Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-07-07

Well III only tney WOuIu come again
instead Of"
Instead of present troubles?" ask
ed Frances, gently.
But Esperance's hand ceased to
caress her forehead, and she was not
surprised at a sudden half-passionate
outburst.
Il do so hate England! II only
if only were at home again."
Poor little one" said Frances,
drawing her nearer, 1T must be very
lonely and sad for you, but you know
it must be best, or you would not be
here"
Il don't believe It'll cant" sobbed
Esperance; if you knew how naughty
| am growing you would not say so,
| am miserable; and it makes me
more wicked every day-and-no one
cares.
Frances heart sunk. 1t was hard
TO contradict even the last statement
knowing what she did of Mrs. Mort
lake and the Collinsons. Happily
she remembered Gaspard.
Your brother cares" she said
"Gaspard!" with a fresh rush of
tears; yes, he does, but he is away,
| may not see him again for years.
All, it is cruel! heartless! Why need
they have separated us? How can l
be grateful" and she sobbed over
this grievance more than over her
home yearnings
Then as Francess words required to
her, she returned to her tone OF ex-
postulation.
How can it be all for the best? 1t
is what all the sermons say and the
hymns-it is what papa himself told
me, but | can not, can not believe 1t!
When one sees and feels that things
are doing harm, how is one to believe
that they work together for good?'
But. dear Esperance, ! don't want
to remind you of Soeur Therese; but
surely troubles are sent as discipline!
My aches and pains, for instance, to
teach me patience, and your loneli-
ness to teach you, perhaps, to love,
Ito love! no, it is knocking all the
love out of me; loved before when
was happy but this is making me
cold, hard, icy, just as they are"
Frances had wished to steer clear OF
the deanery, and was not pleased at the
allusion, nor in truth was Esperance
herself, for she was too well-bred not
to feel that mention of her cousins
failings ought to be strictly guarded
against
81 am getting rude and altogether
bad, and as COrnelia is always say
ing | have no self-control. Oh dear
if one could only understand things,
and learn the lessons they teach
quickly, and see the reasons, and be
happy"
You make me think of one of
Keble's hymns; if you will put up
with the English l will say to you the
lines" And clearly and softly, so
that even that much-abused language
sounded sweetly in Esperance's ears,
Frances repeated:
Till Death the weary spirit free,
Thy GOO hath said, It's good for
thee
To walk by faith and not by sight"
Take it on trust a little while;
Soon shalt thou read the mystery
right
In the full sunsine of His smile
Esperance unused in silence for a
few minutes, then said Yes, that Is
very beautiful, and it is just what |
wanted. 1t seems almost like talking
with papa | remember he used to-
say, if we could believe that it would
make all life happy, and l will In
deed try And yet | have tried. and
always failed. 1t is easy to think so
now when 7 am happy but by and
by"
BY and by" repeated Frances.
you will learn to take it on trust,
and though the troubles will be trou-
bles still, you will try to learn the
lessons they are meant to teach 1t
sounds trite and easy enough, RI
know, but, Of course, all discipline Is
grievous, and you must not expect to
be quite free from failures.
But why did you say that ! must
learn to lover" asked Esperance, with
a little reluctance
Why, is not that the beginning Of
everything Your father must have
thought Of the love as well as OF the
faith when he spoke of all life being
happy"
A ceux qui aiment Dieu.' repeated
Esperance, under her breath and
herewith came before her that vivid |
" remembered scene, when walking
together on the moss-gr0wn terrace
Of the chateau her father. had pre-
pared her for coming troubles. And /
now ali his pain was over, and he had
read the mystery right" She dwe.t /
for minute or two on the happiness |
Of the last thought before turning to |
her own difficulties She was TO I
learn to love, Frances had said. Did
she really love her uncle. or Corneiia, |
or Christabel or Bella? and was not
her love for Bertha still very feeble?
questions were more easily than