The silver star., 1900-04-27


Tie fztr Isle O. wigh, Tas looking
at t-s .atres. O. glorious evening AZ
TIE e1t Of Apr1L rher TIE nAii pack
e from PortzEczrh steamed ae-oss the
Scseai towards RFde Pssr-
TIE greea verczre O. 5Gtd.rs sun-
Ter lay shickly on tie tzr-stresrhing
-z1.sczp< ard the tail trees dotted
tHrs1zh the Island .o.r- rising 50 pic
tzr=s91.iy Upward from -he SEA and
czpp=t by tie lofty s1xrs Of the parish
skzrct
Tie long p-ouersce pier vas gay
I'll. hol.izy makers and eastward
TIE ss2lanzi= -zs bright With patches
:, s5-inz flowers. while the soft mel
11y q. brzsz band soated fttuIly cut
aver the azure sea
There were r<o travellers On board
sas steamer -so regarded the fair
scsle be.oTe them with e1rapcured
:Fes. .or they we're bride and bride
Eroou cn thsir Wedding ;our-Roddy
-1t Diana Go-tor-and the veries.
csszrt nrzt hzye seemed a paradise to
them IL the classifying happiness
~Eich union had brought TO both But
the fashionable Ryte was no. to be
their Gestirztioa-
Th-ir young lore as ye, demanded
tie charm Of solzce of solitude, and it
Ezz so1th~art. towards the great blum
white cliffs and ,he silver strands Of
Skznklin the island train vas soon
sTittly bearing them. TO the rose-eov-
ersd cottage which was 10 hold for
them the first mystic name of home
Home, What = taiisnan lay in that
.impie Eord, And as the young SOL
der led his happy bride across the
threshold his heart swelled with graft
tude 70 the God who had shielded him
through perils Of pain and bitter
bloodshed in far India. to bring him
70 this haven Of peace and perfect love
a. last
And presently. as they fingered over
cinnsr, reluctant to bring to an end
that first delicious repast shared in
their Eden together, they spoke OF Don
over whose welfare they yearned with
al the tender sympathy born Of their
cwn happiness and large-hearted love.
Roddy had brought round his des-
set plate and sat down by Diana's
side. ostensibly to invite her to peel
his ralnuts. task OF which Roddy
himself had no aptitude; but another
diversion occurred by the arrival of the
post, the last mall for the night.
One letter was from Don, which had
been posted to Gadie Ha' and now
forwarded BY Roddy's father. And as
aotdy tore It open and scanned its
contents an exclamation Of pleasure
PASSED his lips.
There. little wife. didn't I predict
inisF he said triumphantly. And
forthwith he read aloud q few hasty
lines Don had penned to Roddy on the
night Of his betrothal to Lille Der
went, previous to his departure for the
camp OF the Tirah force.
It was wonderfully bright letter for
Don. full OF congratulation on Roddy's
forthcoming marriage and calm satis-
taction In his own engagement; and 1t
ended with a postscript that stirred
both Di and Roddy to the heart.
Il begin to think, old fellow. per-
haps you are right. and life is worth
living after ALL"
Happy tears had sprung to DIANA
cark eyes. and, seeing them, Roddy's
arm stole round her waist, and he drew
ker head to his shoulder and lightly
touched Its auburn locks with his lips,
You are satisfied now, little woman,
that Lille has met her real hero n,
last?"
She looked up In his laughing eyes
with tender smile. for she knew he
was thinking Of time when she be-
'ieved Lille to be his own only love
and she answered with contrite sweet
ness:
All. Roddy. how good God Is, II We
would only trust Him to shape our
lives an He knows best!"
The silence OF a deep content fell
upon them. and by and by they strolied
out to where the great chalk cliffs
rose In dazzling whiteness up from the
sea into the blue sky. over which ths
sllvery stars Of night were coming GU,
one by one. twinkling like tiny globes
of FIRE.
Behind them reared the rugged
stretch Of underciiff, down the wooded
precipicc Of which the murmurIns
stream meandered from village %
ehore. and by whose side ran n series
Of gigantic steps-a mighty preciplce
that savored almost Of Alpine sub
Unity.
The lovers-for they were lover
still-stood hand-in-hand and drsnh
In the beauty of It all with that rapture
which only comes when viewing some
scene In the presence Of one we love.
Even Gadie. lovely Gadie, with its
silvery. shining waters WAS forgotten
Thoy were here together, and II wa,
tho paradise Of the world.
Yet ever and anon. ~ they gaxed ou
on tho deep ocean. the thoughts oI
each would turn to Don; and ono,
Diana spoke. with wistfui little brsa,
Ia her voice.