Bart hesitated for "A moment
and looked at Bee She laid her hand in
his and together they arose to their feet.
How that old mans heart rejoiccd to sec
so many there were eight in alD willing