The Republican journal., 1901-03-14


surroundings, might have lived life of
happiness.
The reader may wonder why Mrs.
Hadley is not often with Myrtle. We
had forgotten to mention that in the
autumn following Myrtle's marriage
she was seriously ill with pneumonia,
from the effects of which her physician
feared she could not recover, except in
a milder climate. A party of friends
were to spend the winter in Southern
pany them. Finding her health improved
there she concluded to lease her home
for few years, leaving instructions
that every thing be kept in repair that
she might find it, when she chose to re-
turn, just as she left it. With Myrtle
she kept up close correspondence.
Myrtle's poor starved heart, crushed
and suffering in her home life, was too
proud and strong to complain or seek
sympathy and burden others with her
grief, as weaker nature would have
done, yet Mrs. Hadley could read some
thing between the lines, however cheer
fully she tried to write. In books and
nature she found asOlace and relief; for
where lower mind would have brood
ed over her trials and grief, her poetic
soul found companlonship in nature.
In sea and mountain, tree and flower
she saw visions of beauty such as only
poets know. The stars brought her
messages of love from the dear ones in
their brighter home. The ringing Of
church bell brought to her train of
rich and beautiful thoughts that lifted
her above the visible world into a realm
that Jane Hadley could not have pene-
trated, even had the bell possessed a
thousand tongues, each equally pouring
forth rich melody. God gave to Myrtle
those faculties for benefit and use, and
Jane Hadley in her ignorance and stu
pidity could no more understand or crush
out the aspirations of Myrtle's superior
nature than could she change the
course of the lights of heaven; for the
very things that would have deformed
Myrtle but stepping stones to higher
things
CHAPTER VII.
Had the heart known less of burden,
| Of life'S cruel thOrns and stingS,
| Would the muses., for thy guerdOn,
| Loose thy spirits fettered wings?
| Forest gloom the sweet songs waken
That the thrush at twilight sings.
Oft what seems severe affliction,
Sent thy strength of soul to test,
| Proves loving benedictiOn
That will bring sweet peace and rest.
He alone can know what mission
| And what path for thee is best.
And God had for Myrtle a mission
for which suffering alone could tit her
When a schoolgirl nothing gave her
such delight as putting her thoughts
into verse, and now to beguile her lone
illness she often took up her pen, for all
the long pentup emotions of her heart
must find an outlet. One day in the
impulse of a moment she sent a short
poem to the editor of a leading maya
zine, under an assumed name. 1t was
like a burst of sunshine from a dark
and threatening sky. 1t awakened
much comment and was widely copied.
Had Myrtle been placed in pleasant
home and among friends that she could
have loved and trusted she might have
been a brilliant society women, but
would there not have been restless.
unSatisfied longing that she would not
have understood, and the depth of heart
and soul would never have been known
or used for the benefit of the world. Who
can judge the human mind: for little we
know what slumbers beneath the sur
face, and that is unknown even to the
possessor. From long line of ancestors
Myrtle had inherited genius which
needed only the touch of adversity to
kindle it into flame that would send
its rays out over the whole world, as
only a terrific storm can reach and
arouse the depth of ocean and bring to
its surface the shining, hidden pearls.
AS yet, neither Harold or Jane had
the slightest suspicion that the new and
brilliant light in the literary world that
was creating such a sensation, shone
from their own home, or that the hours
that Myrtle spent alone were not, as
Jane Surmised, devoted to sulking and
brooding over her own imaginary griefs.
But one sunny afternoon a tall, dis
tinguished looking gentleman rang the
door bell, which was answered by Jane.
He enquired for Mrs. Hadley Jane
summoned Myrtle, then withdrew. He
then introduced himself as the editor
of leading magazine, and wished to
have a few moments private talk
with her. She invited him into the
parlor. James suspicious, jealous ma
ture was aroused. She always lmagln-
ed evil in any act of Myrtle's that she
could not readily understand, and had
an angel came direct from Heaven to
be Harold's wife it would have been
the same.
The frown upon James face almost
assumed triumphant form, as she
crept softly into room adjoining the
parlor, and putting her ear to the key
hole listened intently. She thought,
''now is the time to get something to
help on the separation between Harold
and MYRTLE" the one goal for which
she had long been striving, for on that
all her hopes of earthly happiness were
based, for then she would have Harold
and home all to herself again. She
could hardly credit her senses when she
heard the gentleman say: Mrs. Hadley
you are probably aware of the popular
ity of your literary work. The first
prize of our serial story we have award
ed to you, and wish to engage you to
write another expressly for our maya
zine" Jane wanted to hear no more
Her conceited, imperious pride was for