The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-07-05

father tUAeral, JndJ was ulOlc III
the world that no longer my first i'm
pulse on entering the house must be to
fly with quick steps to the library to see
the handsome head raised from his
work of writing with some word OF love
on his lips, when now only an empty
chair and soundless space hereafter
would prove my greeting. His illness
had been so short, so sudden, that 1t
almost seemed as though / should
awaken from the frightful nightmare
of the past few weeks and find 1T all
dream, vivid but unreal. Only fort
night before he had been stricken down,
and had sent in hot haste for my old
practitioner, to find Kim absent and
a stranger in his place. AZ first | felt
regret, but when saw DR.. Phillips and
witnessed his earnest, skillful care, that
feeling gave way to congratulation and
the.assurance that if human skill could
avail, he would be saved It WAS he
who told me finally there was no long
er hope; he whom ! turned upon with
quick fury that he should dare assert
thatmy fathers life was in absolute dan
ger, when in all the wide world We two
were alone together; he who stood be-
side him at the last, then, with firm,
gentle hand, drew me from the chamber
of death and himself prepared the
sleeping druught which sent restful
sleep to quiet my strained nerves. In
my new sadness, my utter despair, he
came and went as OF Old until II
seemed as though brothers protec-
ton had been offered me, and I began
to wait and watch for the hour when
| should see him, TO feel keen disap-
pointment If it passed without him,
until one evening, sitting alone 10y the
low, smoldering fire in the frat day of
spring, l was reused by his familiar
step.
''Helen," he said, drawing . chair
close beside me, "Dr. Edwards, you
know, has returned, and my own pa
tients in Philadelphia are demanding
my presence among them. l have
stayed already longer than intended"
"And you now are going|" ques-
toned, while a black cloud swept be-
fore my eyes.
Eyes" he answered, "but II you will
let me, am coming back. did not
mean to tell you of my love just yet
i can hardly hope that in all the dreel
desolation which has overspread your
life, love had found time 10 plant 0
single germ, but with me ii has beer
different. ! have loved you from the
FIRST moment saw you, and my fondest
ambition is to see you my wife. DC
not answer me now; only when thu
birds sing and the flowers bloom try
to think they breathe message from
me, and when l return in the fall, re
member my home will have been made
ready fer you, and il you can come tC
my arms, they will open, oh, so gladly
to receive you"
So he left me, and I let him go witt
no answer for did not know my owl
heart That it was love beating at it
portals for admission-love which ha'
made his coming so welcome, his goinl
so sad could not realize until he ha'
gone; and then came only the long
brotherly letters, so full of earnest sole
itude for my comfort, so unselfish in tn
careful guard ever shown in his owl
feeling for me, till the time drew nigl
when he was to come again. The
doubt, uncertainty, all fled, and knew
my heart had passed from out OF IN,
keeping. So l went to meet him, stand
ing in the open door of my home as h
came up the pathway, and in answer
his question as for a moment he held m
off while he looked straight into m
eyes: "Helen, is this my wife,
could only falter; Yours forever
more
The succeeding week few swiftly by
He suddenly grew impatient of delay
and declared he could not go back to hi
work until l went with him, Tn
\ thought of my loneliness without hlI
urged me TO consent, and so the day
wsre filed with busy preparation, Will
in The evenings sat by his side, conten
and nlissful, while he told me of hi
home. of his widowed mother VIII
shared,t and of the new, sweet daugl
ter he V las to bring her. But when a
was over when L had stood in my wee
ding rob es before the gray-haired mil
igter. and lnelt TO receive for the las
time his blessing, when my husband
first rapAurous kiss had been presse
upon my lips, fervent congratulation
offered fby the few friends present