The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-01-27

WIS luNtGtu luil.
I'm not, so to say, good man, VIII
went on dreamily. Churchgoing bored
ne, and that 5 the truth. went because
you liked it, darling, and because ii
was the right thing for the squire at the
Hall, example and all that; bnt l was
confoundedly bored-Tye nothing to cheer
me now.
''If-if l might even 90 on dreaming
about the sport; things are deucedly real
in dream, Lynl vow last night | saw
the meet clear and distiuct-the bare trees
and the hedges standing out against a vel,
lowish sky-and | was coming up with the
rest, tearing, galloping in mad sort of
way-and it was real, Lyn, much more
real than this
At that moment the two were inter
rupted by the entrance of Priscilla Stain
forth, VIII ; aunt, his mother : sister
She was terrible woman, with a genius
for administering spiritual consolation to
her relations and friends at supreme mo-
ments in their lives With the best of
motives, she made herself extremely OBJ
Jectionablc, and in times of trouble and
difficulty was avoided like the plague She
had called very often for the purpose of
seeing VIII, but had been refused admis-
sion. On the present occasion she entered
the bedroom uninvited, and advanced to
the couch
There had been no time To make any
preparation for her arrival The table
was >trewn with papers Of a sporting char
acter, a yellow backed novel lay on the
pillow
''Wiil, | could not restrain myself, }
was obliged to come she said, with a :
mos, piteouS earnestness. You are my
own sisters child Could | ever forgive
myself If | neglected my duty toward you
al such time2 You have led selfish
pleasure seeking life, but it's not too late
to seek for mercy She paused and looked
q, Evelyn Where Is your Bible?' she
~aid, sorrowfully II see sporting papers
in profusion, but the one Book which will
give your husband comfort, The river of
death l. very near, VIII, she wen, on
@1lemnly, u flows at the bottom Of the
valley Soon you viii be at the margin.
| hear the time l. prolonged in which to
prepare fer The crossing, beseech you,
Use II well
Go away. Aunt Priscilla, said Eve
lyn, frrocly Go away-teaye him to
me VIII. 10 You remember fatherg
VIII looked at his wife. and his face
h-hicd up
lie was good man, saint upon
earth There no one could throw a
stone q, father | am the youngest and
quite different from all the rest. and people
,ali vas fast because liked hunting aud
sport. uf sll kinds. ani some one spoke to
father and said that 1t was a scandal that
an Evangelical clergyman daughter should
carc far such things And father -
Evelyn voice broke-.'he Iook me into
hi~ study was seventeen then-snd he
made me tail him just how felt, and he
aii had my grandfather blood in my
veins (Grsndfather had lived in the
bush. aud that vas where father was born.
And father said it would he cruel to stifie
Al the desires and instincts which were
mine bg nature and he saved up and
bought me 4 horse, and, as you know,
used to 20 to the meets ani it was there
| tuct sou. VIII
She paused moment cat of breath,
/ trying 10 chooSe the night worls for the
many thoughts which crowded in
4 want To Try to remember what father
said the very words they were something
/ Ike this. He SAID he could understand
/ because he vas nay father. and chat va,
why God understood. He knows all about
rs through and through, and lie wishe,
u to be our best selves, a. We Are, You
are a sportsman and an outdoor man, and
/ He cares for YOU ike that, and He d max,
sou happy in your own way, no, in some
one else, way And you don want any
teaching about some things.
After that Win lay quite still with hi
! eyes half closed In few minutes hC
vas ias, asleep. breathing regularly ike a
child. |, was evidently happy slumbcr
/ lie wus dreaming and the dream wa,
vivid and intensely real. His hps wer'
curved in an almost joyful smile
After short interval he began Il
speak
The mare is fresh today Evelyn, h,
mur,nured in his sleep This Is our frs
ride together since my accident. Oh it
good 70 be well
YES, she answered, in low, elea
voice which had the ring OF laughter 1t
it. ..it's good to be riding together again
YOU and |, you on the Black Princess ans
| on Star
But the radiant look vanished, a shadow
crossed her husbands face ike the wins
Of a dark cloud
His Aunt Priscilla ; words were evi
IDENTITY haunting him.
The river. he murmured in a dis
tressed tone Of voice. I'm close to i
now
'Leapitr she cried, suddenly lo'
can do it, I IN certain Why, could Dc
it, WIFI
Only for an instant did VIII hesitate
Then his expression changed to joyou
ecstasy Of resolve,
By Jovel IN have to try, Lyn,
he whispered still in his sleep.
He raised his head with eager expee
,ancy his left hand was outstretched
graspiug invisible reins.
His pulse gave one tremendous bound
1t was the last His head fell quietl,
back-his left hand relaxed its hold. Hi:
lips still smiled Itwas a smile Of triumph
viii Godfrey had leaped!