Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-15
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYAII.

her husbands room, where Gaspard
had been keeping watch TO relieve the
sick-nurse.
He gave her his New-year's greet
ing sadly. What Jour de Tan was
this, She bent down TO kiss her hus-
bands unconscious brow, then turned
away to the window to hide her tears.
The night-lamp burned low; she drew
up the blind softly and looked out.
Many times before she had seen the
dawn, but never had it looked so
beautiful to her as now. Over the
hard, frozen earth there rose the soft
gray. pearly hue of morning; far off
in the city she could see the faint yell
low CLEAN of the street lamps. while
above in brightest contrast, In the
midst of the beautiful grayish-green
haze, hung the morning star, large
and radiant. almost dazzling in its
brilliancy.
Gaspard's voice suddenly recalled
her.
"Cherie. come here!
She fastened to the bedside The
heavy breathing had grown more
quiet, the arms were moved slightly,
the eyelids Quivered. Gaspard went to
summon the nurse from the adjoining
room; Esperance waited, scarcely able
to breathe for the terrible suspense.
Was this change for life or death
One minute more and the long, long
waiting was over! Claude's blue eyes
quiet, unchanged, recognizing, look
ed into hers! He smiled, and his
long sealed lips uttered one faint word
"Esperance!"
The look, the smile, the one word
were all she could have-but she was
contented. She let Gaspard lead her
from the room at once. and in a few
minutes he had taken the news to the
deanery, and had brought Cornelia
back to Esperance. The reconcilia-
ton with the dean had long been eff
fected: but even had he not asked so
humbly for pardon, Gaspard must
have forgiven him all when he saw
the intensity of his thankfulness at
Claude's restoration. Even Mrs. Mort
lake gave sincere expression Of JOY
and Dean Collinson was so much agi-
tated that 1t seemed doubtful II he
would be sufficiently recovered in
time for the morning service He
went, however, and endured the long
New-year's sermon patiently. 1t was
twelve o'clock before the full service
was completed. then he hurried off at
once to the hotel.
No one was In the sitting-room He
waited anxiously for some minutes;
at last Cornelia stole quietly down the
passage with a reassuring face.
"Claude?" asked the dean-he could
hardly speak for emotion.
HE Is going on well--the doctors
are quite satisfactorily he must he
kept perfectly quiet" Then as the
dean turned away she continued with
a smile, But we have another New
years gift father, to be thankful
for!"
The dean turned around half APP
prehensible, What they never oold
me-"
"All has gone WE'LL said oornelia.
in a calm, glad voice" Esperance has
a little daughter"
That day the dean exercised his pre-
rogatiye, and altered the anthem
chosen to the opening chorus from the
Hymn of Praise
Some people declared that it was an
unsuitable anthem for the New-year,
but they knew very little about II.
Dean Collinsons head was bowed
throughout people wondered that ne
did not stand up, or show in some
way that he shared the spirit OF the
words, "All things with life and
breath, praise we the Lord" But per-
haps there had never before been in
the cathedral praise more true, and
humble. and heartfelt than that
which rose from the hoary-headed
dean. who shaded his eyes with his
hand lest any one should see the tears
OF thankfulness which he could not
check.