Saint Mary's beacon., 1897-01-21

tonight there was something in his
eyes that told me the time for the
telling of his love was near at hand.
What did you tell him, Mural ?
do you love him, my chlla 2
| She clasped my hand more close
iy, while her head bent lower. and
knew her whole heart was his.
even before she told me.
He is coming tomorrow to see
you.' The head was raised for n
moment, the voice was pleading.
What will ron say to him, Aunt
Aerjoric ?
That be i tot worthy of Inv
Murial.'
'oh, Aunty ! There was fright
ened look in the azure eyes,
Yes, l shall tell him that. but I
shall also say that would rather
trust you to him than any one else.
There, are you satisfied q
She flung her arms abou, mo
and l knew how happy my words
had made her. We talked for A
while OF the bright future that Law
before her, but | think | felt ratb-
er sorrowfnl over the giving up of
my child. Then, as the little
bronze clock on the mantel chimes
the half hour after eleven, she
arose.
How late it is, she cried have
been keeping you all this time dear
Aunt Marjorie go to bed now, you
look pale and tired
She crossed the room and stirred
the fire into a bright blaze. Let
me help you,' she said, lingering
as though loath to leave me.
But | shook my head, smiled nm
into the dear face, and stooping
she tenderly kissed me, then turn
ed to quit the apartment, At the
door she looked back. | had lean.
ed forward and was watching her.
she started.
'Do you want anything, Aunty?
No dear, only. kiss me again,
Murial.'
Dear, dear Aunt Marjorie she
cried, clasping me once more in her
arms.
looked at her for few moments
as II to engrayen each feature upon
my heart, then stroked her hair
softly. There, goodnight; God
bless you, my child.'
took up my pen again when she
HAD left me, but somehow nv
thoughts are wandering. The even
ing of my parting with Cuthbert
comes back to me again, and seemed
to feel the old, old pain. A cold
hand clutched my heart; its fingers
made me shiver. How strange
feel tonight and how near Cuth-
bert seems. Is it because his words
come stealing back to me through
all these years and hear that voice
OF the past ln after years should
there ever be time when you are
not needed here, your mission ended.
will you then come to me, even
though years have divided us, and
give the remainder of yonr life into
my keeping? Send but one word
over the waters and / will come to
you.'
All, had that time come now?
When | give my child to another
who will make her happier than /
could? Then, ah, then, | could
60 to him
look across the room into a mir
ror hanging opposite. Yes, have
aged since last he saw me, nearly
sixteen years ago. am now near
ly forty-five. There are one or two
lines about the face; some Of the
color has faded from my cheeks.
My hair has perhaps grown even
whittier, but the eyes are as sparkling
as when last he gazed into them,
and the heart he wanted is all his.
Yes. when the answer to that letter
on my table goes to India, it will
carry that long looked for word
come.
Hark the midnight bells are
ringing out upon the frosty world
Peace on earth, good will towards
men,
What does future hold me
wonder, and now / will lay my pen
aside and read my letter. Cuth-
bert's loving message shall be my
New Years welcome.
; Ii is New Years eve and !, Mo
/ rial Dunbar Clinion. having re.