The Morris County chronicle., 1904-02-19

Fathers house are many mansions"
His voice took lower. sweeter tone;
he looked over our heads, and for few
moments spoke of the eternal hope.
Then he came back to us and, looking
round into the faces turned so eagerly
to him, talked to us of the Pilot-how
at first he had sent him to us with fear
and trembling-h was so yOung-but
how he had come to trust in him and to
rejoice In his work and to hope much
from his life. Now 1t was all over; but
he felt sure his young friend had not
given his life in vain. He paused as
he looked from one to the other till his
eyes rested on Ovens face / was
startled, as believe he was, too, at the
smile that parted her lips, so evidently
saying, Yes, but how much better
know than you"
YES" he went on, after pause, an
swering her smile, ''you all know better
than | that his work among you will
not pass away with his removal, but
endure while you i've" and the smile
on Ovens face grew brighter. And
now you must not grudge him his re-
ward and his rest . and his
home" And Bill, nodding his head slow
ly, said under his breath, That's So"
Then they sang that hymn of the
dawning glory of Immanuels land,
Lady Charlotte playing the organ and
the Duke leading with clear, steady
voice verse after verse When they
came to the last verse the minister
made sign, and while they waited he
read the words.
1--WE wrestled on toward heaven
'Gainst storm and wind and tide"
And so on to that last victorious cry
II hail the glory dawning
In Immanuers land
For moment it looked as IL the
singing could not go on, for tears were
on the minister's face and the women
were beginning to sob but the Dukes
clear, quiet voice caught up the song
and steadied them all to the end
After the prayer they all went in
and looked at the Pilots face and
passed out leaving behind only those
that knew him be>t. lhe Duke and
the Hon. Fred stood locking down up
on the quiet face.
The country has lost good man.
Duke" said the Hon, Fred. The Duke
bowed silently. Then Lady Charlotte
came and gazed a moment.
Dear Pilot" she whispered, her
tears falling fast Dear, dear Pilot!
Thank God for you! You have done
much for me" Then she stopped and
kissed him on his cold lips and on his
forehead
Then Gwen seemed to suddenly
waken as from dream. She turned
and looking up in frightened way.
said to Bill hurriedly:
81 want to see him again. Carry
meW
And Bill gathered her up in his arms
and took her in. AS they looked down
upon the dead face with its look of
proud peace and touched with the
stateliness of death Ovens fear pass
ell away, but when the Duke made to
cover the face Gwen drew sharp
breath and, clinging to Bill said, with
sudden gasp:
"Oh, Bill, can't bear it alone! I'm
afraid alone"
She was thinking of the long, weary
days of pain before her that she must
face now without the Pilots touch and
smile and voice.
Me, too" said Bill, thinking of the
days before him. He could have said
nothing better. Gwen looked in his
face moment then said. wen help
each other" and Bill, swallowing hard
could only nod his head in reply. Cnce
more they looked upon the Pilot. lean
ing down and lingering over him, and
then Gwen said quietly:
"Take me away, Bill,
And Bill carried her into the outer
room Turning back. | caught a look
on the Dukes face so full of grief that
| could not help showing my amaze
ment He noticed and said:
''The best man | ever knew, Connor.
He has done something for me too
-" I'd give the world to die like
that"
Then he covered the face.
We sat at Ovens window, Bill, with
Gwen in his arms, and | watching
Down the sloping, snow covered hill
wound the procession OF sleighs and
horsemen, without sound of voice or
jingle of bell till, one by one. they
passed out of our sight and dipped
down into the canyon. But we knew
every step of the winding trail and fol
lowed them in fancy through that fairy
scene Of mystic wonderland. We knew
how the great elms and the poplars
and the birches clinging to the snowy
sides interlaced their bare boughs into
network of bewildering complexity
and how the cedars and balsams and
spruces stood in the bottom, their dark
boughs weighted down with heavy
white mantleS of snow, and how every
stump and fallen log and rotting stick
was made thing of beauty by the
snow that had fallen 50 gently on them
in that quiet spot. And we could see
the rocks Of the canyon sides CLEAN out
black from under Overhanglng snow
banks, and we could hear the song of
the Swan in its many tones, now under
an icy sheet, cooling comfortably. and
then bursting out into sunlit laughter
and leaping into foaming pool. to
glide away smoothly murmuring its de-
light to the white banks that curved to
kiss the dark water as it fed. And
where the flowers had been, the violets
and the wind flowers and the clematis