The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-05-31
CHAPTER XI.
From Light to Darkness.

"Wally."
Eyes. dad"
1--WE been thinking lately that the
sunshine of life is very unequally
spread. Some bask in it from birth to
death, while others are condemned to
walk in shadow the whole of their
days. Doubtless it is for some wise
purpose that the Great Disposer OF
events has so ordained, but there are
times when one is inclined-I say it
reyerently-to doubt the wisdom of it.
Perhaps it is also ordained that these
disturbing reflections should come to
us when we see stretched before us the
valley of Eternal Light"
I'VE disagree so seldom, dad, that l
am not so sure whether it is distressing
or not to hit upon a subject in which
gu ideas do not run in the same
grove. You are growing melancholy
again, and by so doing are breaking
the contract we entered into to look
only on the bright, side. Not that l
have the slightest notion, dad, except
I'm a general way. why you should al
low yourself to relapse into sadness. l
have a very strong disposition not to
allow it, and to order ~you-just as II
our positions were reversed, as II 1
Tvere your father and you my son-in-
stantly to put on a more cheerful hab-
Wit. Now I have something to say upon
the theme you have started, and which
apparently has suggested itself to you
by the sight of Little Make-BelieVe
and Saranne in the garden there gath
ering the pease for dinner"
ut was partly suggested by those
two, Wally, and partly also by what is
in my mind concerning ourselves"
Concerning you and me, dad"
Eyes, Wally. Go on, I love to hear
you talk. I travel back to the days OF
your childhood, and reflect upon b
Joy your innocent, artless little ways
brought to me. The contrast between
you as you were then and you as you
are now-for do you know, Wally, that
within even the last few days a great
change seems to have come over you!
the contrast between the child and
the NANNY child and my man-is a
source of the most surprising delight
TO me; a delight, my boy, which has its
deep anxieties, too"
II can imagine it, dad, though l
cannot reciprocate your feelings in
what I experience by the change which
has come over you. 1t is true that,
to myself as well as to you, a change
seems to have come over me, q change
] can hardly describe; but l think
that in a very short tine I have grown
much older; years seem to have taken
The place of days. I know that I have
not lost your confidence"
mo, Wally, no; never think that
II don't think it, dad; if / did l
from you. And I know that, some time
or other, you will confde in NE, and
give me an insight into the sorrow
which weighs upon you. Bear this in
mind, dad; I have been schooling my
self, and I am prepared for news that
is not entirely good, for were it so l
should, before to-day, have been a par
%ticipator in it. Putting ourselves out
Of the question, can you, in your whole
experience, find two human creatures
who have been more thoroughly con-
demned to walk in ~shadow-your w
words, dad-than Little Make-Believe
and Saranne"
mo, Wally, I don't think ] can; nay,
] am sure I cannot"
Look at them now, dad. Are they
In shadow"
ITO all appearance they are in full
sunlight, body and SOUL"
Dad, don't you see how, in this ad-
mission-not drawn from fancy, but
from reality-you have destroyed your
OWL argument? 1t pains me more
than / can express to see that, what
ever your sorrow may be. you are dis
posed 10 be led from the paths Of sun
shine III which you ard I have walked
all our lives. Say that a cloud is
banging yer US, shall that blot out
light from the world, shall it US
to love each other less. shall it not
make us strong instead of weak?
There, dad, have brought tears into
gour eyes. Forgive me, dad"
.."The5 are tears Of JOY, Wally. You