The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-28

great JOY And now, as then, the
hush was followed by a burst Of joy
full song-the mummers' carol:
All glory be to God on high,
And on the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to
Begin and never cease.
Amen" murmured Leila's low.
sweet voice. And she raised wet eyes
to the Christmas stars above.
Tonight she could once again say,
God is good, God is good!" for to her
sore heart the Comforter had come.
the Christ-Child, with healing on His
WINGS"
To Gervis Templeton, as he gave her
one glance, it was as though he gazed
on the face Of an angel.
There was that in it's holy. rapt
look to help him on the right path.
GLADLY he moved to his wife's
side-'l must take you indoors. This
Sort OF night air is not good for you"
A fragile, almost wasted little figure
AZ Wo0 <Aok AZ leu luLO IuC uOuS0. anQ
plying eyes followed it.
She's not long for this world: any,
body can see that" the whisper went
round.
"Oh, n~onsense!" Lady Jane, as she
caught it. frowned. Everybody knows
that American girls are like thistle
down to look at, but they are wiry
enough for all that; they make old
women with the best of u.s."
I'm a general way-yes; but as re-
CARDS Mrs. Templeton, Lady Jane, you
must face the fact that she is handi-
capped by a constitution so frail, and
a temperament so highly strung, thas
any sudden shock might kill her!!"
"Mr. Ansdell! Glad to see you have
recovered"
Lady Jane wheeled round, to find the
scientist, clad in irreproachable eve
ming dress, at her elbow. His dark
eyes were intently following the brides
dropping figure; for. oddly enough.
GLADLY felt n of her miserable fits
Of depression stealing over her.
What is it? Are you chilled?" anx-
iously asked Gervis, when he got her
into the deserteu drawing room.
Il don't know-yes. l wish that man
had stayed in his room, he frightens
mel" gasped GLADLY, family.
What man? You don't mean Ans
dell? The poor old chap would do n
mortal thing for you, Gladdy!!" Ger
Wis said, amazed.
"Oh, of course he would! Oh, no,
no! I didn't mean that. I WANT
there was a pause-"I want Leila"
A few minutes later GLADLY was in
her own room, her new friends soft
arms round her.
You are over-tired, Mrs. Temple
ton," Leila's soft, rich voice was say
ing almost tenderly, for her heart was
strangely drawn to this woman-she
who ought to be the richest and hap
piest m on earth, for had she not
Gervis? Leila already knew instinct
lively that the bride was miserably I'M
happy.
II am not strong" said GLADLY, pres
emily. II was always a weak thing,
and I'd no mother to see to me, you
know. But I was like this be-
fore. 1t is since the night of the fire
on the prairie. Perhaps I got a shock.
Leila, I hate black eyes, don't you?
Black. deep pools, that seem to hold
all that is evil and bad in their
depths?"
"Oh, moi" Leila's own dark-blue
eyes widened apprehensively. Could
GLADLY be delirious? Was she on the
verge of some fever? 81 rather admire
dark eyes, they flash and sparkle SO
grandly."
She spoke calmly, as if to reassure
the trembling girl beside her.
II don't mean dark eyes. I mean
eyes black as pools of ink, cruel eyes,
that hold your very soul in a grip of
iron. Leila, such eyes have a wicked
power. Their owner could make one
commit any crime, perhaps even MUIR
der! Oh, that's why I feel such an
agony of fear at times! Suppose I
did something!"
Leila drew her brows together in
bewilderment.
Dear, l can't think where you can
have seen such eyes. But there's one
thing I know. Supposing the powers
of evil are suffered to tempt or force
us to be their tools, Nknow and be-
lieve that the powers of good-God the
Father and God the Sen-are far
stronger, and that with Their help we
can safely resist all evil influences"
you mean to tell me your faith is
SO real, SO i~ntense?"
GLADLY bent forward until her thin,
sharp little face touched the soft
round Of Leila's cheek.
Why, yes!" was the astonished an
swer. To. doubt for Leila would be
to question whether the sun rose each
day to gladden. the earth. "And you
you also believe in Gods goodness?
How can we listen to the story the Joy
bells r telling and feel one scrap Of
doubt?"
Il wish I were real good, like .you,"
sighed GLADLY. Leila, do you know
sometimes. quite lately, a strong feel
ing has come to me that my life will
be a short one? I haven't enough
stamina in me to live"
She stretched out her thin little
hands to warm them at the blaze OF
the wood fire. Leila gazed from them
to her in profound amazement.
IL 80 O. . - ~. /.