Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-19

llteS tnat DlaZeu ike gems III space, VI,
on, for what seemed to him like ages
Of time. until even the thought Of time
grew indistinct; on and up and into
the presence Of the most mighty Face
he had ever looked into. 1t was the
Face Of Eternity. On It's brow was
written In words of blazing light the
one word "Now." And as he looked
into that calm. awful Face and read
that awful word Mr.. Hardy felt his
soul crumble within him. When the
Face spoke. 1t was the speech Of a
thousand oceans heaved by a million
tempests, yet through the terror of 1t
ran q thread Of music-a still sweet
sound like everlasting love-as II
angels sang somewhere a divine ac-
compartment. And the Face said:
Child Of humanity, you have neg
lected and despised me for so years.
You have lived for yourself. You have
been careless and thoughtless of the
worlds great needs. The time of your
redemption Is short. 1t has been grant
ed you by him who rules the world
that you should have but seven more
days to live upon the earth-seven days
to help redeem your soul from ever
lasting shame and death. Mortal, see
to It that thou usest the precious time
like those who toll for jewels In the
mine beneath the sea. who speak un'
to thee am Eternity"
Then Robert Hardy thought he fell
upon his face before that awful Face
and begged In bitterest terror for q
longer lease Of life.
"Seven days! Why. it will be but
seven swift seconds to redeem my
past! Seven days! 1t will be nothing
In the marking Of time! o mighty Pow
er. grant me longer! Seven weeks!
Seven years! And | will live for thee
as never mortal yet lived!
And Robert Hardy sobbed and held
his arms beseechingly up toward that
most resplendent Face. And as be thus
stretched out his arms the Face bent
down toward his. and he thought a
smile Of pity cleaned upon 1t, and he
hoped that more time would be granted
him; and then. IS 1t came nearer, he
suddenly awokc. and there was his
own wife bending over him. and tear
from her face fell upon his own as she
said:
Robert! Robert"
Mr.. Hardy sat up confused and trem-
bling. Then he clasped his wife to him
and kissed her Us he used to do. And
then to her great amazement he related
to her In a low tone the dream he had
Just had. Mrs. Hardy listened In the
most undisguised astonishment. But
what followed filled her heart with
fear.
MARY" said her husband with the
utmost solemnity. 81 cannot regard
this as q dream alone. have awaken
ed with the Arm conviction that l
have only seven days left to live. /
feel that God has spoken to me, and |
have only seven days more to do my
work in this world
"Oh, Robert, it was only dream"
NO, IL WIS LlOie' .huls' 1ou hio"
l am not imaginative or superstitious
in the least. You know never dream.
And this was something else. | shall
die out Of ur.. world week from to-
night Are the children here? Call
them in."
Mr. Hardy spoke in a tone Of such
calm conviction that Mrs. Hardy was
filled with wonder and fear. She went
to the curtain. and. us we have already
recorded. she called the children into
the other room.
Mr.. Hardy gazed upon his children
with look they had not seen upon his
face for years. Briefly but calmly he
related his experience, omitting the de.