The Elbert County tribune., 1899-08-10
LED HER FROM THE rHRoNG

zling white city With walls OF pol
ished marble, cut in thousands of fan
ciful shapes. with slender spires and
graceful minarets rising on high, this
city hung suspended in the air.
We approached its walls. Noiseless-
ly. on golden hinges, its great gates
swung open, and voice bade me enter.
! / entered the portal; flight of marble
steps rose before me. As my feet
rested upon the first OF these my guide
flew from me and alighted on the land
ing above. where it sat resting and
preening Its wings.
AS looked, behold a change. Slowly
the dove faded from before my eyes,
and in its place the form of a lovely
woman stood.
She turned toward me with out
stretched hands. Thou hast kent me
waiting SO long, so long. beloved" she
said.
Angela" l cried. fastening toward
her. DO / at last behold thee? /,
too, have grown weary with the wait
ing. The day kissed thy cold lips for
the last time. and turned away from
the mound OF earth that covered thee,
my heart did break. In vain tried /
to take up the old thread OF life so
rudely broken. My old pursuits be-
came hateful unto me. No maid, how
ever fair, could fill thy place; in dreams
/ saw thee still. Among the holy
brotherhood. In comforting the dying
and ministering unto the living, at last
found / peace. But the way has been
long and wearisome."
"Yes, dearly beloved" answered An
gela, but all that is now ended, and
good deeds wrought thou art come
direct to the city of the blessed. Look
about thee; surely mortal mind could
never conceive of such beauties. All
this is thine to enjoy forever"
Reluctantly Withdrawing my gaze
from my long-lost Angela's face,
looked about me. Glistening white
palaces OF the same pure marble as the
city's wall rose here and there.
Those" said Angela, whose gaze
followed my own, ARE our dwelling
places, II we wish; but we love better
to live beneath the trees. See. are they
not grand?"
Giant forest trees reared their great
trunks on high; fruit trees, laden with
ripe fruit, others yet in blossom, were
on every hand.
I'VE do not pluck the fruit SAID
Angela. 1--WE sustain not life as NOR
tails do. The trees bear because they
are perfect only in their fruiting, ana
nothing but perfection is found mere
Under the arching branches cool ave-
nues stretched away in dreamy vistas;
fountains of perfumed water scattered
fragrance on the air; music from
stringed instruments doated on every
hreeze. Flowers blossomed along the
nathways: lilies OF the valley shook
their tiny bells and mingled their
sweetness with the odorous violet.
"All is beauty, all is peace" l mur-
INJURED.
"see YOU not those who dwell here7"
asked Angela. Suddenly the place
seemed peopled with smiling. happy
beings. Old friends whose eartn-iiie
had long since ended came toward me
with greetings. Kings, warriors, piies
and noets of all times mingled III 'n
nassing throng. Queens and women o,
humble birth walked side by SIDE All
smiling. happy. o,s over
A feeling of perfect peace stole osei
me. Taking Angela's hand In min.
led her gently from the throng' n,h-
thou hast never forgotten thine eA' -
love. sweet one." l asked .cu,h
NAY. dearest" answered she. sawn SUI
love as mine and thine lives uo ~,
through tho forever OF eternity ~ o.
have been with thee when ., nv"
tnewest Il not. when danger tnrsa, :,
sned thee. Angels's hand did wafo "