The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-07-31
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1W0MAN5 INF UENCE

filled with tears, and impulsiyely she
p'acei her hand in his.
Poor Brian" she said very softly.
at has been very hard for you. never
knew how hard until now. Tonight
has markcd your first victory, and after
this you shall not fight alone. No
matter how rough the path may be, no
matter how often you may stumble, l
know the time must come when you VIII
stand strong and firm. 1t is this BELIEF
which keeps my faith and courage so
warm within me. And until that time
does come, | always want you to re-
member that my hand is ever in yours,
and, side by side, we will meet and
overcome all that is hard to you.
Through better and through worse, al
WAYS together. Don't, Brian; it pains
me to see you give way so. We Will
only be giving mutual help. You shall
lean on me, as l shall often lean on you.
have had so many hopes and ambitions
for you. So if you will insist on mag
ni(ying my simple duty into such gen.
erous proportions, l shall expect my
reward in my own way. can say no
more tonight; | feel so utterly weary
Tomorrow / will have more to tell you.
Only keep your courage strong, ana re-
member that my desire to help you IS
above every other.
MAY God make me strong, Margaret,
to be worthy of your faith. In his pres
ence and in yours solemnly pledge my
word that the day shall come when you
! will see in me something higher ana
better than the weak creature L am TO-
night. | can say no mere than That.
Words are powerless TO express my
thoughts. 1 can only feel"
| and I can understand, she returned,
with tremulous lips. 4 can hold my
hand to you now and say: There is only
faith and trust between us.
Alone in his room. Alone with feelings
and emotions which filled his heart Il
Overlooking, Brian went over every wore
of this conversation, and in the 1resi
strength and courage which had come
to h m he repeated his pledge.
Then his mind passed in review tn.
events of the evening. He remembere'
that when he could no longer bear tn
tide of bitter, remorseful thoughts whicl
surced over him he had found his wa.
TO his old haunts with the almost over
whelminc desire to seek oblivion in tn
usual yay. How Wilson hal found hir
, and drawn him away from the tempta
ton that hal well nigh conquered nun
, They had walked for long time /
, the fresh, cool night, and while Wllso
. talked in the kind, confidential manne
| he had so often used in their studen
/ DAYS. Brian had felt himself over
powered by a rush of feeling, and b
had lonaed with intense longing IL
something of the noble personality
t the man beside him.
/ You have saved me from myself, !
5 had cried under the impulse OF tt
4 moment. Il thank you, not Tor N
sake. but for hers. Men who are stron
like you seldom pity men who are wea
Q like me. I have fallen without u
4 breastworks. Shall l ever find safety
z And Wilson had answered, just as
n often answered in those old days, wht
he had promised such rich frultion II
Q Brian's many talents:
t There is safety for you in streng
r of purpose AMI determination OF e
o deavor, and safety" he had added IN
S lower tone, in the faith and trust OF
n loyal wife. Think of her and be strong