Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-05-29


the shadow of sorrow"
He went to the door, sent sister in
search of the little maid and then re-
turned to his chair.
Sister Elizabeth came with eyes down.
cast, expecting the rebuke which she
felt she deserved.
"And thou wouldst leave us? Ell
der Charles asked, when she stood be-
fore him.
The girl glanced up and saw in his
face the permission she desired. '"Then
thou art not angry?" she cried, land
thou wilt let me go? Oh, thou wilt
never regret it,
How she longed to thank them, to
caress them in the excess of her de-
light. But the long years of discipline
and self-repression had given her no
words with which to express herself.
"Now may leave thee for a time p
she asked, abruptly, her eyes full Of
happy tears.
They watched her silently rs she
went down the smooth white gravel
path.
II am going away" she said to the
hedges, as she passed between them.
II am going away" she said to the
Jerseys, as she went through the lane
where they awaited the milking time.
And II am going away" she said to the
grass-hidden violets of the meadow, to
the trees in the grove beyond, and to the
rugged hills that kept watch over the
peaceful Shaker valley.
The caressing quiet of the summer
| evening surrounded and enveloped her.
| She returned to her room, exhausted
but happy, to dream and dream again
| Of the new world into which she was
going. Waking or sleeping, her dream
| continued through the details of prep
aration to the hour of departing.
The elders of the community offered
her an embarrassment of riches and
friendly advice and timely warnings.
The juniors regarded her with half
deprecating admiration, while some of
! the more devout ones took leave of her
| with tears and sighings, thinking in
| their hearts that it was final farewell.
Everyone was kind, so kind that
she sometimes wondered if she could
find other friends SO true, or if after all
the new life would be so happy.
Charles and Hannah had chosen
wisely when they selected their daugh-
| ter's home for Elizabeth while she was
away from them. They had no doubt
she would return.
| They knew that the maiden over
whom their hearts yearned with such
] 1,ol hot
! state of conservation that her in
dividual interests were merged in the
divine interest, her purposes in the di.
| vine purposes and her individual labors
! merged in the labors of Christ's king
DOM" But they believed firmly, that
since the principles and practices of 1,
worldly life are so opposed to the polity
of the Shaker communism. her heart
would instinctively return to them, and
her spiritual nature would once more
rise to their level.
At their daughters, Elizabeth would
have the best of masters for the cultiva.
ton of her voice.
This they deemed only right. More
over, they knew that here her peculiar
religious views would be respected, and
her sublime gift improved to Il refine
ment of perfection.
For the rest, for her ultimate return
to them and her entire conservation OF
treasure. as we'll as Of body and soul, oil
time, talents and service, which is re-
quired for full membership in the
Household of Faith, they relied upon
their thorough training through the
years she had been with them. and hel
own steadfast nature underneath the
youthful impulsiveness.
And so they let her go. looking for
ward confidently to the time when she
should return, satisfied.
In her new home her love for artistic
beauty was satisfied with the harmoni.
Gus whole.
She looked at the bits of curio, the
soft, thick carpets, and the beautiful
hangings, thinking. as she worked still
more earnestly: How much better this
is than the old lfe.''
When at the beach she wandered
along the cliffs and sung the soprano
TO the oceans deep bass, she said, look
ing forward to the winter when she
should make her debut on the stage
"Ies, this is better than the old life
But when the time came and she
found herself frightened and Devil,
dered standing before the audience
her courage gone, she longed for tho
seclusion of the peaceful valley.
The accompanist understood the
Shaker maiden. understood his audi
cnce and his instrument.
He gave the piano swift caress
and leaning forward, seemed to wills.
per: Encourage her."
The soft, varying melody breathet
upon her over-wrougnt nerves anG
Quoted them. 1t soothed and petteC
and controlled her until she could con
troll her voice, and then subsiding, fur
nished the background against which
her fresh young voice was only the
most charming. She felt the enthusi.
assn of her audience, and forgot all bu!
the rapture of song.
Her triumph was complete. Even
1 ho Ell ~.