Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-09

pered, softly: "'They also serve who
only stand and watt"
PIER XXXIII.
"God answers sharp and sudden on
some prayers,
And thrusts the thing we have prayed
for in our face,
A gauntlet with a gift int"
Scarcely were they home again in
St. Charles when they began planning
for the return to Virginia.
Lavender was all excitement, all in
terest Was not this the. desired end
of her hopes? The direct answer to
prayer?
But her mother watched the prep
arations quietly, without enthusiasm.
At Lavender's gentle remonstrance
she forced smile to hide the sigh.
Eyes, l know, child, we are almost
there"
But the daughters happy, hopeful
heart did not see the meaning with
which swift and undefnable preset
ence burdened the words.
Once America spoke in muf1led
tone of alarm. Honey, hab yo no.
ticed dat yo' mas allus akin what
time it ISL"
The mysterious manner struck a
chill to Lavender's heart, though the
words seemed senseless.
Rolling her eyes until the whites
were in startling relief against the
black setting, the old woman contin-
ued: 'Dey do say as OATS bad sign,
honey"
Then, as she noted the effect of her
speech: "Nebber mind my fool talk,
chile; come out an see de nice new
MOON"
She playfully pushed the younger
woman to the door. Just above the
circle of trees on the western horizon
doomed mass of clouds, from which
the sunset glory faded fast.
"Tu'n 'roun' quick, honey, yo're look
in ober yo' lef shoulder"
But Lavender did not move. Silent.
ly, misera BILE, depressed with a nameless
dread, she watched the moon. Across
its glittering crescent was streak Of
purple cloud like a smear of dried
blood. Sne shivered and hurried into
the house, followed by the old negress,
quaking with superstitious fear.
Toward the close of the next day
they led Mrs. creighton out of doors
for breath VI fresh air. For it was
hot and Gloss, In the little cabin, and
she was bet:ei tonight.
Much better, are we not, dearest?"
And Lavender nestled in the grass at
her mother, feet, gently swinging the
hammock ~ which she lay.
The night was very still-too still,
Lavender thought Earth and sky
seemed waiting for something; the
katy-dids, the doves, were silent; no
sound nor stir came from any living
creature: the owls cry was hushed;
only a bat Numbered by with soft
swish of wings.
Lavender reached out her hand for
Charles comforting clasp. How still
frightens me- Even SC I think il will
be on that dread, fi1al night. The
world will be still-so still, beloved
that the last waiting ears will hear the
whirling of the globe, the swing o. the
stars in space"
Lavender" Mrs. Creighton':; voice
startled them-loud, but clear and
sweet as water over stones.
Eyes, mother, Dearest and the
daughter clasped the knees of her who
now sat upright in the hammock, her
whole frame tense, rigid. On her face
was look of unearthly fairness, a
beauty that was young again. with the
last, eternal youth.
Her eyes were wide with expectancy,
smile parted her lips. Are we al
most there?'" she murmured.
For one long moment the daughter
gazed, not daring to draw breath
breath now was precious.
She watched the. last faint sign of
color fade from her mothers face,
leaving it gray as wasted ember.
Only those eyes burned bright with the
fire of the deathless SOUL
Then waves of grief envelored the
young, untamed heart, her whole being
ached with agony as in flash the
thought confronted her. She had not
prayed right; she had blasphemed; she
had demanded of her God this boon.
And now the cup was at her lips but
she must not taste-the Promised Land
was in sight, but she must abide on
Pisgah.
"Too late! too late!" Lavender
moaned, as she lay, face downward,
hidden in her mothers nands-those
restless hands that, for the first TIME,
failed in a responsive caress.
where are you, daughter? Como
home with me. Look! We are almost
there! See, the larch by the gate is
dead, and the tiny nest still swings on
the withered arm. That is the nest
which the lazy blackbirds stole, do you
remember? How tall the grass is, and
see, they-they have let the-weeds-
grow, but" her voice was fainter, and
the daughters tears failed to warm
the shrunken hands. "But l shall
have it all-lovely again." And her
head dropped slowly back.
There was yet no sound in earth nor
sky. Only the hoarse breath of the
mother and the daughters crying dis
turbed the peaceful night.
"How good the children are! they
are taking me Monochrome"
Then her voice sank to a troubled
whining. "But we've cannot get in.
The gate-the old red gate isis
locked I"