Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-01
CHAPTER Xl.

Those words Of Clara, II shall go
with you then" filed the family with
dismay. Mr.. Hardy bowed his head
and groaned. Mrs. Hardy. almost be-
side herself with grief and terror. dew
to the side Of the girl and. with be-
seeching cries and caresses. tried TO
bring back to consciousness the mind
that for a moment or two had cleaned
with reason and then had gone back
Into the obscurity and oblivion Of that
mysterious condition In which II had
been lying for three days, but all In
vain. The eyes were closed: the form
was rigid. The others. George and
VIII and Bess. grew pale. and Bess
cried. almost for the first time since
the strange week began. Robert was
the first to break the grief with quiet
word. He raised his head. saying:
81 do not believe Clara Is going to
die when do"
"Why, father. what makes you think
that?" cried Alice.
81 don't know. I can't give any ex-
act reason. ! only know that | don't
believe II will happen"
God grant that she may be spared
to usr' said Mrs. Hardy. "Oh. Rob
ert. it Is more than | can bear! Only
today and tomorrow left IL can't be
real. have battled against your
dream all the week. II was a dream
only. will not believe II TO be any
thing else. You are not Ill There Is
no Indication that you are going TO die
I Will not. cannot. believe II! God
Is too good And we need you now.
Robert. Let US pray God for mercy"
Robert shook his head sadly. but
nrmly.
"No. Mary; cannot resist an I'm
preston so strong that cannot call IL
anything but a conviction Of reaIity;
that somehow. In some way. shall be-
called away from you Sunday night.
have struggled against II. but IL grows
upon me even more firmly. God IL
merciful do not question bis good
ness. How much did ! deserve even
this week OF preparation after the life
Z have llvedi And the time will not
be long before we shall all meet there.
God grant that II may be an unbroken
company
Mr.. Hardy spoke as any one In bis
condition could. The children drew
about him lovingly. Bess climbed into
his lap. She laid her face against her
fathers face. and the strong man sob
bed as he thought OF all the years Of
neglected affection In that family cir
Gle. The rest OF the evening was spent
In talking over the probable future.
George. who seemed thoroughly hum
bled now. listened respectfully and
even tearfuliy TO his fathers counsel
concerning the direction Of business
and family matters.
The boy was going through a strug.
gle with himself which was apparent
to all In the house. Ever since bis
mother had seen him kneeling down In
the night watch be had shown a differ
ent spirit 1t remained to be seen
whether be had really changed or
whether be had been for the time be-
Ing frightened into little goodness.
Saturday morning found the Hardys
weary with the agitation OF the week,
but bearing about a strange excite
ment which only the prospect OF the
fathers approaching death or removal
could have produced.
Robert could not realize that his
week was almost at an end. Why, II
seemed but yesterday that he had
dreamed after the Sunday evening
service!
AS on every other day, he asked him.
self the question, What shall dor
Only until he had prayed could he
answer the question. Then the light
came. Who says prayer is merely a
form? It is going to God for wisdom
and getting it. II is crying ost for
light. and. 10! the darkness fees. II
Is spreading out our troubles and our
Joys and our perplexities and our needs
and finding God himself the best pos
sible answer to them all.
Robert Hardy was finding this out
lately, and II was the one thing that
made possible to him the calmness Of
the last two days allotted him.
The day was spent In much the same
way that the other days had been
spent. He went down to his office
about 10 o'clock and after coming
home to lunch went down again with
the intention OF getting through all the
business and returning home TO spend
the rest Of the time with the family.
Along toward 3 o'clock. when the rou-
tine work Of the shops was disposed
Of. the manager felt an irresistible de-
sire TO speak to the men In bis employ.
They numbered about 500 In his de
partment. and he knew how impossible
II would be for him 10 speak 10 them
Individually. He thought q minute
and then called Burns In and gave an
order that made the foreman stare In
the most undisguised wonder.
"Shut down the works for q little
while and ask the men to get together
In the big machine shop. ! want to
speak TO them"
Burns had been astonished % often
this week that. although he opened his
mouth to say something. be did not
seem able to pronounce the words. and
after staring blankly at his employer
q minute be turned and went out to
execute the order