The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-12-05

tieut anger. refusing to wait longer
for her. and when ! heard that the
engagement had been brOken, some
weeks later. because of Johns mex.
plicablr conduct aud persistent silence,
rcj0icrd.
MY sister WIS IN for months, and
I feared TO tell her. Then was sent
to- boarding school while our mother
accompanied Julie 10 the mountains.
and only returned home Ia time for
her wedding to Charlie. the cousin who
had loved her 30 long. | felt then. be.
Ing a little older. that must hold ms
peace for ever. and, gradually, | for.
got all about my wronpdoing. save
for occasional rerollectionx now aud
then. Hut now I utu 10 be ma'rrisd
myself, shorily, and last week my sis
ter. In urging use To Ice sure that
really loved my lover. let me know
something ~ what she herself has
missed and suffered through my aeccp.
ton"
"lIcr marriage, then, has not been
happy onc?" asked the priest. his
face pale his manner strangely quiet
Yves and no." was the troubled an.
swcr "lirr husband il a good man
and he loves her, but she can only re-.
speCt and admire him. She married
him out NJ piqur, and for loneliness
and heartarhc She told me last week
that the only man she should ever
love IN tAis world was the man from
whom from whom I parted her !
should have told her al then. but
she added that only the knowledge Of
his uuwarthincss helped her to live
without him Had she been scparat.
cd from him for any other reason. she
felt she should have gone mad.
"since then have hrcn tortured b.,
an agony al rcmorsc and uncertainty.
last night ! resolved tu couiidc in you,
and abide by YOUR decision Shall /
tell my sister the whole story. or shall
| hold my peace"
There was q long silence. The priest
was considering strnggl'ng with his
! human nature the girl sohbing soft.
| Is. From the adjacent chapel came
/ the soft. tnnclesv music Of the sisters
out 81 tho drcp have called unto
/ Thee. o Lord n Thou. Lord
| wilt be extreme ~ mark what Is done
amiss-. bot there is mercy
with Thee a."
NO" said the priest, suddenly, you
must never tell your sister Hear tn,
, burden of rcmprsr and rcpyniauc,
bravcly, as just punishment for your
! SHINING but hc cumfnrtrd concerning
! il, because, after all, u Wa . sin OF
ignorance aud childhood, and you
/ knew not what ynu we're doing. AND
never. 40 long aE YOU live. mention tn,
/ matter 90 any other human being
! Better. hy Tar. that Your sister shoult
. con, tHur "a believe her lover unworthy
{ than that, learning ~ the injustice
rendered both him and herself, n,
should have one whit added to the LOAD
which weighs ~ heavily upon her"
The girl slipped from the room
quietly, smiling through her tears
happy, relieved Of her heaviest sor
row. aud Father John burton, $. j.
quiet man 81 God and the spirit, sanl
Epon his knees suddenly. hiding hi
face IN his hands. The strong throcl
of mighty struggle were upon him
| Speeches. with .urrnw, he strny'
valiantly to yanquish the natural re
sentiment 90 the lung.furgottrn sci
which cried aloud for expression. iIu
the hard years Of patience and self
denial hurc him brave Testimony Il
that hour of disturbance. and when h,
presently vert forth to address thu
assembled women his face and vnic,
were likc those NJ prophet inspired.
"Faihcr, forgive them--fur the,
know not what they do, was the sub
jcct he announced for the meditation
~ that evening. and the eyes Of tn
man discussing II rested. with n pc
citliar and mcaniugful tenderness. nj
The face 81 a girl before him the fac
~ the girl The burden Of whose ter
rihIe responsibility had ~ recent.
been shifted from her shoulders to hi
own.
Ethel. NJ CoLsoN