The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-07-02

With IL brass mounted lsss aal -
candleracks-upon which she used to
play for him the svsst melodies Of
the long ago a. they sat alone in the
dim light and quietude Of loves hap
piness.
Two nfty I'm offered for this par
rot and the cage" shouted the auc-
tionser in noisy huency. breaking
in upon the doctors wandering
thoughts. DO hear three dollars?"
Two nifty. two afty! Do hear three?
Three dollars am offered; three dol
lars is bid! going at three dollars!"
he sang on, interpreting an unde-
signed nod on the part Of the doctor
q bid at the higher figure. Going
going 1t three dollars! Three dol
lars! Going. goiug-gone!-to Doctor
Hartman"
The doctor started in surprise and
was about to protest, as the cage with
the parrot was brought forward and
placed with the other things he had
bought. Checking himself, however,
in order to avoid possible controversy,
he accepted the situation without
comment. He had not meant to buy
the bird, nor did he want it. 1t had for
him no association with Ann Motley;
for, in truth, according to the state
ment of the auctioneer, it was COM
paratively recent acquisition. Never
theless, it was now his; and thinking
to dispose Of it in time to some ono
who might care for it, he had it taken
In the solitude of his library, breath
ing now an atmosphere of another
presence and of other days, he opened
her desk. With trembling hands and
with a disquieting sense Of profana-
ton, every drawer, every recess was
carefully, tenderly, explored; but his
search was fruitless. There was moth
ng-nothing for him; no message, no
word, no token, not even his own let
tiers, to comfort him with the belief
that she had retained some lingering
regard for his memory. Was it then true,
as his embittered soul had feared,
that she had gone without loving him,
without remembering, without forgtv.
ing him?
He closed the desk and sank upon
his knees. A convulsive sob shook
his bent frame; and, throwing himself
forward. he buried his face in his arms
upon the little rocking-cha that had
once been hers.
About him were the deepening shad.
ows Of twilight and the hush Of even
tide. The old furniture Of Ann Mot
ley, with its generations Of hallowed
memories. lent mellow sanctity to
the stiffness Of the room; and In the
enshrouding calmness, with the face
of sweet Ann Motley looking down up.
on him from the desk beside him, his
heart poured forth its anguish in 81.
lent, sobbing tears.
Then suddenly a voice, low and
quaverfng afar of, broke softly upon
the Swallowed silence:
Grant, o Lord. that he may yet
come back to me and know that !
love and forgive him"
| For q moment after the voice had
ceased the doctor remained motion.
less. The slight dutter Of wings and
the tapping Of beak upon the bass
Of cage alone disturbed the ensuing
quiet. Then, raising his head. the doc
tor clasped his hands before him in
sudden fervency, and as his eyes were
Afted up to heaven. filed with the
light Of strange awakening. smile
Of iilunining peace shone upon bis
oountenance; and - spirit commun-
ing with spirit his face grew beauti-
full in the softening radiance Of revela-
ton, and upon his parted lips thess
trembled 4 soul-uttered prayer
IN answering message Of love and
thanlngivinG.
| ~4Ak ...lAA 0$pIaa - ~