New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10


for, with never a kind word, and her last act
of which he was conscious blow, the bitter
waters OF remorse closed above her head. With
everything blOtted out bat her SIN and its cor.
sequences, she wept anguished tears over the
pteOus little victim Of prosperity, and the STA
bemen standing round, amazed and sympa-
thetic. knew that this was no maudlin grief
but deeply soTowing woman In an agony Of
pentence.
She could remember her other friend now and
her treatment OF him-the disloyalty she had
contemplated stood out scarlet sin against
the pain of loss They were the only ones VINO
had loved her faithfully through many years
and she had betrayed hem both, he one 70
death and the other -, SuppOsing God had
punished her by taking the man, too so eay.
ing her no place for repentance. He had not
written for two months, and ii might easily 10
so. The fear and terror mastered her COM
petey: she could not look at such an apprehen.
sion without turning giddy as though the solid
earth rocked under her feet. There was only
one way Of eScape-ony one voice In the whole
world which could comfort her then. and, turn.
ing to the helper, who, in his rough way had
been kind 10 BOTTLES she begged him 10 get the
dogcart ready, ard drive her to the station
81 must catch the up train, ! must"
And the man. plying he suffering on her
face, which had changed it 50 utterly in few
moments, did her bidding wordlessy. But the
anger OF Uncle Marsh and his cCntemptuol:
Indignation at her folly, was by no means word
less, nor could she answer him anything fR
ne would not have understood, being worldly
wise only. Moreover, to her standing ar last
face to face with the tremendous issues Of lfs
he and his like were merely shadows: she saw
nothing clearly but her remorse and the chance
Of atonement, which was a city Of refuge
against unquenChable fire.
without one look back she pressed on to L
grudging every precious moment. The man
drove fast but fear hurried before her. II he
too should be dead, That was the dread grow
ing stronger as the lights OF London hared
against a dark sky. II his place was vacant
Hta..ul che 10 IN do lf wHE4F md
pfntance?
And to think have been going to church al
these months with my heart growing harder
than a stone. God be meroiful 20 me sinner"
She was too confused with suspense and fear
to remember clearly afterward how she got
into the dun. cheap street. but once there she
walked Slowly, dreadlng unspeakdoly 10 see no
light in his window. II was there. however
and sheer thankfuness made her pause and
cling giddily TO the ratings.
The landlady opening the door cautiously
for it was getting late-remembered her and
allowed her to go upstairs unannounced The
room door was already trfe open so Lucy
had only to push it noiselessly a few more
inches to see John Sinclair sitting Acne by the
fire. For q wonder he was doing nothing ana
looking quite unlike man who had been re-
Gently promoted to greater prosperity Inc old
patient courage was sull there. having deep
foundations. but the cheerfulness winch had
ightened each days toll was gone lie sal IlsV-
lessly in WEAKNESS OF spirit, and the preInl-
turely mead began 10 llohp a lll-F u'dl'i
the earth. Upon the shabby mantelpece-so
carefully dusted-stood Lucy's photograph, and
i'm front Of it. as though shrine was placed
tiny glass of violets. They were fresh and fra
grant and it broke her heart 10 see that Ike
Bottles his love outved her own faithessness
She had made as she thought no sound yet
he turned suddenly and saw her, and the great
joy Transforming his face shamed her, LOT she
knew herself not worthy Of his love II was
wholesome humbling for the woman who had
grievously erred. but indescrbaby bitter She
tried TO stammer something OF ths before JoAn
took her to his heart, but h. would not listeh
1t was enough that she had returned to INN Of
her own free withholding mattered after that
yet his very first question, as he placed her
tendery in his own armchair, had reference 70
the little friend who had always shared theh
Joy His delight was the only thing lacking
Where is Bottles. my darling
And Lucy. remembering the thin little BODY
so wasted with fretting, burst into a passion
grief which startled him ,
"Bootes is dead He died today NEGLECTED
him shamefully-but he loved me through
allr'
And thus John Sinclair understood everything
he knew why she had been silent through
months, leaving him comfortiess but ne as G
knew why she had come back-that love and
repentance had drawn her 10 his side TO leaye
him no more 1t was easy to forgive. seeing me
pain of such a sharp lesson on her suiferns
face-a terribly sharp lesson yet so soreV
needed.
Don't grevc So my dear one In life he loved
use dearly and his death has. think-brought-
us-tOgether" =,
His own voice was not steady then. and ior
a time neither spoke, yet thanksgiving was IL
the air. !,
When he had quoted her into oamness nc
showed her the ferns of which she had spoken
when they parted.
See. Lucy. the delicate one is Row the strong
est Of them ALI" -,
They are far from rich. and Lucy has no.
one silk gown, but Tho grace Of god is IN u we,
house and cnildren's feet move hlthey auoutI ~
The writer likes 10 think that the divine us
tice and mercy which allows nothing goou ., ~
be wasted or lost permits falthlul ,'", -,
shadow TO steal sometimes into the WarI"tn S -,
that hearth. where he is remembered 80 'o''"s'
still. to rejoice as of old IA their JOY.