Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-08-24

THE minister was pacing monoto-
nously up and down the church
study, intent upon the thinking out"
of his sermon for Sunday. He jotted
down his last idea with patient sigh
before answering the timid rap at the
door. A single glance assured him
that his expectation of finding wom-
an, and woman in sore trouble,
standing before it was well founded.
81 thought you might>help me" the
woman, who was young, pale and re-
fned-looking, burst forth, in deep agi-
tation, as he drew forward chair. 81
must have help from somewhere"
.'You shall have it," the minister as
sured her, his face brave with sym
pathy. "But first. you know, you must
tell me your trouble. Get the worst
over at once" he added, encourag-
ingly.
Then the story came rushingly-
with the swift, resistless, on-bearing
haste following long months of re-
preston.
81 was married, at IS, to a man
much older than myself. I didn't love
y
dearly. But we were poor and my
mother was i'll and helpless; there
didn't seem anything else to do. The
man whom loved and who loved me
never knew of my marriage until he
came back from the west, where he
had gone to make money for our mar
riage. At first I think he hated me,
but afterward he was sorry for my
suffering. And then, when my hus-
band had gone away on long bust
ness journey, he kept coming to see
me, and
''You made bitter mistake togeth-
err" finished the minister, as she
stopped, helpless, unable to say an
other word.
eyes, yes-a bitter mistake" She
caught at the words eagerly, her face
hidden in her trembling fingers. 'And,
after little, grew to hate him. And
then-and then he died"
eyes; and after?"
The kindly but commanding voice
nerved her to further narration.
"After he was dead I was sorry. I
put flowers on his grave this morning,
when ] put some on my mothers grave
also. But [ still hate him-I hate even
his memory. He was so small and
mean, so cruel, once [ was in his
power"
"And your husband 90
''He was so kind, SO loving, so tender,
SO considerate that I grew to love him
as passiOnately as had hated the 9TH
er. My mother died before he came
back from his journey, so he never
heard or knew of my wrongdoing; he
thought it was natural grief and sor-
row which made me so strange and
sad. Last month he came near to death
also, and I learned how much and how
dearly L love him. And since then
Again she stopped, helpless. Again
the minister came to her assistance.
"And since then you are wondering
whether or no you ought to confess
your infidelity to him?"
eyes, oh, yes" she made excited an
swer. 81 didn't mind so much as long
as didn't know how much loved him
But now-it seems like sacrilege to let
him think me good and faithful. And
yeti know he has never suspected,
and he told me the other day that he'd
rather die by slow torture than lose
his faith in anyone he loved. And I
know he's never had any real love or
happiness before, and he's been such
a good man always. So that, alto
gether@"
"We must think a little-and pray
over it," said the minister, rising to
pace the floor monotonously again
Only the sound of her passionate sob
bling broke the silence until he came
back to her side.
'No," he said, decidedly, "you must
never tell your husband He is happy
in the belief of your faithfulness;
there is no reason why he should suf-
fer for your SHINING.
"You are anxious to atone for the
sin, are you not? Yes, was sure of it.
And you feel that your conscience
would be easier if you made clean
breast of it? Well, then, deny your
self that relief for the sake of your
husband. Make, atonement to him by
saving him from the knowledge and
consequent suffering of Your wrong
doing. Love him with all the strength
of your nature, and glory and revel in
the love he gives you. In Gods great
mercy there is forgiveness for all re-
pentant sinners. Strive you after for
getfulness as well. Let the past slip
out of your memory altogether-ex-
cept in SO far as it makes you very
tender toward other sinners-and, if
recollection does torment you occa-
sionally, let it be part of your atone
ment that you bear the suffering in
silence and unaided. Never think of
relieving your own conscience at the
expense of your husbands happiness
When the visitor, all timid smiles
and lightened heart, had slipped out
of the study the minister stood looking
out of the window for moment. He
turned away abruptly to answer an
other summons TO the study door.
It was man, this time, who stepped