Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-07-06

She shuddered when she touched It. VET
looked IL over carefully, loaded two OF tbe
chambers, and drew the hammer back
ooh. Hugh, my love--my lovel It is for
your own good that / will leave youl
And he put his household in
order"
she took the finished lace off from the
paper pattern, wrapped and addressed n
carefully. and laid 1t with the other
articles neatly away in the drawer A torn
ball on the bureau-top caught ner eye
con. Donald's base balll--he asked me To
mend it," with a sob she reached IT,
kissed IT, and sewed up the rip. When
she put It back there was a small stain Of
blood on it from her pricked Ginger
LAS far as the east is from the west
SO far hath He removed our transgressions
from u.s. Will He remove this transgres-
sion from me?" She looked down upon
the pistol and shvered again, closing her
ewes Like as a father pitieth his Chi.
dren.' she was not reading now, and
her voice trembled sorrowfully so the
Lord pitieth them that fear him. Do
fear him?" she whispered. She opened
her eyes and gazed slowly around the poor
room, noting each familiar object At last
her glance rested for an instant on the
newspaper, and a clamoring headline ar
rested her attention. Because Of Her
Mothers Disgrace"
Mothers disgrace" she repeated Won
| 0eT1nRlF, ana SelLtu the paper IluIIleQly
| she read the story of a young man who
refused to marry his affianced upon learn
| ing that her mother had committed
| suicide. Fool! Was she not the same
woman as before he knew Of her mothers
| act? The girl was we'll rid Of HIM" She
spoke aloud and passionately, and threw
| the paper to the floor. Yet a troubled
/ restIessness came into her eyes. Dis
| grace? Baby Lou--and Hugh!" Her FACE
/ tvitched, and she picked nervously with
| thumb and finger at the bed clothes, and
gazed long upon the shining world without
the window; but her misty eyes saw
nothing.
The clock struck eleven. She started.
| "Ohi is there no sure message for me
! here?' she walled, and opened the Bible
| again with feverish fingers. Therefore
say unto you, what things soever We desire,
1 when We pray, believe that ye receive them
! and We shall nave them"
She lifted her shoulders from the pill
lows. Her lips were parted, her lids lifted
high, and her hands hard clasped. Be
1ieve that We receive" she whispered, and
paused an instant. expectant one hand
held out as If she thought to clasp hands
with the Unknown.
II believe-oh yes, I believe" and this
time there was no sound: only the lips
formed the words One eager moment
she strained up from the pillows; then
dropped back again and waited Gradual
" the tense features relaxed, the motted
red died from cheek and brow, and in her
face dawned look of peace. a radiance
that was holy. She grew absolutely still.
A waiting silence crept into the room
hush that seemed to emanate from the
| calm figure on the bed. Even the birds
were songless for a little, and all the life
of Althea's little world was concentrated
! in ner uplifted eyes.
Dear Christ, 1 do believe!' She spoke
ardently, reverently. and began at once
to pull and struggle to lift her poor
helpless legs over the edge Of the bed,
succeeding at last, though the salt sweat
dripped from her brow with the effort
BY the drawn handle she pulled her bO5E
forward until her feet touched the hOoC.
1t felt cold; Those feet, for three years
dead, now felt
/ With the rapt look still on her face. she
pulled herself erect. one hand against the
bed. faint priclxing sensation ran all
; through feet and legs. "Oh Lord, l be-
level" she said, and suddenly took her
hand from the bureau. She tried to lift
her feet from the floor; but they were like
mountains Of lead and would not obey her
5 will. She waited for a moment; but the
: look in her face was dauntless. Carefully
she swayed forward so that the bed no
Y longer supported her knees. Once more
1 she whispered the reverenu words, then
slid one foot forward on the bare floor
tottered an instant. and fell forward. She
8 clutched wildly at the bed as sac went
g down, and pulled the spread with her, the
pistol striking hammer down. 1t vas
: discharged, and the bullet passed through
the ceiling.
:; Maggie Dunbar, already started on her
e daily visit was yet some distance from
t the house when she heard the shot With
a f1eetness born of fear she ran TO the
d little brown house, tore open the gate
Il and burst through the door, to fnt
Man
q gle saw the pistol and turned again Z
the door to call frantically to Hugh, wit
was blowing toward the house.
= At the sound Althea opened her eye
e and spoke family.
"oh, my dear! thought you Were
II I thought" Maggie stammered, glanc
ing at the revolver as she knelt besid
d Althea and chafed her cold hands
l. mo, no; 1 didn't do it, MOI Please If
II me-" Althea murmured. Pull me to tn
bed can help-I shall stand-I know
e shall stand!''
a Maggie was awed by the solemn, as
d sured words, and obeyed at once. He
foot touched the pistol. She shivered q
g she picked it up and placed 1t far bac
s. in the bureau drawer. A crimson shaw
Is was hanging near. She caught it dow
r threw it over AltlRa's tall, slight forr
and lifted her easily to her feet.
a Althea trembled and flung out her ham
h, but Maggie, strong and calm, steadit
lg and upheld her. Presently she W;
ID balanced; and, draped in triumphant re
lie erect and alone, she stood waiting, wht
r, Hugh, breathless, crossed the threshold.
Mt "Althea!" he gasped, and went swift
Ill to her.
IN Hugh, I shall wallzl" She took a st,
I'd forward and fell into his outstretch,
ly arms.
h. How has 1t hap"
ne ''She fell, and the shock has restored
I'd Maggie began.
No" and Althea lifted her hal
he reverently; God has restored me! ha
rk looked through the Gate Beautiful
ne -[Sarah Pratt Carr in New York Sund
!" Tribune.
n,
ne EngIand's Fleet.