The Yale expositor., 1896-08-07

| tncy nave uSeu us SnameIully. he-
member l am actually their pastor no
longer"
But his wife gently pleaded; pleaded
to stay midst the danger, to aid him in
the duties which would fall to him
amidst the sick and dying; and, touch
ing his heart and soul by her sweet
Christian spirit, brought him at last
to say: "You shall have it as you
choose, Rosa; we will stay amidst this
hard Observation-Disclosures people in their
hour of trial; but, God sparing us, we
will leave them when it is over, and 60
| elsewhere"
And Rosa Redlaw rejoiced and
| thanked him. But bye-and-bye a
natural womanls dread came into her
heart, and she looked at him with tears
in her dark eyes. Walter" she whis-
pered, bushing as she spoke, "you
have often called me beautiful. Should
l lose that beauty, could you love me
| still? Should this pestilence, falling
| upon me, scar and mar my face, would
| be as dear to you? Speak truly,
darling"
But he had no need to speak, for she
read the constancy and purity of his
love in the one long look he gave her,
and sobbed upon his shoulder-"Nay,
then, I shall have no fear"
At dawn the two went forth upon
their mission.
In their selfish horror, kinsfolk fled
1 oh ~ q N from
those who had been nursed at the same
breast. children deserted their parents,
friends grew brutal to each other; but
those two young creatures never
swerved from their appointed task;
like ministering angels, they went
from house to house, aiding the over
tasked physician, supporting the moth
er's falling courage, coming to the
| lonely and deserted in their greatest
need. Sometimes they were together,
but more frequently apart there was
so much to do. When they could, they
met at night in the old parsonage; but
often dying touches or sick beds,
where lives hung in the balance, kept
them separated for several days. But
their hearts and prayers followed each
| ether always.
1t was trying time, but they were
very brave and faithful. Some Of those
who had been most cruel to Rosa Red
| law were her patients now, and lay
| helpless as infants while she famed
the Pickering flame of life within their
| bosoms.
When. save for her, no friend had
watched beside the couch OF loath-
some disease; when in the bathroom,
and watched; when her own hands
robed the dead infant for its last
sleep, and it was known to all what
mission she had taken upon herself,
wonder filed the village, and in lit
| tie while there arose to Heav-
en- so many prayers for Rosa Red
law and her husband that, had the
| Mohammedan belief been true, they
need have had no dread of the burn
ing path" it must have been paved so
thickly.
And in time, though that day was
slow in coming, the pestilence began to
abate, and health came to Appleblow
again, with the sharp frosts and keen
cold air Of the Christmas time. On
Christmas day joy-bells were rung
from the steepies in Appleblow, to tell
the people that the rod was lifted.
But before night sad news ran
| through the village. She who had
| watched with them, who had been so
| tender and so faithful, who had pass
ed through those fearful scenes when
the pestilence was at its worst. as
though she wore a charmed life, was
smtten, now that she was no longer
| needed.
The shutters of the parsonage were
closed, the windows darkened, silence
as of death reigned throughout its
rooms, for the angel of the house lay
| trembling on the margin of the grave.
Another pastor preached this Sabbath
in Appleblow, and all knew well why
| he was there. Walter Redlaw watched
beside his darling's bed, and never left
it day or night.
Penitential tears fell in Appleblow
that Sabbath; prayers went up to
Heaven for the pastors fair young
wife, and the angels heard them, and
heard also those of the young husband,
and bore them through the gates of
Heaven, and sang them to celestial mu-
sic at the foot of the Throne, telling
how good she was, and how true, and
so fit for heaven that it were a mercy
to less perfect mortals to let her stay
on earth.
And the Most High listened. The
death angels wings flung their shadow
on the portal Of the parsonage, but did
not pass it; and, pale and feeble, but
with life still strong in her young
breast. for she chung to her husband
with all a woman's earnestness, and
loved earth for his sake, Rosa Redlaw
lay at last free from the burning fe-
yer, certain to live-so the old doctor
said, with tears in his gray eyes.
But was she sure of her soft, child
like beauty, OF her pearly skin, OF her
golden hair, Of her bright blue eyes?
God alone could tell. But Walter,
bending over her, thought of the prom
| T.. l.a ~, AZ bor nm the dow uyb a y,