Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-06-05


plumb out.
Pap Sampson, who had been out on
the street, came hurriedly in and whis-
pered something to Sim. No one heard
what he said, but whatever it was 1t
had magical effect, for Sim was
Transformed In an instant from a state
of llstless apathy to one of eager-and
excited interest. His face beamed, and
his eyes gllstened, and he trembled
from head to foot. He sprang up and
started out, but Sam Morgan laid his
hand gently on his arm to detain him.
The next moment woman appeared
In the open door. Everybody looked
up and saw It was Louisa. Then 81
lence as still as death fell over the
scene.
She paused for an instant and glanc-
ed around. Her eyes wandered until
they rested on Sim. Then with cry
full Of Joy and pathos she tottered to-
ward him. His arms opened to receive
her, and the next moment she was
folded to his breast, and in silence they
were weeping together.
Nobody spoke. It was a scene too
impressive, too sacred, to be disturbed
Many stood with their heads bent,
their hearts full and their eyes moist
with tears. sam Morgan drew his
handkerchief from his pocket and has
tily turned his face away, while Ebe-
nezer Sparks stood smiling idiotically,
making heroic efforts to appear unaf.
fected.
No one moved but Pap Sampson. He
stood humping the floor with his cane
as though he had a contract to thump
a hole through 1t and was determined
i to accomplish his undertaking. All the
while there was a smile on his wrin-
He'd. tanned old face such as had not
been seen there for many DAYS, He
was happy. and no wonder! He had
worked md iloped and longed for this
MI those four long years.
II was sim who broke; the silence.
Taking Iouisa,s head between HIS
hands. he raised It. gently until their.
eyes met. Then he saw that she, too,
had suffered,
.sPoor little girlr, he said tenderly.
at has been hard, cruelty hard, for
you.,'
s.Yes," she sighed, ''hard and dark,
but 1t has been harder for you. Poor
Simr'
MAnd you pity me toof"
she drew closer to him and met his
eyes with hers in look full of tender
ness.
at is not that, Sim," she whispered.
at Is not pity"
He began to tremble. All, could 1t be
that heaven was about to open right
before him, with all its light and glory,
after this long, weary night of bitter
desolation? He dared not hope. It
was too much to expect. In husky, ca
ger tones he said:
..Louisa, tell me, what is TT"
at is love-
Then to Sim Banks all the glory and
toys of earth and heaven were unfold
ed, and in one moment all the dark sor-
rows and pains of the past, all the
,threatened dangers of the future, pass
ed away as q dream. That was the
,one moment of supreme bliss in his
aife.
Holding her close to his heart, he
said:
'.Loueesy, is 1t really true? Can 1t be
possible?"
tIt is" she replied. SIT is all true.
love you. have loved you for long
time. How could I help it after all
your goodness to me and the way you
did when you went away?"
Sim looked at her wonderingly.
ST don't understand" he said. ssI on
( IL tried to do my duty the best I could.
1t wasn't much.''
at was much to me. It was enough
to show me that you are the noblest
and best man in the world, and love
you with my whole heart and soul"
Sim was too happy to speak, so he
stood silently stroking her hair, alb
sorbing the 10y with which the very
air seemed impregnated. After little
while she said:
"And now, Sim, can you ever for.
give me after all I have made you SUI.
ferf
Forgive you, LoueesyP he exclaim-
ed. "God knows ! never had hard
thought for you an never blamed you
for anything in my life."
mo, but for all that, Sim, ! was
wicked"
'You was not to blame. What you
done you couldn't help. You was moi
to blame one bit"
She nestled her head on his shoulder
and drew long sigh of happy relief.
I know now" she said, that
never loved perore-not with such love
as this"
Some there ne were who watched as tnis