Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-14

inc mother should left suffer because years ag
your old lover married your sister.
Miss Beach stood for another in rigid silence
gazing at her handmade with unseeing eyes.
"You can take off your shawl Hester; you can &c
supper earlier tonight she said, finally IN low, con
strained voice leaving the room to engage IN that nero
est of battles, self-confct To live over again tn
hours of poignant grief she had felt to see the hall
sister to whose rearing she had given the best years
her young womanhood, reach maturity and fulness O.
beauty only to rob her. Ardlla Beach, of her lover b.
false nsnuaons, untruthtul assertions and arunces
which she scorned to expose.
1t had all happened long ago, yet the painful mem
DRY was so fresh you are strong SO self-reliant
so conscientious" her youthful stepmother had said
as she lay dying like your father. Mary is like me
weak; try and guide her. stand between her ant
trouble"
TROUBLED Sad, hcart-breaking sorrow the yoangei
girls sentimental vanity her love of conquest hac
brought into her elder sisters life And David had
seemed so steadfast. unchangeablei Miss Beach un
dersood his detection little at this late date
as she had tvo-score of years before She took
the yellowed she had found her dressing table
and read it over for the hundredth time.
81 shall never believe that he loved her best,
she cried sobbing softly Her face bore traces of the
warfare in the darkened room between the bright spirit
of forgiveness and the gloomy of unforgiveness
moments when even the iublant song of robin
Jared on her nerves-when she responded promptly
to Hesters tea-bell But the look had left it
entirely, and replaced by which seemed wrung
AFTER supper, Hester" she said in the same con-
strained tone, that yet had new and softer inaee-
ton which made the other woman look at her with
surprise 81 would like to have you go with sec
Then she paused. inquiringly.
Mrs. Ames, the mother of that little boy and girl!
put in Hester, eagerly
Eyes, to niece Mrs Ames- Miss Beach con
thing you think viii be needed"
Little Mary them at the door with the brightest
of welcoming smiles, This is the lovely lady who
gave the beautiful silver money and who bought the
Easter eggs she cried enthusiastically leading her to
couch whore delicatey pretty woman with hectic
flush her cheeks was lying.
Il your Aunt Ardilla, explained Miss Beach, taxi
ing the chair placed for her
"Oh, you?" questioned Mary delightedly peering
up into her face and gently strokng the velvet trim
ming her cloak isn't that splendid, to have you
@Your great-aunt dearest" said the invalid in soft
yves see" agreed Mary. looking with shy scrutiny
at the tall figure that sitting straight Then
meeting which Miss Beach had SO dreaded the hands
childhood snoothed rugged places deity and I'M
The tragic hour she spent before supper seemed
far in the pastit natural for her to lay
by her cloak and perform the womany Offices of sick
if she had not estranged herself from them for
years, while Hester muered her surprise beneath her
breath and blessed the when she had been given
courage to defy her mistress.
That the beginning of many visits and after the
final one when the young mother laid to rest Miss
Beach sat in the old fashioned sitting with Jack
by her side and Mary in her lap The saffron and
of sunset suused the sky, vesper sparrow trilled
softly the robins gay song longer disturbed her
instead she felt heavenly peace accumulated by the
gentle pressure of the head against her breast
She had tire-worn letter in her hand and sometimes
in the intervals of enderly strong the golden head
sweetly near she furtively touched the folded paper
with her lips talking meanwhile to the child az want
to pray every night Mary. that you may be truth
full she said, brokeny, "for i had loved
dearly and cared for your mother cared for you,
told falsehood, and since then have been glad
like other people.
But you going to be. now" anxiously exclaimed
Mama said that must try and make you happy +,
that you'd suffered good deal; and | suppose that's
just what we are doing now, she added, patheticay,
suffering because our mothers gone, and you've felt
this way for years and years. Oh I'm sorry"
Jack too undemonstative as he was nestled closer to
Miss Beach's SIDE and looked Up at her with sympathy
in his brown eyes-eyes sartingy like those that
had filed her very soul with their gances forty years
before.
Going to be gladl" she exclaimed echoing Mays
words. Eyes. cannot tell you how glad I this
very moment and she held the letter still closer bend
ing her head until her cheek which touch of color
mounted, rested the childs bright hair.
The purple of the twilight succeeded the roseate
glow, and still she thinking thinking for the grev-
ing children had fallen asleep and again the memories
filled the This time they chiefly iris hued
lance 1T was wretched, heart-breaking mistake
she murrnured "He really wavered. 1 am glad
the letter to her lips Il can even forgive her for tell
ing him that was deceivng him and was shortly to be
married to someone else II only she had sent me this
much less bitter my life would have been"
Then. with gentle, though unaccustomed hands, she
helped prepare the children for their beds the tenderest
of the memories still remaining and filling her soul
with unuterabe JOY. which stayed with her. and so
illumned the face she laid her pillow that il
beautiful peaceful look
This light of forgving spirit which was difused
her countenance did not leave her but remained
so TRANSFERRING her that when She went TO church the
next morning, which Easter Sunday with the chill
dren by her side, the congregation wondered
She who had always scofed at the innovation of the
changed service sat if her heart was filed with the
food of melody aglow with the light, and responsive
to every fragrant flowers incense.
HE is risenp sang the choir
That's what mama told me-" whispered little Mary
she leaned her bright golden head condnpiv against
her aunts shoulder Miss Beach's answering look of
affection made people softly exclairn after service
An Easter miraclel Did you see old Miss Beach's
beautiful expressioni The coming of those two chill
dren has transformed her srom hard unloying wo-
man to gentle saint"
Mix anybody up with the riIk of human kindness
and II beats all how light and happy they do grow"
Vhimsicaly declared Hester to herself, she went
Joyfniy about preparing dinner, which this Easter
would be for four instead of two