The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-04-03
And he could stand firm no longer.

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heard the cheerful twittering Of
birds. Otherwise he was surround
ed by great and soothing silence.
Well, It ought to have been sooth-
ing. But is was not. His pale face
flushed as he remembered what he
had Just done, or rather not done.
The shame Of I'll
He had allowed his own petty per-
sonal cares and humiliations-th
agitations of a mere ephemera-to
tempt him to insult the Omnipotent
and Immortal. He, a servant of the
Most High, had refused to pay the
service that was due from him to the
Almighty. Expressly due from him!
He had cried like child or pol
troon, and ran away. 1t mattered
nothing that he had shamed himself
before her. She was fleeting NOR
tai, even as he was. In little while
she, like him, would pass away, and
ere then she would, God willing, for
get his weakness. But he had banned
himself before the Most High, and
before the dust of his own ancestors,
men-their many misfortunes In
these latter days the result OF their
sense of honor.
He rose and confronted his ignom-
my with steady eyes if flushed
cheeks, and in a little while he re-
turned, calm and no longer flushed,
to the place from which he had fed.
And again he knelt, alone now
save for the sunshine which beamed
full upon the spot where she had
stood, and whence she had witnessed
his shame.
And afterward he read the whole
service with a growing sense OF
strength, though no desire to re-
joice in It's consciousness. He read
and prayed in low voice, for there
was no mortal ear to hear him, and
no other human tongue to join his.
Just himself, and the altar, which
was to him the throne of mercy and
all good gifts.
So to the very end.
Only when he had finished in the
peace which passes understanding
and was on his feet, very straight
and very white again, and ready to
return, comforted in a measure. to
| his lonely parsonage, only then did
he glance once more at the place
| which she had consecrated in his
memory for ever and ever.
She was there again. kneeling,
with her face In her hands.
Just for a moment he stood mo-
| tionless; not quite so erect now, but
whittier than before. Only for a mo-
ment.
And then he moved softly to his
vestry and shut the door.
| Not now a recreant servant of his
Master, he returned to the church
and went down its narrow nave
Why should he not pause and even
stand where she had stood? She
had left her prayer book, and that
also was noble Of her. All the other
books had been taken away to that
garish little gem of a new church
Only hers remained.
He kissed the book and replaced
it reverently. In week it would nc
doubt be with her In that other
church.
So much the better for that other
church, and none the worse for him
or for her And here he locked the
door sadly, yet with firm hand, and
removed the key. Tomorrow Mr.
Melton Hassell might triumph over
the key if he pleased; 1t should be
his to do with as he pleased.
But on the west side of the church
whittier he turned to reach the par,
sonage in which a Delmain had lived
for more than two centuries, he saw
her.
She was standing by the large
white marble cross which marked
where her mother lay. Mr. Meltor
Hassell had lost his wife in the frs
year of his greatness as master Of
Drelling. 1t was before the discorG
between him and the vicar of Drell
ing, and, we'll, of course, she lay In
the old churchcard.
She looked up, and at once moved
! INV dl anu bilCaO IuoJ IL
her face which constrained him tt
wait for her. The impulse to stea
away in the other direction was In
stantaneous on seeing her; but so
also, was her movement toward him
He waited for her and smiled.
Yes; he would give her the key, 4
she would take 1t.
But she spoke first, offering hin
her hand.
81 want to say something" sh'
said rapidly; "and 1 want you to be
lieve every word of it. You ma!
think what you will of me, but it ha
got to be said. Once you asked me |
l could love you, and II was hasty
and said could not. l meant woult
not. But love you now, and-yol
read the words Just now--if you still
love me, am willing and anxious t