Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-11

S4A14 l 1xt ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Yes, I am. Good comes out of evil
sometimes. though that is no reason why
we should do evil. the missionary added,
not knowing what else to say.
Richard did not attempt to argue the
point for at the moment he was en-
gagged in bidding farewell to Rachel
1t was a very silent farewell: neither OF
them spoke a word. they only shook each
others hand and looked into each others
eyes. Then muttering something which
it was as well that Mr.. Dove did not
| hear. Richard swung himself into the
! saddle. for his horse stood at hand. and,
without even locking back. cantered away
toward the mountains.
OH exclaimed Rachel presently,
| call him. father
What for" asked Mr.. Dove
Il want to give him GU: address and
to get his
| I'VE have no address. Rachel Also he
is too far off. and why should you want
the address of a chance acquaintance
| Because he saved my life and l do.
replied the child. setting her face. Then,
| without another word size turned and
began to walk toward their camp-a very
, heavy journey 1t was to Rachel
| When Rachel reached the wagon she
| found that her mother was more or less
| recovered. At any rate the attack of
| fever had left her so that she felt able
| to rise from her bed. Now although
| still weak she was engaged in packing
! away the garments of her dead baby
in travelling chest, weeping in a silent.
| piteouS manner as she worked. 1t was a
very sad sight. When she saw Rachel
| she opened her arms without a word, and
| embraced her.
You were not frightened about me,
mothcr?" asked the child.
| mo, my love- she answered. "be
| cause l knew that nc harm would come
| to You. / have always known that 1t
was a mad thing of your father to send
! you to such place at such time. but
| no folly of his or of any >one else can
hurt you who are destined to live. Never
! be afraid Of anything. Rachel for re-
member always you will only die in old
age.
II am not sure that am glad Of that
answered the girl. as she pulled off her
wet clothes. Life isn't very happy
| who live We do?'
| There is good and bad In it, dear; we
can't have one without the other-most OF
US. At any rate we must take it as it
! comes, who have to walk a path that We
did not make. and stop walking when our
path comes to an end. not step before
or after But. Rachel, you are changed
since yesterday I see it in your face.
| What has happened to you?'
Lots of things, mother l will tell you
the story. all of it. every word. Would
you like to hear it,"
! Her mother nodded and. the baby
clothes being at last packed away, shut
| the lid of the box with sigh. sat down
upon it and listened.
| Rachel told her of her meeting with
| Richard Darrjen. and Of how he saved
her from the flood. She told OF the strange
! night that they had spent together in the
little cave while the iions marched up
| and down without. She told of her vigil
over the sleeping Richard at the day
| break and Of the dream that she had
dreamed when she seemed to see him
| grown to manhood. and herself grown to
womanhood. and clad in white skins.
! watching him dashed to the trunk OF a
| gigantic tree as the first arrows of SUM-
| rise struck down the lanes OF some mys-
FERROUS forest She told of how her heart
had been stirred, and of how afterward in
the mist by the waters brink his heart
had been stirred also, and Of how they
had kissed each other and Wept because
they must part.
Then she stopped. expecting that her
| mother would he angry with her and
scold her for her thoughts and conduct
as she knew we'll her father would have
| done But she was not angry, and she
| did not scold. She only stretched out her
| thin hands and stroked the childs fair
| hair saying:
Don't be frightened. Rachel. and don't
| be sad You think that YOU have lost
| him. but soon or late he will come back
! to you. perhaps as you dreamed-perhaps
otherwise
| "If | were sure Of that. mother. I would
| not mind anything, said the girl
| though don't know why should care"
| she added defiantly.
NO, you don't know now. but you will
one day, and when YOU do. remember that
! however long it seems to wait, you may
| be quite sure, because | who have the
| gift of knowing. told you so. Now tell
| me again what Richard Darrien was Ike
| while you remember for perhaps | may
never live to see his face, and l wish to
| get it into my mind.
So Rachel told her. and When she mad
| described every detail. asked suddenly:
Must We really so on. mother. into this
awful wilderness? Would not father turn
| back if you asked him?
! not ask. He would never forgive me for
| preventing him from doing what he thinks
his duty> 1t is madness when we might
| be happy in the Cape, or in England, but
| that cannot be helped. for it is also his
| destiny and ours. Don't judge hardly OF
| YOUR father Rachel because he is
saint and this world is bad place for
| saints and their families, especially their
| families You think that he does not
| feel; that he is heartless about me. and
| tie poor babe. and sacrifices US all. but
| tel! YOU lie feels more than either you or
| / can do. At night when | pretend 10 go
10 sleep, I watch him grooming over his
| loss and for me. and praying for strength
! TO bear il. and for help to enable him to
| do his duty Last night he was nearly
crazed about YOU. and in all that awful
storm when the Kaffirs would not stir
| from the wagon, went alone down TO the
river guided by the lishtnnss. but Of
! course returned half dead having found
nothing. BY dawn he was back there
! again. for love and fear would not let
| him rest minute. Yet he will never tell
| You anything OF that, lest you should
| think that his faith in Providence was
shaken. know that he is strange-t is
j no use hiding it, but II | were TO thWart
! him ne would 90 quite mad. and then I
! should never forgive myself. who took
him for better and for worse just as he
! is. and not as 1 should like him to be.
So. Rachel. be as happy as you can. and
make the best OF things. as try to do.
Tor your life is all before YOU, whereas
| mine lies behind me- and yonder." and
! she pointed toward the place where the
| infant was buried. Hush! here he comes.
| Now. help me with the packing. for We
are TO trek to the ford this afternoon
CHAPTER Nv.