Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-28


both of whom had gone two lovers into
the north. who had not returned; the
daughter living over again in her young
love the pangs Of suspense through which
her mother had passed. yet who had never
told her love. who had never had more
than the assurance Of fond look and a
last llandclasp. and broken words OF fare
well. that the man loved her: while hc'
mother had had for a few years unequaled
happiness and love and comradeship.
Two years since Bickersteth had gone.
and not sign!
Yet, II she had looked out from her
bedroom window. which faced the north
this Friday night after practice OF the
choir. she would have seen on the far hill
sign: for there burned fire beside
which sat two travellers who had come
from the uttermost limits of snow. But
as the fire burned. a beacon to her heart
if she had but known It, she went to her
rest. the words OF a song she had sung
with tears in her voice and in her heart
ringing I'm her ears. There was to be A
concert after the service on the coming
Sunday night at which there was to be
collection for funds to build another mis-
sion house hundred miles farther north.
and she had practiced songs she was TO
sing. Her mother had been an amateur
singer of great power. trained under the
best masters and she was renewing her
mothers gift in voice behind which lay
a hidden sorrow, as above her smiling
there was a shadow in the eyes that would
not away. This night she cried to
sleep the words of the song which had
moved her kept ringing in her ears, and
echoing in her heart:
when the swallows homeward dy,
And the roses bloom is Ger"
But her mother, looking out into the
night saw on the hill the fire. burning
like a star. where she had never seen q
fire set before. and hope shot into her
heart for her daughter. a hope that hal
famed up and died down SO often during
the past year. Yet she had famed with
her life-breath every such glimmer Of hope
when it came. and now she went to her
rest saying. Perhaps he will come to-
morrow In her ears. too, rang the
words Of the song that had ravished her
ears that night, the sons she had sung
the night before her husbandA Dyke Al
linghan, had gone with Franklin to the
polar sea-
When the swallows homeward fly"
Next morning. as she and her daughter
looked out over the valley toward the
north. words flashed into her mind which
she had not thought of for many year;
since, indeed, her own mother had passed
away. with them on her lips: Mine eyes
look toward the hills from whence cometh
my help She was happier all that day.
and the next, she knew not or thought
not, why.
AS she and her daughter entered the
little church on this Sunday evening, two
men came slowly toward the town with a
solitary dog. and both raised their heads
to the sound Of the church bell calling to
prayer. In the eyes of the younger man
there was look which has come to
many in this world returning from hard
enterprise and great dangers. to the ia
miliar streets, the friendly faces Of men
of their kin and clan, to the lights nj
home.
An hour later, the two walked slowly to-
ward the church from the little tavern
where they had put their things. They
were cleared of the dust Of travel, an!
Bickersteth. who knew that the two whom
he most wanted to see on earth would be
at evening service, drew the old man
thither. The service was over. but the
concert had begun. The church was full,
and there were people in the porch. but
these made way for the two strange fig
ures, and, as Bickersteth was recognized
by two or three men, place was found for
them inside The old man stared round
him in a confused and troubled way, but
his motions were. quiet and patient, and
he looked like some old Viking. his work.
a-day life done. come to pray ere he went
hence. They had entered i'm a pause in
the concert, but now two ladies came for
ward to the chancel STEP and one. with
her hands cIasped before her. began to
sing
When the swallows homeward hy.
And the roses bloom is Ger.
And the nightingale's sweet sopg
In the woods is heard more
1t was !Alice-Alice the daughter-and
presently the mother, the other Alice
Joined in the refrain. At sight OF them
Bickersteth's eyes had filed. not with
tears, but with a cloud Of feeling, 80 that
he went blind. There she was. the girl
he loved. In his own joy for one instant
he had forgotten the old man beside him.
and the great test that was now upon him.
He turned quickly as the old man got to
his feet For an instant the lost exile of
the north stood as though transhxed. The
blood slowly drained from his face. and
in his eyes was an agony of struggle and
desire. For a moment an awful confusion
had the mastery. and then suddenly clear
light broke into his eyes. his face flushed
healthily and shone. his arm went up. and
there rang in his ears the words:
Then think with bitter pain
Shall meet again?
When the swallows homeward ny-
Alice Alice he called "Oh, my
God!'' He tottered forward up the aisle.
followed by John Bickersteth.
Alice l have come back" he cried
again. Alice. my WIFE.
One that had died with Franklin had re-
turned to life and all that makes life good.
and one other had returned also. and at
the chancel steps he knew his fate and his
happiness.