The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-09-10
words could reach my ear life could not
be barren.

lutO winch Ire stoiileu 10 nave ullen.
Drawing near, softly laid my hand on
his. It was icy cold. stopped to kiss
his brow, burt its marble wilderness re-
vealed TO me the awful truth. The desc
lation which had lowered DER my spirit
all day had been no idle precursor of ill.,
Death had entered my home and
snatched from me the one being left
me to love. An awful calm fell upon
me. No tears came to relieve my burn
ing lids-not even when | heard the
dull thud which gave back to mother
earth its own.
1t was then that Edward Fearing
came to comfort me. 1t was long ere
even his words penetrated the outer
crust of rebellious discontent; but he
probed his way so skillfully, SO tender
ly, that ere l knew it thehealing waters
of comfort rushed in, and found their
vent in outward tears.
I do not know when I learned to love
my teacher. Does one ever measure
the hour, the moment, when love en-
tiers their lives? could see by this pas
sion which awakened in me the mean
ing of true love and false. No world
ly glitter, no tickle allurements were
here. The life we must lead together
would tbe one devoted to the Masters
service, but I felt nothing could be
sacrifice l shared with him. had told
him all my past one afternoon, when he
had just left me, and the echo OF his
words still was ringing in my ear, when
an impatient tread across the hall,
shadow darlened the door Of the room
in which sat.
looked up, wondering If Edward
had returned, with some forgotten word
of fondness on his lips, when, stand
ing with pale face l saw what in that
first agonized moment l believed my
husbands ghost.
started with wild cry, and would
have fallen but that his arms caught
and held me, and then knew that it
was no spirit, but living flesh which
bound me.
Oh, the agony of that awakening, the
torture of the thought which slowly
burned itself upon my brain, that my
love for Edward cow was sin, that |
who had so lightly talked Of sacrifice
shared with him must meet a greater
sacrifice than any he had pictured, and
meet it alone!
All this l endured while | lay SEEM
ingly in outward calm, and listened to
my husbands story, how he had been
left, as his friends supposed, dead upon
the field but how the Indians, strange
" moved to pity. bound up the wounds
they themselves had caused, and held
him for six months captive. Then, pro-
curing his release, and learning |
thought him dead, he determined to
leave me in that belief, but how his life
had grown purposeless, and he grew
TO feel vain yearning for home and
wife.
Had l found you married, Madge,"
he ended, 81 would have gone away and
made no sign, but instead you still
wear the outward badge of widowhood,
and though l little dreamed, my dar-
ling, that you should have mourned
my loss, may l not by that sign plead
for pardon? VIII you not give me the
hope of casting some sunshine on the
fife l have 80 cruelty darkemed?"
That night Edward and parted for
ever. sent for him and told him all,
and watched his face blench while l sat
outwardly calm and unmoved
Gods ways are not our ways" he
said at last "He has shown us how
purposeless were the sacrifices we had
planned, and He had greater ends in
view. May He give us strength to bear"
The months which followed passed as
in dream, but my hands found plenty
to fill them. My husband had come
home to me broken man, and saw
day by day that his strength was fail
ing. Oh, how glad l was in those long
vigils by his bedside that l had not
| faltered. A love as of mother for her
| child grew in my breast as ] watched
his remorseful care, his earnest solicit
tude in my behalf. as his life ebbed
away. 1t was inner as well as outer
mourning now wore, and for a year
l lived on alone in my home, with no
| particular event to note the fleeing
time.
One day letter was put in my hand.
I opened it and out dropped two inclos-
ures, one in hand which even then
caused my heart to beat, and one few
lines in strange writing. Edward s
for it was from him-ran thus when
learned that you were free. Madge.
the wild. sweet hope rose in my breast
that when / could l should come to
claim my wife, but It was not to be.
have been stricken with contagious
fever. and my life is rapidly ebbiig
away. The verdict has gone forth, and
| must die. 1t is but for little while.
wait you in better world. God bless
you forever and forever" The other
was penned after his death, but told
what he had withheld, that no life lost
on the battlefield showed greater hero
ism or truer glory. It is little wonder
that l recall that bright joyous girl
who once boremy name. ~ another be.
ing. as with folded hands sit and wait
Sometimes my watch grows heavy, but
my courage fails not. l wait on with
at least contentment to the end.-N. Y
Ledger.
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cAoLiONSS nENREES