Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-10-07

1T is a high gift" she said, soberly;
the highest of all for a woman. once
I thought should live and die Win
out knowing it, as many women do.
wish might give you something as
great"
I am already overpaid," he asserted.
For man there is nothing so great
no influence so nearly omnipotent, as
the love Of a good woman. It is the
lever that moves the world-what Httlo
1t does move-up the hill to the high
planes"
Silence while she gathered the sweet
smelling tangle in her lap into some
more portable arrangement And az
terward. when they were drifting SLOW
ly homeward in the frightening shad-
ows. small asking.
Mr.. Morelock is coming out to-mor-
row to hold service in st. Johns, ana
shall go to play for him. Will you SO
with me. Tom?"
He smiled out of the gold and sap
phire depths of lovers reverfe.
One week from the day after the day
after to-morrow-and it will be the
longest week-and two-days of my h1e'
dearest-your grandfather will take
you to church, and I shall bring you
away. Won't that be enough?"
She took him quite seriously.
II shall never be Felicia Young
Dickson, and drag you." she promised.
But, o Tom! I wish
Il know" he said. gently. You are
thinking Of the days to come; when the
paths may diverge-yours and mine
ever so little; when there may be chill
dren to choose between their mothers
faith and their fathers indifference.
But I am not Indifferent. So far from
1t, am only anxious now to prove
what I was once so bent on disprov-
ing"
You yourself are the strongest
proof" she interposed. You will see
it, some day."
Shall I? hope so; and that is an
earnest hope. And really and truly, l
think have come up a bit-out OF the
wilderness, you know. l am willing 10
admit that this is the best Of all pos
sible worlds: and want to do my part
IN making 1t little better because
have lived in 1t. Also, I'd like to be-
lieve in something bigger and better
than protoplasm."
Her smile was Of the kind which
stands halfway in the path to tears,
Eut she spoke bravely to the doubt Ii
his reply.
you do believe, Tom, dear; you have
never seen the moment when you did
not. It was the doubt that was unreal
When the supreme test came, 1t was
Gods hand that restrained you; yon
know 1t now-you knew 1t at the time.
And afterward it was His grace that
enabled you to do what was just and
right Haven't you admitted all this
to yourself?'
They had crossed the white pike to
the manor house gates and were turn
ing aside from the driveway into the
winding lawn path when he said:
ITO myself, and to one other" Then.
very softly: II sat at my mothers knee
last night, Ardea, and told her all there
was to tell"
Ardea's eyes were shining. What
did she say, Tom, dear-or Is it more
than l should ask?"
There is nothing you may not ask.
She said-it wasn't altogether true, I'm
afraid-but she put her arms around
my neck and cried and said: For this
my son was dead, and Is alive again;
he was lost, and is found"
She slipped her arm in his, and there
was a little sob Of pure joy at the
catching of her breath. The moon was
lust rising above the Lebanon cliff
line, and the beauty OF the glorious
night dawn possessed her utterly. All,
it was a good world and generous,
bringing rich gifts to the steadfast!
Instinctively she felt that Toms little
confession did not require an answe ;;
that he was battling his way to the
heights which must be taken alone.
So them came in the sacred hush Of
the young night to a great tulip-tree
on the lawn, and where curionsly
water-worn limestone boulder served
as a rustic seat wide enough for two
whose hearts are one they sat down to-
gether, still in the companionship that
needs no speech. It was Tom who first
broke the silence.
st have been trying ever since that
night last winter to feel my way out"
he said, slowly. But what is to come
Of It? I can't go back to the boyhood
Yesterdays; in way have hopelessly
outgrown them. Let us admit that re-
ligion has become real again; but, Ar
dea. girl, is isn't Uncle Silas' religion,
or-or my mothers. or even yours. And
I don't know any other"
TT is all right, dear; there is only
the one religion in all Christendom-
nerhaps In all the world. or in Gods
part of 1t. The difference is in peo-
ple''
But this thing that has been slowly
happening to me-this thing I try
ing to call confinement: shall wake
up some day and find 1t gone. with all
the old doubts in the saddle again 2"
he asked 1t almost wistfully.
who can tell?" she said. gently.
But 1t will make no difference; the i'm
mutable fact will be there just the
same, whether you are asleep or wax
ing. We can't always stand on the
Mount Of Certainty, any Of us; and to
some, perhaps, 1t Is never given. But
when one saves his enemy's life and
forgives and forgets-O Tom. DEAR
ont you understand"
But now his eyes are love-blinded,
and the white gowned figure besida
him fills all horizons.
ct can't see past you, Ardea- Never
theless, I'm going to believe that feel