The record-union., 1897-11-04
HER LONG SILENCE.

HER LONG SILENCE.
The window was open and the scent
or hawthorn and lilac floated in from
the valley: there came at intervals the
cuckoo's call through the songs of the
olackbirds and thrushes, and far away
there was sweet and holy sound of
children singing. The sick girl sat in a
chair heaped with pillows and looked
at her thin hands, which lay on her lap.
languidly. She was so tired now that
she felt as if she must slip away out of
the chair and huddle to the ground. She
kept her eyes half closed, and now and
again she nodded in her chair
She had pretty wrap of pink flannel
and lace about her shoulders, which
seemed to say that somebody thought
of her and loved her; a gayly colored
shawl was wrapped round her knees
and tucked under the footstool on
which her feet We're resting. Some one
had plated her long fair hair: it came
down iE one glittering strand over her
shoulder and lay on her lap, where
the loose ends curled and caught the
sun.
Mother. dear" she said in a thin.
feeble voice, why are the children sing
ing?"
Because it is the 1st of May. nv
ueafle Didn't you notice that Herself
mas her altar finer than other days?"
Ihe girl looked over at the statue of
the Blessed Virgin, which rose out of a
heap of wall flowers and lilac.
So she has. I'm not good at noticing
now, though 1 smelled her flowers all
the time"
The mother came from the innar
room and stood by the window. She
was brown skinned woman with a
Pheasant expression. After standing a
minute she smoothed the rug over her
daughters knees and patted the thin
hands affectionately
Did the doctor say might go out
When the east wind went away?"
When 1t was warm, my dearie. He
SAID 1t could do you no harm. The first
hne, warm day I'll carry out the chair
and you shall sit in the sheltered cor
ner near the beehive, with the iyied
wall behind you, and the broad beans
smelling so sweet at your hand"
me hum of the bees will make me-
sleepy 1t is so pleasant a sound
mother dear, that shall feel as if I
must sleep and sleep for ever"
The mother WINGED. Then, recovering
herself, she said Shall 7 sit bv Won
dearie, for while and talk? Shall T?
Then / must fetch my knitting"
She sat looking down at the bright
needles in her hands, clicking and
fashlng incessantly. Once more there
came the distant sound of the chill
dren's hymns.
Ah! said the sick girl: "it is Hail.
Heavenly Queen They will be by the
pond in the wood with the water lily
leaves floating. ] can see them In their
wEite niuslins and wells with the
wreatns of flowers upon their heads.
How rosy their faces will look through
the wells. They will walk with their
heads down and their hands clasped.
and the ones that carry the banners
VIII be proud. / wonder who has my
banner this year?'
Annie Lavelle''
"She will not lead the singers as I
used. I have almost forgotten how to
sing. Yet they make me feel as If I
wanted to sing with them, only I am
so tired. When / shut my eyes now
and look up I fancy can see the ban
ner over me, and feel its streamers
blowing by my cheek. I can smell the
wood and feel the sun on my hair"
Annie was here this morning with
a message from Reverend Mother, ask
ing how you We're. The nuns think q
deal of you, my bird
The girls large white lids dropped
over her heavy eyes. and her fingers
picked at the rug upon her knees.
They wouldn't If they knew every
thing. If l lived l should have to tell
them. I should have to stand out be-
fore them all-before the sisters and
the school girls-and tell them that I
a child of Mary =
whom they selected to carry the ban
ner in front of the procession. =
/ was
"Whisht my dear Didn't Father
John set Your mind at rest? Didn't he
tell you it was between yourself and
God? That once you had spoken to
him your secret might be kept to the
end of the world?"
sHe said that, God bless him, He
was good to me. But I should be the
tainted sheep in the flock, and I could
not endure their eyes. Oh, mother,
mother, be glad I'm going. To think
that all this life I could never undo
that one hour. Why, even eternity
cousdnt t make me like them"
Whisht, my dearie God can do
everything"
Not even he can set me back where
i stood"
DO you remember that his friend on
earth vas 40,
DO not say II, mother O n,otbar 7
would rather be like Annie and the
others once again than be high among
the saints in heaven
You have repented, my lamb God
loves the penitent''
There was silence for a few minutes
and the songs of the children cama
nearer.
They are at the altar now. mother.
all kneeling ON the moss and wood sor-
rel, AMI Father John will be vestine fo,.
the benediction- can see the way the
leaves dance, and the sun shines be-
tween them. and the candles on the al
tar looking 50 faint in the daylight. All,
there Is the bell. The benediction has
begun.
There was a. silence again. and the
lips Of mother and daughter moved in
prayer. They We're in spirit kneeling
before the altar in the wood. Oujte a
long interval passed before either
spoke. Then 1t was the mother.
oil