The true northerner., 1900-04-18
[coSTISUED.l
CHAPTER III.

ing of the first of the seven days left
him to live, he was on the point of get
ting ready for his days business, as
usual, when the memory of his dream
flashed upon him, and he was appalled,
to decide what he should do first
Breakfast was generally hurried and
silent meal with him. The children usu-
ally came struggling down at irregular
intervals, and it was very rare that the
family all sat down together. This
morning Mr.. Hardy waited until all
had appeared, and while they were
eating he held family council.
His wife was evidently in great eX-
citement and anxiety, and yet the love
and tenderness she felt coming back
to her from her husband gave her face
a look of beauty that had been a stran-
ger to it for years.
The children were affected by their
fathers remarkable change in various
ways George was sullen and silent.
VIII looked thoughtful and troubled.
Alice cirl of very strong and decid-
ed opinions and character, greeted her
father with n kiss and seemed 10 un-
derstand the new relations he now sus-
tanned 10 them all. Clara appeared ter
rified, as if death had already come in
TO the house, and several times she
broke down, crying at the table, and
finally went away into the sitting
room. Bess sat next to her father, as
she always did, and was the most
cheerful Of all, taking a very calm and
philosophical view of the situation, so
that Mr. Hardy smiled once or twice
as she gave her advTe.
Mr.. Hardy was pale. but calm. The
impression pf the night before was evil
IDENTITY deepening with him. 1t would
have been absurd to call him insane.
His wife was obliged to confess TO her.
self that he had never appeared more
sound in judgment and calm in speech.
He was naturally man of very strong
will His passions, as we have al
ready seen, were under control. Never
in all his life had he felt so self con-
tained, so free from nervousness, so
capable of sustained effort. But the
one great thought that filled his mind
was the thought of the shOrtness of
the time.
almighty God" was his prayer,
'show me how TO use these seven days
in the wisest and best manner"
Robert, what will you do today?"
asked Mrs Hardy.
II have been thinking, dear, and l
believe my first duty is to God. We
have not had morning worship togeth-
er for a long time. After we have
knelt as a family in prayer to him be-
neve he will give me wisdom to know
what | ought to do"
81 think father ought TO stay at home
with us all the time" said Bess.
Robert" said Mrs. Hardy, who
could not comprehend the full mean
ing of the situation much better than
little Bess, will you give up your
business? Eow can YOU attend 10 it?
VIII you have the strength and the pa
tience while laboring under this i'm
pression?'
81 have already thought over that.
Yes; believe | ought TO go right on.
/ don't see what would be gained by
severing my connection with the COM
pany."
"Will you tell the company you
have only Mrs. Hardy could not
say the words. They choked her.
"What would you do, Alice?' asked
her father, turning TO his oldest daugh-
ter, who although cripple, had more
than once revealed to the family great
powers of judgment and decision.
company about it," replied Alice
finally.
''That is the way / feel" said Mr..
Hardy with nod Of approval "They
would not understand it. Ny successor
in the office will be young Wellman, in
all probability, and he is perfectly COM
petent to carry on the work. | feel as
If the matter were one that belonged to
the family. l shall, of course, arrange
my business affairs with reference to
the situation, and George can give me
half a day for the details. But you
know, Mary, / have always kept my
business in such shape that in any case
of accident or sudden death matters
could easily be arranged. Thank God!
/ shall not have to take time for those
matters that l ought to give to more
serious and important duties"
1t was true that Mr.. Hardy, always n
man of very methodical habits in
business way, had always arranged his
affairs with reference to accidental re-
moval. His business as manager ne
cessitated his being on the road great
deal, and he realized, as many railroad
men do realize, the liability of sudden
death.
But such thought had not had any
influence on his actions to make him
less selfish. He thought, as all men do,
that he should probably live right
along after all; that death might take
the engineer or conductor or fireman,