Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-02-11

arm around her and bent down 10 kiss
her. while lila took both hands In hera
"Goodby. We will write to you from
PGris."
"Goodby, dear brother and sister.
God bless youl' she replied.
Ella was touched. The tears Fprang
TO her eyes. and she bent down and
kissed Miss Merri1old with genuine
tenderness.
The honeymoon wns over, and tho
bride aud bridegroom were returning.
They arrived in England ono delightful
ummer evening and travelled direct to
| London. When they reached their hotel,
a letter was put into MIR. Merriield's
hands briefly announcing his sisters
death the day before. She had gone to
led in her usual health, aud when her
maid won't to arouse her the following
morning she found her dead.
Ella was sincerely sorry, but she
Rrioved more on her husbands account
than her own. Perhaps deep down in
her henrt there was u feeling of relief,
though she hated herself for it when
sho saw how terribly stricken and over
come the archdeacon was on learning of
his bereavement.
Like all very intellectually and
highly strung characters, he has a most
affocticnnte and sensitive nature, " she
explained to their many iDquiring
friends.
Months passed, and the archdeacon
began to recover his spirits, but some
subtle ohunge had come over him. His
sermons were no longer what they used
to DO. Whereas formerly he "fpnke us
a dying man to dying men, be now
uttered trite aud commonplace nphor-
isms, which fell vaguely IN tho ears Of
those WHO listened.
The delivery was the same-the voice
deep, full and musical. and the gestures
simple and graceful-but the subject
matter, alas. how different was iti
What he'd become of the beautiful,
p%oetical thoughts? Where were the
strength and pnthos and tenderness
which had characterized the archdea-
cons former discourses?
People began to whisper among them
selves of the change and assigned rs tho
cause the shock Of the news Of Miss
Merrifeld's sudden death, but to Ella
the thing was bitter in the extreme.
When she came out Of the cathedral
after her husband had preached. instead
Of a murmur Of rapturous appreciation
there was now silence. 1t waa positive
torture to her TO listen to him. Her
heart beat md her cheeks grew pale
whenever she saw him ascend the pull
pit, and she fancied that people looked
pityingly toward her. She became so
sensitive upon the point at last that OH
the occasions when her husband was 60
ing to preach she used to make some
excuse for remaining ut home.
The climax came when the arch
deacon was requested to preach "a special
when o new bell was hung II
the tower.
The cathedral would be graced by
} the presence Of royalty on that occasion,
} and Ella could not conceal hor anxiety,
For q fortnight beforehand Mr.. Merri
field used to shut himself up In his study
every morning after breakfast, whil'
bis wife kept watch and ward and per
mitted no one 70 disturb his meditn
lions.
When the day came, he was no
ready at his usual time, so Ella went Il
his study and knocked at the door. Re
{ ceiving no answCr. she entered anC
found her husband sitting by the writ
| ing table with his fnce buried In hi
hands.
| fare you ready. dear?" Ella asked
softly. alt Is time We started.
He lifted his head and looked at he
8 strangely.
Come here, Ella, he said hoarsely
II want TO tell you something.
She was alarmed and went hastily
over to him. laying her hand Oh hi
shoulder.
, "Are you i'll, deGresti" sho asked
a~nxiously.
} he made an impatient movement
! and she drew her hand away.
| II know that you have noticed, a
everybody else hos noticed. tho wretchoC
falling eff in my IN lately" b,
, said abruptly. God knows have trie'
hard and done my best He brok
of abruptly, and there was q lon
y DuuHt. 1 uoNNE WLoAb u Alut VI tboAh
Ella, he resumed at last "She wrot
{ them all--yes, all. l was only he
e mouthpiece." And no pointed TO tn
d photograph Of his sister, which stoo
upon the table among his books and pr
pers.
Ella reeled. The shock was too Rrea'
She could not utter a word either
comfort or roproach, and. turning ava.
II she stole silently out OF the room.
J. The archdeacon never recovered b
70 lost gift, ard people used TO speak Of
ID as a singular instance Of the effect
grief upon a sensitive and tender henr
ID There is u tablet TO the memory
y Miss Merriheld which was placed
ut the cathedral by her brother. but the !
H. habitants of Roxton will never be ava
O. Of how great and noble a soul on
IL dWelt among them in the person of I
a. archdeacon's sister. CULVER.