The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-04-10

before Iue JuuSLueul-.S SELL @OI CuElSC.e
God help us all.tto do our duty! Time
is short; eternity isalopg. Death ;.ig
nothing; life is everything,
Five years after this speech of R6b-
ert Hardy to tile people Of Barton II /.
the. town hall one who was present in
the audience described the sensation
that passed through 1t when the speak
er sat down to be like g distinct cleo
trio shock which passed from seat to
seat and held the people fixed and
breathiess assif they had been smitten
into images of stone. u 5p tsqt Il,
The effect on the chairman Of the
meeting vas tie Same. He sat motion
less Then d wave OF emotion gradual
ly stirred the audience, and without q
word of dismissal, they poured out Of
the building and scattered to their
homes.
IS Robertb found George waiting ,llpr
hima The fatherewas almost faint
with the reaction from his address,
George gave his arm, and the two
walked home IN Silence! l.l'aTis ssIA
We must pass over hastily the events
of the next day in Robert Hardy's life:
The The whole town was talking about bis
surprising address Of the night before
Some Thought he was crazy. Others
regarded him as sincere, but after the
FIRST effect Of his speech had worn on
they criticised him severely for, pre-
Stunning to preach" on such an, occaF
sion. Still others were puzzled to acs
count for the change Id the man,lfor
thataa change had taken place. could
not be denied. How slow men are %
acknowledge the power of God in the
human heart! Mr. Hardy went about
his business very little moved by all
this discussion. He realized that a6nly
two more days remainedt ,.sr ,ar
T. He spent the afternoon and evening
at home, but was Interrupted by sew
eral calls. After tea the entire family
gathered in thearooms where Clarafiay.
She still remained uneo eious,, but liys
ing. AS Mrs. Hardy was saying s0ms-
thing to her husband about his dream
and the events of the day before Clara
suddenly opened hereyesaand distinct
~ called out the words: ss4n :rfi. sEssI
Father, what day is it 2? ',.T
@I It Was like a voice out of tie ling
dead past Mi. Hardy, sitting aby the
side of the bed, replied Quietly, whiiS
his heart beat quick :..y0TgT.- s=.4.,f
# This Is Friday n night, dear child,o.g ~.
Another question came, uttered IA
the same strange voice: o.
r. "Fathen. how many more dayssRre
left far you2 s4ssgs5l sssitaS ;sras 4,3si.saE
Tomorrow and Sunday e,gMyltf u
The voice came again:
.a,s'I shall 60 with you then.A sfeaH
1.-THE eyes closed and the form bei
came motionless, as before.iItiAN d 81
J. # was very quiet in the room at 4, the
eloSe q Hpbert Hafd ", ff 'l1 day S.
CHAPTER XIII u zaJsstF
Those words Of Clara, II shall 60
with You then. filed tile family With
dismay. Mr.. Hardy Bowed htss head
and groaned. Mrs. Hardy. almost be-
side herself With grief aNd terror, flew
to the side Of the girl and, with be
sseeching cries and Scaresses, TIED ~
bring back to consciousness the mind
that fonas mQps ent or :tw q. had az: cleaned
with reason and then bad had gone back
into the obscurity and, oblivion of that
mysterious condition In Which It had
been lying afor fhree1 avs,,bnt allkdn
vain. 8Bhe eyes Were,e closed; the forn
was rigid. Their, otherss George and
Will and -Bess; grew pale,-a and Bess
cried, almost for the first time asf4ce
The strange week began. RobertiwaS
the first to breaksthe grief s@ithi quiet
word. He raised his head, saying:
'i'4 az not believe Clara Is goingNto
dieiwhenH do..rsgs III riia asssw .tfai
"Why, fatheB what makes you think
thatY cried Alice.
h'Ir donst know! II can't giveaany TX
act feasbny I1eniyi Know that d6nf
believesits Will happen. ".fi n !'sss, i.@alii
,",God grant thai she, may be spared
ert, Mt Is ifSnore tdSan II an 'beaar! oily
today and Tomorrow lefts Itfcanfflbe
real. have battled against your
dream all herweek. 1t was a. dream
only..,A1 will not believe II to be any
thing elses.f You arg not i'll. There Il
! no iadieati6h that 'you are going to die
! will not, T;cannot, believe, 1t, God
is too geqa And +, We need you 4 @99w.
Robert. Let us pray God, for mercy
robert shook his head Sadly. but
firmly 'Il VIZ :. ~ aat'I2'Ssss ls'''itsi,3 y
"N6,, Maryy,;ai calfnot resist an I'M.
preston SO strong that cannot call it
anything but a conviction Of reality;
!, that somehow,,. ;tn Some wayy,.'I Shall b9
called away ifrom You Sunday night. u
have struggled against ii, buttit grows
upon me even more firmly. Godjttk
mercifgl. i do not question his good
ness. How mich ala / deserve even
this week III preparatioif after the life
4 have lived {? Aid tile time will not
be long beforessteEshhll all meet therG
God grant that it may be an unbroken
company!'
MI. Hardy spoke as any one in his
condition Could. The Children drew
about him lovingly Bess climbed into
his lap She laid her face against her
father's face. and the strong IMAM sobs