The Dickinson press., 1896-02-22
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LIGHT AT EVENING TINE


the Lake Ionia Sunday School
Assembly. Behind them vas the
white city Of tents from which came
the subdued mufmur of voices as
groups Of strollers wandered here and
there. or, seated on the grass and
swinging in the hammocks, discussed
the various exercises Of the day.
In front OF them was the beautiful
lake. dotted with white calls. Pretty
red and green rowboats were gliding
about on the golden water while
above them the oak, poplar and maple
trees whispered together as II in
sympathy with the love story that was
being lived beneath their branches.
He, Lawrence Gray, the grave young
minister, reclined on the grass a little
below her. She, sweet Hazel Dhu,
sat on a gray rock which p%rotruded
from the bank Just far enough to form
a seat for one.
Is there no other solution to our
dificulty" Lawrence asked. in his low
voice, looking up to her with a rare
smile. in which there was a touch Of
sadness.
II would sacrifice anything else In
the world to be a yor except Gods
CALL" Lawrence said, reverently; but
I gave myself to the missionary work
before I knew you"
II knew 1t; but He who marked out
our lives for us knew that we should
love each other. and He would not
ask us to sacrifice our happiness for
His work, unless it was best for us
BOTH" responded Hazel, with the glow
of self-sacrifce in her face.
ooh, yes, it must be for the best"
assented Lawrence, and then there
was a silence between them for a
while.
The sun in the west sank lower and
lower. The gold of water changed to
crimson and then to purple. The
crops Of strollers behind them began
turning their steps toward the great
tabernacle, where the evening lecture
was to be; the sailboats anchored near
the shore with their sails furled for the
night; the shadows thickened under
the trees and the lights began to come
out in the little city across the lake.
1--WE may not have to wait so very
long" remarked Hazel, at last. IF
anything should happen to free me
from my obligation, you know. I could
come to you at any time.
"Would you leave your native land
and come along across the ocean to
make a home for me?" questioned
Lawrence. softly, his face lighting up
again with his rare smile.
For answer Lawrence lifted the little
hand he held and kissed 1t.
do you doubt itY" asked Hazel,
INDEPENDENTLY.
anyway" he went on, brightly,
after q moment, 1--WE have three more
days to be together, and we must
make the most of them"
He gave her his hand and assisted
her up the bank, where they fell In
with the moving crowd which soon
filed into the great tabernacle, where a
noted orator Of the day was to give a
lecture on popular scientific subjects.
Lawrence concentrated his attention
on the lecture and soon became alb
sorbed in it. But there was a dreamy
look in Hazel's eyes which betrayed
the wandering thoughts of the owner.
Now and then she turned a proud
glance at the manly form by her side.
then q shade Of sadness would creep
over her face as she thought Of the
long parting that was soon to be.
The next morning was the Sabbath.
It was q beautiful. calm. summer day,
and the lovers came to the tabernacle
again, side by side, to attend the usual
divine services. The sermon was by a
simple hearted old man from the coun-
try, whose text was from the words of
Zachariah, the prophet: cat evening
time it shall be light"
A radiant smile lighted up Lawrence
Gray's face as he heard the words. and
he reached out and touched Hazel's
hand.
The sermon was for u.s." he re-
marked. az they walked away after
the ermon was over. I'VE must make
1t u motto and live in hope"
EYES," Hazel responded, with soul-lit
eyes. 'if our happiness does not come
to us in this world it will surely come
in the next. And yet, Lawrence. | do
not want you to feel bound to wait for
ME. You will need a helpmeet so
much. If you can find another that
can make you happy"
"Hush, Hazel. Where there is such
union Of soul as ours we cannot know
q second love-"
"Then wen wait for the evening
time"
Next day they parted. Lawrence
Gray to 20 to New York, there to take
a ship for China. and Hazel Dhu to 20
back to the white-roofed farmhouse.
where two helpless invalids awaited
her love and care.
Eight years passed away, and then
Lawrence Gray came home. He came
to present plans and solicit money for
a new building In his missionary field,
He was full Of enthusiasm in his work,
but not 81 full as to forget the woman
who had been uppermost In his mind
all these years.
Regular letters had passed between
them, and lie knew from them that hel
mother was dead. and that to him
Hazel was the same. He almost dared
to hope that when his vacation wa,
over she would be free to 60 bach
with him. But when he sought thu
farm house with the eagerness of
young lover in his eyes lie found hel
lkhluGE BILL uVl4S duU lWO OuUJ
nephews. left by a sister who hai
gone home to God but a few month,
previous, claiming her love and ut
J tention.
So, after a brief visit, they parted
again, he disappointed, she with tn
beautiful glow of ~self-sacritice in he
face.
"Our waiting seems doomed to b
very long," he said, almost bitterly, a
l he held her hand for a moment a
p. .ting.
"Yes, darling" she whispered; "bu
' Al evening time 1t shall be light"
Twelve years more passed by. Haze
I Dhu, a woman of forty, with gra,
y tinged hair waving around a fail
sweet face. sat alone in her neat littl
{ parlor, thinking of the past. Tween.
e years had gone by since she and I4a7
renee Gray had sat by Lake Ionia ]
/ the long ummer twilight and talke
y Of their parting, and now at last 81
le was free.
Only yesterday they had laid her Il
valid father away In his quiet gray
Nephew Will was at college, and ha
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