The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-03-23

taken from Us and all our position in
society be lost to us, for am fast los
ing my love for him who is my hus-
band! Great and long suffering and
3.giving God, help me! l feel wicked
sometimes. cannot bear this kind OIL
life. 1t is killing me. 1t is roDbing
me of all that life contains that is
sweet and true. Oh, Father of Mer-
cies, for Jesus sake do not let me grow
insane or without belief. Oh, Robert,
Robert, my lover, my husband! l will,
l will love your And Mrs. Hardy fell
OH her knees by the side of the couch
and buried her face in it's cushions and
sobbed and prayed.
Suddenly the whole scene changed
and Mr.. Hardy, who had stretched out
his arms to comfort his wife as in the
old days when love was young, felt
himself carried by an irresistible pow
er up away from the earth, past the
stars and planets and suns and satel-
lites that blaZed like gems in space; on,
on. for what seemed to him like ages
of time, until even the thought Of time
SoASW AAAioIAhSSS VII lAO up anu AAIO
the presence of the most mighty Face
he had ever looked into. 1t was the
Face Of Eternity. On its 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 It
ran thread of music-a still sweet
sound like everlasting love-as If
angels sang somewhere 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 1t that thou usest the precious time
like those who toll for jewels in the
mine beneath the sea-. who speak I'M
to thee am Eternity"
Then Robert Hardy thought he fell
upon his face before that awful Face
and begged in bitterest terror for n
longer lease of life.
Seven days. Why. it will be but
seven swift seconds to redeem my
past! Seven days! 1t will be a nothing
in the marking of time! Omighty 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 respondent Face. And as he thus
stretched out his arms the Face bent
down toward his. and he thought a
smile of pity cleaned upon it, and he
hoped that more time would be granted
him; and then, rs it 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 as he used to do And
then to her great amazement he related
to her In low tone the dream he had
just had. Mrs. Hardy listened in the
most undisguised establishment. But
what followed filled her heart with
fear.
Mary" said her husband with the
utmost solemnity. 81 cannot regard
this as dream alone. have awaken
ed with the firm conviction that i
have only seven days left to live. i
feel that God has spoken to me, and |
have only seven days more to do my
work in this world"
ooh, Robert, it was only dream!'
mo; it was more, Mary. You know
l am not imaginative or superstitious
in the least. You know never dyeam
And this was something else. l shall
die out of this 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, as 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, emitting the de-
tails of the vision and all mention of
the scene where George had appeared,
and then declared with a solemnity
and impressiveness that could not be
resisted:
"My dear children, 1 have not lived
as should. have not been to you
the father I ought to have been. l
have lived very selfish, useless life
l have only seven more days to live.
God has spoken to me. ann"
He broke of suddenly, and, sobbing
as only q strong man can. he drew his