Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1901-10-11
THE BISHOPS BRIDAL

LIE DlOuVI y DNlUAL
During the dinner the bishop had
been all things to all men. blending in
his manner toward his guests the dig
nifty OF u priest with the elasticity of
mnn OF the world.
The butler had approached him with
a shade of anxiety on his face.
"A man below, sir, insists on seeing
you. James told him the circumstances,
but he would not be put OF. He acted
peculiar. II you would send word"
mo; will go down.
As he descended the stairs he saw a
curious figure. standing with q certain
natural ease and grace in the stately,
brightly lighted hall-a man about IS
years old-dressed In u shabby evening
suit
The bishop conceived an instant dis
like of this man, as of one, In some OBJ
scure way, once rival. The stranger
stepped forward.
Il beg your pardon. bishop. for inter-
rupting the great function OF dinner,
but the case Is urgent. Ny wife Is dy-
Ing partly Of hunger, partly Of life.
She had wished prayer said over her.
| came for you"
Il will go with you." said the bishop.
He went back and took leave of his
guests.
The woman lay on the narrow bed
as one without care and without de-
sire. The bishop looked upon her face
with an instant recognition that. what
ever had been the outward setting OF
his life never for an hour had she been
the wife of this man In anything but
material form and sign. The impulse
seized him to thrust this intruder In his
vulgarity and poverty of spirit neck
and crop into the street which claimed
him.
The wife opened her eyes with a
strange. alien look upon her husband
This is the bishop. Alice. the bishop
Of this town which has used you and
me so badly. He'll say prayer for
you If you like. Perhaps he'll show his
faith by his works. have told him
that we are bitten by cold aud hunger
and that we haven't u penny"
Did you tell him all?"
My sins. you mean the cause of our
little miseres? No, dear did not"
The woman turned her face to the
bishop. and their eyes met. 1t was the
birth of moment that could have
pothtuU IN .1n with fitna oud ifs acci
dents. To her Ii was as If there stood
before her In this wholly self possessed
and dignifed figure the embodiment Of
what she had desired and had been de-
MED In the troubled years Of her past
mental and moral order. strength hold
Ing sweetness within 1t, refinement Of
character which should mold the sim
plest events OF daily life into comely
forms: yes. and something greater than
these which might include them, to-
gether with every other imaginable
grace and beauty. as light holds all
color-a love which gives life.
To the bishop she seemed to embody
those forces OF which his dinner guests
In Jest or earnest felt bound to deny
to give joy. Strange enough In this her
setting OF poverty and pain.
The husband laid hand upon his
arm 'Slr. do not delay. She needs
food more than she needs your prayers.
VIII you force me 10 tell you again
that | have no money? A gentleman
will surely not refuse a gentleman"
NJ. Ii a int. hal
way and put a note in his hand.
The man went lightly down the
stairs. with a sinister exultation In his
manner. As the bishop re-entered the
room the woman turned her eyes TO his
again.
The bishop spoke no word. but his
eyes answered hers.
She drew his hand into her hands.
IF | should ask your name" she said,
''or the paths by which you came to Inc
at last. what would 1t tell me? You are
here"
Il came by many paths-to comfort
you."
II am comforted."
You have been unhappy
Il forget. l am happy now.
She drew his hand to her breast
And you-haye you been happy
mo. Only successful"
And nov 7"
The bishop looked into her eyes. II
am satisfied"
She drew his hand closer to her
breast.
The silence deepened around them.
There was no sound of returning foot
steps on the stair. Perhaps the echo Of
them had died out forever
She never took her gaze from his
face, but great WEAKNESS was weigh
ing down her eyelds. you will not
leave me II fall asleep?'
NO; | will not leave you. Go to
sleep"
The silence deepened around them.
In the breathless hour between nights
maturity and the dawn the bishop left
the still form to the care of Others
With death he had nothing to do.
He went to his lonely house with the
aerial step of one possessed by an al
most unbearable joy.
AS he passed by the dark, deserted