The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-05

was not a monster Of iniquity. only an
intensely selfish man. Gambling. drink.
ing. impurity-all the physical vices
were to Mr.. Hardy the lowest degrade.
ton.
The thought that his own son had
fallen into this pit was terrible to him.
But he was compelled to look and lis.
ten. All the young men were smoking.
and beer and wine stood on a buffet at
one side of the room and were plenti.
fully partaken of.
Il say, George" said very faslily
invention of the devil, a cigarette.
your old man would rub his eyes to
see you here, eh?"
We'll, should remark he would"
replied George as he shulllcd the cards
rud then helped himself to n drink.
Il say. George" said the first speak.
rr. "your sister Bess Is getting to be Il
beauty. Introduce me, will you?"
NO. | won't" said George shortly.
He had been losing all the evening. and
III ltit otlS llIllullt.
"Ah! We are too bad. ehf"
George made some fierce reply. and
the other fellow struck him. Instantly
George sprang to his feet, and fight
took place. Mr.. Hardy could not bear
it any longer. He thought he broke
away from the scene by the exercise
of Il great determination and next
found himself looking into his own
home. 1t seemed to him ii was an even.
ing when he and all the children had
looking into the fire rs she had been
looking before he fell asleep. She was
thinking, and her thoughts We're like
burning Goals rs they fell into Mr..
llardy's heart and ScorchCd him as not
any scene, not even the last. had done.
My husband" Mrs. Hardy was say.
ing to herself. "liuw long it is since
he gave me a carvSs, kissed me when
he went to his work or laid his hand
lovingly on my cheek as he used To do!
How brave and handsome and good
used to think him in the old Vermont
days when we were struggling for our
little home and his best thought was of
the home and of the wife! But the
years have changed him. oh. yes;
they have changed him bitterly. |
wonder if he realizes my hunger for
his affection! or what value to me are
all these baublcs wealth brings COM
pared with a loving look, n tender
smile, an aifcctionatc carcss?
"Oh, Robert, Robert. Come back to
me, for | am SO lonely, so lonely.
Would to God all our riches might be
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
forgiving God. help me! feel wicked
sometimes cannot bear this kind Of
life. 1t is killing me- 1t is robbing
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. | will;
| will love your And Mrs. Hardy fell
on her knees by the side Of the couch
and buried her face in its 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
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 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, It was the speech OF a
thousand oceans heaved by million
tempests, yet through the terror Of 1t
ran thread Of music-a still sweet
sound like everlasting love-as II
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 it that thou usest the precious time
like those who toll for jewels In the
mine beneath the sea. l 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 a
longer lease of life.
"Seven days! Why, 1t will be. but
seven swift seconds to redeem my
past! Seven days! 1t will be nothing
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