Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-27

tie runped MS eyes and stared painful
". Yes: they were gambling. SO here
was where George spent all his money
and Bessie's too! Nothing that the
miserable father had seen so far cut
him to the quick quite so sharply a.
this. He had prided himself on bis
own freedom from vices and had an
honest horror Of them. for Mr.. Hardy
was not 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 stosd on buffet at
one side Of the room and were plenti-
fully partaken Of.
~ say. George" said a very flashily
dressed youth who was smoking that
invention Of the devil, a cigarette.
your old man would rub his eyes to
see you here, ehy
well. I should remark he would
replied George as he shuffied the cards
and then helped himself to drink.
81 say. George" said the first speak
er. your sister Bess is getting to be q
beauty. Introduce me. will your
mo, won't" said George shortly.
He had been losing all the evening. and
he felt nervous and irritable.
"Ah. We are too bad, ehy
George made some fierce reply, and
the other fellow struck him. Instantly
George sprang to his feet. and tight
took place. Mr.. Hardy could not bear
Il any longer. He thought he broke
away from the scene by the exercise
Of a great determination and next
found himself looking into his own
home. Ii seemed to him II was an even
ing when he and all the children had
gone out, aud Mrs. Hardy sat alone.
looking into the fire as she had been
looking before he fell asleep. She was
thinking. and her thoughts were like
burning Goals as they fell into Mr..
Hardy's heart and scorched him as not
any scene. not even the last, had done.
"My husband"' Mrs. Hardy was say
Ing TO herself. How long II Is since
he gave me caress. 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 wifel But the
years have changed him. oh. yes;
they have changed him bitterly! ]
wonder IL he realizes my hunger for
his affection! or what value 10 me are
all these baubles wealth brings com
pared with a loving look. tender
smile. an arectionate caress!
"Oh, Robert. Robert. Come back IT,
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
forglying God. help me. | feel wicked
sometimes. cannot bear this kind Of
q life. II IL killing me. II Is robbins
me Of all that life contains that IL
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 you." 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 ou;
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 satei
lites that blazed Ike 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 II
ran q thread Of music-a still sweet
sound like everlasting love-as II
angels sang somewhere a 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 II that thou usest the precious time
like those who toll for jewels In the
mine beneath the sea who speak un'
to thee am Eternity"
Then Robert Hardy thought he fell
upon his face before that awful Face
and begged In Interest terror for
longer lease of life.
Seven days! Why. II will be but
seven swift seconds to redeem my
past! Seven days! 1t will be nothing
In the marking Of time! o mighty 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 resplendent Face. And as he thus
stretched out his arms the Face bent
down toward his. and be thought Q
smile Of pity cleaned upon It. and ht
hoped that more time would be granted
him; and then, Al 1t came nearer. h'
suddenly awokc. and there was hii
own wife bending over him. and teal
from her face fell upon his own - sht
said:
/ "Robert! Robertr'
/ Mr.. Hardy rat up confused and trem
hing. Then be clasped bis wife to hin
asd kissed her a. be used to do. Ant
aien 10 her great amusement be rslatet
- her In = low tone the dream he hai