Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-12-25
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no, no, am quite ready. See,' she
added quietly; I am quite strong
| II set OF by short cut leading tc
her home, hoping the men would be
there ahead of us; but, passing me, she
walked swiftly through the trees, and
l followed in fear. AS we came near
the main path l heard the sound OF
feet, and l tried to stop her, but she
too, had heard and knew.
ooh, let me go! she said piteously.
You need not fear
And had not the heart to stop her.
In little opening among the pines we
met the bearers. When the men saw
her, they laid their burden gently down
upon the carpet of yellow pine needles,
and then, for they had the hearts of
true men in them, they went away into
the bushes and left her alone with the
dead. She went swiftly to his side,
making no CRY; but, kneeling beside
him, she stroked his face and hands
and touched his curls with her fingers,
murmuring all the time soft words of
love.
cob, my darling, my bonny, bonny
darling, speak to mel Will YOU not
speak to me just one little word? Oh,
my love, my love, my hearts love!
Listen, my darlingv
"And she put her lips to his ear,
whispering, and then the awful still
ness. Suddenly she lifted her head
and scanned his face, and then, glanc-
ing round with wild surprise in her
eyes, she cried:
He will not speak to mel Oh, he
will not speak to mev
II signed to the men, and as they
came forward l went to her and took
her hands.
"'Oh,' she said, with a wall in her
voice, 'he will not speak to mer
"The men were sobbing aloud. She
looked at them with wide open eyes
of wonder.
"'Why are they weeping? Will he
never speak to me again? Tell me-
she insisted gently.
"The words were running through
my head,
There's land that is fairer than day,
and I said them over to her, holding
her hands firmly in mine. She gazed
at me as If in a dream, and the light
slowly faded from her eyes as she
said, tearing her hands from mine and
waving them toward the mountains
and the woods:
But never more here! Never more
herer
II believe in heaven and the other
life, but confess that for moment it
all seemed shadowy beside the reality
of this warm, bright world, full of life
and love. She was very i'll for two
nights, and when the coffin was closed
new baby lay in the fathers arms.
:She slowly came back to life, but
there were no more songs. The miners
still come about her shop and talk to
her baby and bring her their sorrows
and troubles; but, though she is al
ways gentle, almost tender, with them,
no man ever says Sing And that is
why l am glad she sang last week. It
will be good for her and good for
them.''
''Why does she stay?' asked.
"Mavor's people wanted her to go to
them," he replied.
"They have money-she told me
about it-but her heart is in the grave
up there under the pines, and, besides,
she hopes to do something for the min
ers, and she will not leave them"
| am afraid l snorted a little impa-
Hently as / said: Nonsense! WHY.
with her face and manner and voice
she could be anything she liked in
Edinburgh or in London
"And why Edinburgh or London?"
he asked coolly.
"Why? l repeated little holly.
"You think this is better?"
Nazareth was good enough for the
Lord of Glory" he answered, with
smile none too bright, but it drew my
heart to him, and my heat was gone.
Glow long will she stayY' 1 asked.
'"rill her work is DONE" he replied.
"And when will that be?" I asked
impatiently.
"When God chooses" he answered
gravely. "And don't you ever think
but that it is worth while. One value
Of work is not that crowds stare at it.
Read history, manp'
He rose abruptly and began to walk
about.
"And don't miss the whole meaning
of the life that lies at the foundation
of your religion. Yes" he added to
himself "the work is worth doing,
worth even her doing"
l could not think so then, but the
light of the after years proved him
wiser than l. A man to see far must
climb to some height, and l was too
much upon the plain in those DAYS to
catch even glimpse of distant sunlit
uplands of triumphant achievement
that lie beyond the valley of self sac
rifice.
CHAPTER V.