The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-12-07
Dawn in Darkness.

Dawn IN Darkness.
CBy Mary L. Cummins in Our Young PeopIe.3
The sun coming in faint pale streaks
through the tall windows of Washburn Hall as
Marion Harlow took her seat for the afternoon
concert. 1t was the second day of the great must
cal festival The foremost artists of their time
were to sing III 1.-The Messiah" She leaned back
with an anticipatory sigh of pleasure while the
violin twanged in discordance that was yet rich
IN promise of the glorious harmonies to come.
Excuse me, Miss Harlow" An usher whom
she knew, was standing beside her with his arm
through that of a tall lad of 16 The boys APP
pearance was remarkable in spite of his shabby
suit of gray. Thick brown hair waved away from
a broad white forehead. The eyes were blue and
very wide open; the mouth sensitive Marion IIar-
low stepped into the aisle at once, for it needed
but glance at those wide open eyes to see that
they were sightless. The lad took the seat beyond
her and she resumed her place
When the oratorio commenced she lost herself
and her surroundings completely, as she always
did, in the beauty of the music Only when the
great contralto-a who had never squan-
dered her marvellous gift on unworthy song-arose
for the second time she turned involuntarily to
the boy at her side
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped"
The wonderful recitative filled the room. On
the promise of it for him! Marion felt her throat
tighten she watched his lifted face with the
light of rapture on it.
s"She will sing again. she whispered, laying her
hand on his arm,
And she did. Every head was slightly bowed
Pas the words fell on the hushed room
He was despised-despised and rejected-re-
jected of men,"
message of it fill her heart. The lad beside her
sat with his face shaded, his tears falling silently
on the UNDECIDED program.
When the oratorio ended 18th the glorious
Worthy Is the Lamb that Was Slain" she turned
to him: you have not heard "The Messiah" be
fore.
No" he murmured, his face shining
She put her hand through his arm and they
walked together down the aisle. ''You are coming
again."
No. the light left his face for moment.
ooh you must" Miss Harlow said impulsely.
You must hear Elijah tomorrow night Let me
drive you home and we will talk about it."
She guided him carefully down the stairs At
the foot tall slender woman in black stood wait
ing. She touched his and he turned to her at
once, saying Mother"
Il have been making friends with your son."
Marion broke in. at added to my enjoyment of
the oratorio to sit beside appreciative list
ener."
'1He has looked forward to this afternoon for
weeks" the woman said with tender look.
81 do not want to lose such kindred spirit
now that have found it." Miss Harlow went on
When they were seated in the open landau she
turned to the woman beside her: eff you not in
a hurry might go through the park, Mrs. =!
arnold. Wouldn't that be lovely, Geofry"
The lad sat opposite with his sightess eyes lift
ed. 1t was all glorious dream to him. The mu-
Sic the lady with the beautiful speaking voice, the
drive in the warm fall sunshine.
In the park Marion stopped the carriage: Glow
gorgeous the colors this year. The -" She
nded abruptly and threw contrite look at the
oys mother But he standing upright in the
arriage HI face transformed and beautiful with
he CLEANS of sunshine falling on it through the
rees. his arms outstretched.
"Then shall ths eyes of the blind be opened, and
he ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the
anne man leap hart, and the tongue OF the
umb shall sing"
Marion sat spell-bound. He had sung the reci-
ative through correctly after hearing it but once
md his voice! The beauty and pathos of 1t
hrilled her; and yet, what was that triumphant
one that vibrated through itl Surely it meant
nat through the mysery and the darkness his soul
ad reached out and found the Eternal Father
When the carriage stopped before the tene- |
lent where Mrs Arnold lived she laid her hand
n the mothers arm. II am wondering whether
on would give me a great pleasure" she SAID
uickly.
Surely" Mrs. Arnold's eyes grew moist.
"Then let me take Geofry to the remaining con-
erts. I will come for him and bring him home,
you need not worry"
God bless you"
The second evening when the blind lad came
ack to her, ffNshed with JOY, she blessed Marion
arlow in her heart again.
Mother he cried mother she is going to
ave me taught music by raised notes, and | am to
ave singing lessons-right away~
An hour later, hearing him speaking softly, she