The Republican journal., 1901-03-07


The twilight following bright Octo-
Der day was resting dreamily over the
little village. The hum of labor had
ceased. The rumbling wheels of the
stage bringing the nights mail had, as
usual, caused the customary assemblage
at the village post office. None of the
dignitaries before mentioned were alb
sent John Smith still held in his hand
his busy jack knife, while the enlarge
ment in the cheek of Jones revealed
the usual amount of tobacco. The
conversation for moment ceased and
the crowd made way for Myrtle, who
had just entered and taking large
package from her letter box quickly
withdrew. Jones was the first to speak.
did you see how that gal blushed
when she saw we was all watchin' her?
They say that city chap, who was visit
in Miss Hadley last summer, and she
are really engaged. She gets a letter
think by the size tw'd take an extra
train to bring 'em. 1t beats all how
some folks can find so much to write
about It's duced queer tho, as many
older and better qualified girls as there
are in this village, that the committee
should let that young thing take Miss
Bentley's place. Here Ike interrupt.
ed Nov, pa, nobody in this village
but you has ever found one bit of fault.
My sister Sue, you know yourself, says
she's the best teacher she ever had, and
all the big scholars say the same. Hope
she'll keep the place when I'm old
enough to go to the academy, but prob
ably that city chap'll take her away be-
fore that time Here the post master
remarked, Il think the committee
were very fortunate to secure so rare a
teacher ''They do say" said Tom
Brown, chat Miss Bentley's failin',
and will not probably live through the
winter" For once gossip was all too
true, although specialists were consult
ed and a professional nurse employed.
When the spring violets awakened
she was laid to rest.
The larger the nature the more in
tense the suffering. 1t has been said,
"Great souls attract SORROWS, as noun
famous tempests.' Poor, lonely Myr-
tie. Would life ever be thus? Could
her warm, loving heart never cling to
any earthly love but the cruel hand of
death must wrench and tear the twin
ing, clinging tendrels from their strong
support? In Mrs. Hadley's kind and
motherly heart she found depth and
tenderness that another's sorrow could
alone bring to the surface, for when all
around her were happy, their JOY natur-
ally reminded her of her own sad life
. and consequently she was silent and re-
served. She faithfully stood by Myrtle
through all her sorrow, and when all
was over, led her to her own home,
saying as they entered the coy parlor,
Nov, Myrtle, it is my dearest, fondest
; wish that you will share my home; all
that it contains is freely at your dis
posal, for no one in the world could so
nearly fill my daughters place Your
sunny nature since l first saw you has
brought to me a comfort, and almost
JOY, that no one else has had the power
to bring to me since | was left alone
Myrtle's clinging arms were around
her neck, and in a sobbing voice she re-
piled, my precious friend: how can I
ever repay you for your kindness. Your
sad face and lonely life since first |
came to this village awakened in my
childish heart a sympathy and that all
these years has grown and strengthened
and if a daughters love and devotion
can be any compensation and if my
presence can bring just little sunshine
into your heart and home, / shall feel
that | have been appointed to a high
and holy mission.
Myrtle's letter containing the sad
news of her aunt's death had scarcely
| reached Harold when a telegram was
brought to Mrs. Hadley announcing
The funeral was to be at their home in
nr1y q
pany the remains of his parents to
Riverside Cemetery.
The anticipated meeting with Myrtle
in his aunt's home, though in the midst
of sorrow, brought CLEAN Of joy. The
restraint or invisible barrier that Myr-
tie was conscious existed between her
and Harold, might have still been ap-
parent had they met amid joyous scenes,
ished, at least for the time. It was a
quiet evening following the day that
Harold had seen placed side by side in
the village cemetery all that remained
of those parents who had idolized him
and left not one reasonable wish of his
ungratified. AS his fathers business
required his immediate attention he
must return to New York the following
day. Again he requested Myrtle to
walk with him to the city of the dead.
As they thoughtfully wended their
way how wildly Myrtle recalled every
word spoken by him at their last meet
ing, some months before. Her heart
told her that now he expected a decided
answer, and silently she breathed a
prayer for strength and wisdom from
on high to enable her to decide Alright.
Why must come again that feeling of
doubt, distrust? was it a presentiment
of coming evil? Why should the thought
of the future bring such strong unrest?
The thought of the fascinated bird
struggling to fly from the glittering
eyes Of the serpent Was there hidden
beneath the velvet glove an iron hand?
She knew, as she had ever known dur
ing the months that he had been absent,
that the thought of final separation
from him brought misery, darkness and
despair. While in the anticipation of
his presence was joy, happiness. Then
why did she hesitate? Had she two
guardian angels each pointing in a diff
ferent direction.
These counter currents of emotion
passed through her mind as rapidly as
do the events of dream, in which, in
one moment, we seem to experience
hours of joy or agony.
They had now reached the graves of
his parents, and as he led her to the
ho toll H. h 10