Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-07-03
CHAPTER XXI.-(Continued.)


10 her from the hour when his baby lips
stirred the mother-love into life within
her breast until now, when the hand that
had smoothed her widowed path SO gent
D., lay still and wasted on the counter
pane never to take up life's burden
again.
always unselfish," she answered, in
faltering tones. mo, Willie, dear boy,
cannot delegate to others the dear task
of soothing your hours of pain"
''Nor can IT, supplemented Grace, lay
ing an impulsive, clasping hand on the
ahin one that rested outside the counter
pane. Il have put myself in Lulu's
place, and it is as a sister that l claim
Rhe privilege of waiting on you"
Thanks" he answered, deeply NOV
ed, and Mrs. Clendenon, with an ire
ipressible sob, went gliding from the
room.
'Oh, about Lulu" she says, with as
Isumed carelessness to hide her real feel
ings. why is it you won't consent to
have your mother send for her to come
Jon while you are so sick? Don't you
want to see herr"
Don't III a wistful pain in his dark
Seyes. Dear little sister Lulu, how I
Ilong to see her 1 cannot tell you! But
why hasten her? She is coming shortly
anyhow. She may be in time to see
me; if not, we still shall meet again some
time. She will come to me-"
Don't talk that way" she says, in
distress and pain. you will get better
as soon as this fever breaks"
''Or worse" he amends. you know
crisis must come then, Mrs. Winans,
.HUh bnr for hcttar
now tell But we all know-you, mother
and the doctor, though you try to hide it
from me-that the indications point to
the worst"
How can any of us-the DOCTOR even
tell what will be the result of that
crisis? We hope for the best. Do you
not remember how i'll 1 was in Washing
ton with brain fever and how Lulu
would not let them shave off my long
eurls2 No one thought I would recover,
yet l did. So, l trust will you"
Yes, if it SO please God; but think
- Mrs. Wnans, that He is going to be very
merciful. and take me to Himself"
Going to be very merciful," she re-
peats, with a grave wonder in her large
eyes, as at something new and strange.
She cannot at all understand how this
TO her so untouched by any great JOY or
grief, can be so eagerly content in going
''home." "Why, you do not want to die
so young. The world needs good men
like you. Why, what can you mean"
"JUst this, Mrs. Winans," he lifts his
honest gray eyes to her fair face-his
fever is falling and he seems quite cool,
though earnest-"that God, when he puts
lifelong sorrow on our hearts, usually
compensates for it by giving us a brief
span in which to endure it. Sorrow like
yours, that may be turned into joys
again, He lets us live to bear. Crosses
like mine that may be blessing, but ney-
er joy He lets one lay down early at
She foot of the Great White Throne"
Sweeping lashes shade her cheeks to
hide her great surprise. She asks moth
ing of Captain Clendenon's cross, though
till now she has never dreamed of its
existence.
"Some lost love-" she guesses, with
ready sympathy in her heart, and an
swers, sadly:
Sorrows like mine can never turn
INTO joys"
"They can, they WILL" he cries, in glad
excitement. Il know, I feel that one
of your lost ones, at least, will be restor-
ed to you"
"Oh! what can you meanG'
In eager hope she rises, looking down
at him with eyes that would fain read
the secret he had almost betrayed.
'Sit down." he answers, in calmer
tones, land forgive me for startling you
So l only meant that L felt like this,
dear friend; and l do feel as if the shad-
ows are passing from your life, and
that, ere long. all will be we'll with you.
It is given sometimes, you know, to dy-
ing eyes to see very clearly"
A flashing drop from her blue eyes
falls down upon the hand that still lies
under the soft clasp of hers, and in low
tones she answers:
Hush, now. you had better not talk
any more. l fear you will overtask your
strength. l am going to read some for
you"
And closing his eyes, he listens peace
fully to the sweet. tremuious voice that
reads the fourteenth chapter of st. John,
beginning: Let not your heart be trou
bled."
And thus the days pass by each one
stealing 4 hope from the watchers heart,
snd SO many hours from Wizards life.
Their patience does not wayer, nor does
his quiet courage. He knows that the
world is fair outside, that the Southern
sky is blue and bright-that flowers are
bIossoming, that birds are singing
knows. too, that all Creations deep
musical chorus. underwriting, goes up
into heaven" and is fan to so with it,
Very bravely and contcntedly he breasts
the dark waters, knowing that a strong
arm upholds him.
Mrs. Clcndenon has written to Lulu
4hat he is i'll. but ere that long delayed
letter reaches her his wasted frame may
Perchance ''be out Of pain. his soul be
ent of prison." for it is the last of March
Hpw. and DIR. Constant and his consulting
PHYSICIANS think that the fever is almost
broken, and the crisis near at hand. What
the result Will be they almost certainly
kanw. but still whisper feeble hope to the
agonlzed heart of the mother, whose