Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-10-02
wife. So he reasoned, and his
judgment served him we'll.


judgment served him we'll.
For year there was little to mar
the scene then my health failed.
Excitement and constant gayety did
their work. Nature demanded rest.
and even be was Obliged to recog-
nize the necessity.
Then followed months in which /
scarcely saw him, when lie hardly
found time to come to the couch on
which I constantly lay to inquire If
| were better or worse and when
in my impatienco | would greet him
with words of reproach or anger be
would silence me by some cutting
words of scorn, which would leave
their sting for days behind.
/ was utterly unable to cope with
him, and when in the spring, three
years from the date CT our marriage
he was induced to join hunting
excursion on the western plains /
babe him good-by with scarce feel
ing of regret.
Six weeks later / was one day
summoned to the presence of a gen.
tleman who told me with trembling
voice and pallid lips that | was Wild
owed. Their party while hunting
had been attacked by band of H.
dams and Vance had fallen 10 the
field, while they, to save their own
lives, had been unable even to res
cue his body.
The shock proved more than |
could bear, and for months they
thought l would not live; but as
health and strength crept slowly
back wonderful softness had taken
possession OF my heart, and ! mourn
ed him With tender pity, buryiDg
his faults in his far-off grave.
As soon as I was able to bear the
journey / closed my house and turn
ed my face to the old home with a
great content nesting in my spirit,
that the quiet l had once despised
was again TO be niue.
My dear old father met me with
open arms, and [ felt wien pressed
to his breast as though 1 had gained
a haven indeed after my long and
stormy voyaging on the sea of life.
Two peaceful years passed away and
my fathers hair grew white and his
form bent. began to think of the
time when l should be left alone in
the world-alone and desolate.
| had kissed him good night one
evening as | passed out and wendell
my way to the little village church.
Sad thoughts had brooded in my
memory all day, and | thought thus
to drive them away, and entering
the sacred spot whose altar / had
stood before as bride, l fell upon
my knees and uttered prayer for
all that sinful, foolish past.
An earnest, musical voice reused
me, and, glancing up, | saw that a
stranger occupied the pulpit.
| shall never forget the impress
sion Edward Fearing made on me
that night. | had listened hereto
fore at sermons from sense Of duty
but Of his every word fell straight
upon my soul and planted there a
seed. It was as though he were
talking to me, and | listened spell
bound.
He was not in the strict sense q
handsome man, but when carried
away by his eloquenoe his eyes would
light up with wonderful brightness
and his face almost grow radiant ;
he seemed possessed Of a beauty
scarcely earthlike.
The noise OF the people rising
from their seats as his voice died
away recalled me to the present, but
it was with an effort Iroused myself.
| reached home feeling that while
such living words could reach my
ear life could not be barren.
| entered my fathers study, tread
ing softly lest / should disturb the
slumber into which lie seemed to
have fallen.
Drawing near, I softly laid my
hand on his. 1t was icy cold. ]
stopped TO kiss his brow, but its
marble whiteness revealed to me the
awful truth.
The desolation which bad lowered
over my spirit all day had been 40
idle precursor of i'll. Death had en-
tered my home and snatched from
me the one being left for me to love.
An awful calm fell upon ne. No
tears came to relieve my burning
lids--not even when l heard the dull
thud which gave back to mother
earth its OVID.
1t was then that Edward Fearing
came to comfort me.
1t was long ere even his words
penetrated the outer crust of rebel
lious discomfort; but he probed bis
way so skillfully, SO tenderly, that
ere | knew it the healing waters OIL
| comfort rushed in and found theil
vent in outward tears.
| do not know when / learned to
love my teacher. Does one ever
measure the hour, the moment, when
love enters their lives !? / could
4 = L