The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-12-08

soul had done the same before, but he
knew nothing of such sentiments, either
in himself or in others.
At last the missionary succeeded in
finding Stanton alone on deck early one
morning. He made few preliminary
remarks concerning the human duty OF
bearing one another's burdens, and
said:
you have more friends on board
than any of us, yet you seem to me tc
be in need of real friend and to lack
one. wish that you could accept my
sacred office, rather than its unworthy
holder, and give me your confidence"
do l act like one depressed?" Stan
ton asked, absently.
you do, sir, and you are" replied
the missionary. "You are the life of the
steamer, but your own heart is not in
it. Do not be angry, sir. Remember
that my only desire is to serve you
Let me even say frankly that you have
seemed to me like one struggling with
an unfortunate love-affair. Am / not
correct?"
"You are correct" said Stanton.
II am sorry, very sorry" the mission
ary replied, with look and voice say
ing plainly that he too had suffered,
long ago. ''Was she unworthy?" he
asked, gently.
"She was exceptionally worthy
Stanton said.
'That is something to be thankful
hn Ia, lo., IL /
find something consoling. 'It is well
that you do not repent having east your
pearls to swine."
u am thankful" Stanton replied,
with more energy than had been in his
voice for many day. He was looking
backward.
"Does she love another?" the mission
ary asked.
"No."
"There again you are fortunate.
Surely you must still have hope."
II have"
"Good. Keep it. Hope deferred
makes the heart sick, and your heart is
sick. l knew it. But hope is the anchor
to the soul, after all. Don't let the
anchor go. Was there opposition?''
"No."
Sometimes little opposition is real
ly necessary stimulus. Why did she
refuse you?"
"She did not refuse me-"
"Can it be that you are so sensitive as
to suffer all this simply for some fan
cied lack of reciprocation in her face ?''
Il never saw her face"
MY friend, you astonish me. I've
heard of matches made by correspon-
dence or by mutual friends, but never
believed much in them. Tell me of this
one. Was it by writing?"
II never wrote to her. l never saw
her handwriting but twice."
"Then the mutual friends who have
brought about this suffering must lave
a weight of responsibility"
''We have no mutual friends" said
Stanton.
''Sir, you amaze me. Who and what
can this woman be?"
"She Is my wife," said Stanton.
"Sir, you are jesting."
"Sir. I am not jesting. You appealed
to your position for the right to ask me
such questions as you chose. / have
answered each truly, so help me God"
''Sir, you bewilder me. You astound
me-"
"Sir, the same conditions have per-
picked, amazed, bewildered and as
founded me too, quite enough to ac-
count for any slight depression which
may have attracted your attention. 1t
must be obvious to you that little bene-
ilt can be derived through conversation,
where the immediate effect upon you
is the same as the more deliberate effect
on me. ktrust that you will respect
what to me is very painful subject, and
never refer to it tagain."
Whatever the conclusions at which
the missionary arrived they were sure
ly not unkind, for during the last din
ner on board he rose at the table and
cordially thanked Robert Stanton,
Esquire, on behalf of the passengers,
the officers, and the crew, for his un-
failing cheerfulness and his untiring
good offices to all, making the voyage SO
much pleasanter and making them all
better for his being among them.
The sentiments were Incompetent
sible and intensely disagreeable to
Stanton, and yet there was something
in them which set him thinking and
gradually opened his eyes.
"It was small thanks to me-" he said
to himself, as he thought the matter
over on shore. II never exerted myself
in that way before, simply because 1
never had right good selfish incen-
tive. Misery drove me to it, but it
surely did make others happier. ] be-
lieve it was the first time in my life that
I ever attempted to make others happy,
and it surely made me less miserable,
too, There's an idea there that is good
straight philosophy, If / think con-
tinually of myself, I've no time to think
of others. If | think sometimes of
others, I've less time to think of my
self. I brought myself into fine con-
dition, thinking only of myself. 1t is
high time took the hint. I don't
wonder Esther Thorndyke didn't want
me, but it may be, if l make myself q
different man, that may yet he worthy
of her as a real wife. / Twin try"
Instantly the world about him began
to assume an attractiveness which eply
his office and profession had ever pos
sessed for him before,
He found humanity an intensely in
study the moment he looked
upon it as anything but means to pro-
comfort. More than that, he
was astonished to find it instantly re-