The state herald., 1898-01-28

pride and will. "Forsaken OF God ana
mani" she muttered. And this the re-
ward for course OF strlctest honor and
integrity.
How proudly she had repulsed their
repeated advances to unite with them
in defrauding the creditors of the es-
tate. and how, when wearied out with
their opportunities. she had told them
that for all the whole race ever had
or might possess she would not betray
trust, and to the menaces of her inter-
ests she had answered that she would
trust in God. She had trusted Him.
but had He helped her? Her proud
heart. full of despair and wicked re-
bellion. needed no words to speak Its
answer. Memory played like lightning
with the sunny hours OF her past life.
The carefully taught child of a pious
mother she could not recall the time
when great moral lessons were not as
familiar as the songs of her childhood.
AS she had grown up, caresses and
kindness had been showered upon her.
One short year ago and those who now
insulted and wronged her had fawned
around her with honeyed words Of fiat
terry, and he who had never opened
his lips but In blessing. whose every
accent had been love and kindness. was
silent In death. How could he liz so
still and yet so near that, might the
dead hear that days work, 1t were all
known TO him. No! he had left those
he SO loved and cherished with only
his unfulflled promises and the tor
turing legacy of his grasping kinsmen.
How they had gathered around her in
the first hours of her grief. with con-
dolence and sympathy. How kindly
they had offered to relieve her OF the
care and burden OF her business. until,
neglecting the half-uttered warning
from dying lips, she had trusted them
and then for the rest she had NO
words-only feelings, and now nothing
was left her but TO die. she and he.
babes. What had life left for them Go
with her revenge, despair and rebel
lion; the tempest without was nothing
to the tempest within. Suddenly. with
loud creaking and groanlng, the great
doors swung open. The wind rushed
furlously in. blowing out the light and
whirling the ashes around the hearth
Had the dead listened 10 her upbraid-
ings and broken tho chains of death?
Tlmid she had always been, but now
she walked unhesitatingly to the door
and out Into the darkness. She feared
neither the dead nor the living-only
life. She slowly closed and bolted the
heavy doors. but as she turned. the
dimpled arms OF the baby. rosy, In the
ruddy light OF the rcyiving embers.
were tossed up. and. with a smile on
his balf-opened lips. he sank back 10
rest. She gaZed long and anxlousiy
at the beautiful picture. and. rs she
looked. she shranli more and more from
herself. The actors and decd OF the
day were forgotten. and she looked
aghast into the stirred depth OF her
own heart.
She mlght have lived and aIcd. and
never known herself. but 10 the trials
and temptations OF that day. The old
family clock now chlmed the hour oi
four. oh. that ever 10 he remembered
night. The little sleeper in the crib.
who had all night long been acting
over the scenes Of the day In her
dre..ms now murmured brokenly. "and
forgive US trespasses. rs we forgive
those" lead us not | to temptation" "
She fell on her knee and. with bit
ter repentance. confessed the deep
wickedness OF her heart and forgave
those who had wronged her. and pass
ed out Of her thought, their ways and
lives. and with sweet promises full OF
hope and trust stealing over her heart.
she sank to rest. at peace with God and
man.