The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-18


Miss Beach stood for another moment in rigid silence
gazing at her handmade with unseeng eyes.
"You take off your shawl, Hester; you can get
supper earlier tonight she SAID finally in low con-
est of battles self-confct. To live over again the
hours of poignant grief she had felt to the half
sister to whose rearing she had given the best years of
her young womanhood, reach maturity and fulness of
beauty, only to rob her, Ardla Beach, of her lover by
false insinuaons, untruthful assertions and artifces
which she scorned to expose.
1t had all happened long ago. yet the painful mem
DRY fresh. you are SO strong, self-reliant
so conscientious" her youthful stepmother had said
she lay dying, "like your father Mary is like me-
weak; try and guide her, stand between her and
trouble"
Trouble! Sad, heart-breaking sorrow the younger
girls sentimental vanity her love of conquest had
seemed steadfast, Interchangeable! Miss Beach
derstood his detection little this late date
she had two-score of years before She even took
the yeowed note she had found on her dressing table
and read it over for the hundredth time
Il shall never, believe that he loved her best"
she cried sobbing softly Her face bore traces of the
warfare in the darkened between the bright spirit
of forgiveness and the gloomy of unforgiveness-
tense moments when the jubilant song of robin
Jared on her nerves-when she responded promptly
to Heser's tea-bell But the look had left it
entirely and was replaced by which seemed wrung
from the very heart
after supper, Hester" she said, in the same con-
strained tone, that yet had and softer in1ec-
ton which made the other woman look at her with
surprise, Il would like to have you go with see"
Then she paused, inquiringly
Mrs. Ames the mother of that little boy and gir1?"
put in Hester, eagerly
"Yes, to my niece, Mrs. Ames," Miss Beach con-
tinued quietly "You may pack basket with every
thing you think will be needed"
Little Mary met 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 where delicately pretty with hectic
flush her cheeks lying.
Il your Aunt Ardia,' explained Miss Beach, TAX
ing the chair placed for her
'Oh, are your" questioned Mary, delightedly, peerng
up into her face and gently sroking the velvet trim
ming her cloak isn't that splendid to have you
for aunt"
your great-aunt dearest" said the invalid in soft
correction
"Yes see" agreed Mary looking with shy scrutiny
at the tall figure that was sitting straight Then
they all laughed, and it so easy after that-ths
meeting which Miss Beach had so dreaded the hands of
childhood smoothed rugged places so deity and I'M
The tragic hour she spent before supper seemed
far in the past-t natural for her to lay
by her cloak and perform the womanly offices of sick
room as if she had not esranged herself from them for
years. while Hester mutered 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 rest Miss
Beach sat in the oldfashoned sittng-room with Jack
by her side and Mary her lap The saffron and rose
of sunset suffused the sky vesper sparrow trled
softly the robins gay song longer disturbed her;
instead, she felt heavenly peace accumulated by the
gentle pressure OF the sunny head against her breast
She had tmeworn letter in her hand and sometimes
in the intervals of tendery srong the golden head SO
sweety near, she furtvey touched the folded paper
with her lips talking meanwhile the child: II want
you to pray every night Mary, that you may be truth
full she said brokenly "for once someone had loved
dearly and cared for your mother cared for you
told falsehood and since then have been glad
like other people,
"But you are going to be- now" anxiously exclaimed
the child, who ceased weeping to turn comforter
Mama said that we must try and make YOU happy
that you'd suffered good deal; and suppose that's
Just what we doing now" she added, patheticaly
Suffering because our mothers gone and you've felt
this way for years and years. Oh I'm so sorry"
Jack too undemonstrative he was, nestled closer to
Miss Beachs side, and looked up her with sympathy
in his brown eyeseyes startlngly like those that
had filled her very soul with their gances forty years
before
Going to be glad!" she exclaimed ecboine Marvs
words. yes, cannot tell you how glad | am this
very moment and she held the letter still closer bend
ing her head until her cheek which touch of color
mounted rested the chid's bright hair
The purple of the twilight succeeded the roseate
glow and still she sat thinking thinking for the grew
ing children had fallen asleep and again the memories
filed the This time they were chiefly iris hued
and Miss Beachs heart wide open for their admit
lance. ut was wretched, heart-breaxing mistake"
She ntrmured. Ee never really wavered. I am glad
have nothing to forgive him." and again she pressed
the letter to her lips Il forgive her for tell
ing him that was deceivng him and shortly be
married to someone else # only she had sent this
letter years ago, how different, how much wider, how
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 unutterable JOY which stayed with her. and so
lumined the face she laid her pillow that it wore
a beautiful peaceful look.
This light of forgivng spirit which was diffused
over her countenance, did not leave her. but remained
SO transferring her that when she 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, if her heart was filled with the
food of melody agow with the light, and responsive
to every fragrant flowers incense.
He is risenP sang the choir.
That's what told me-" whispered little Mary
she leaned her bright golden head condingly against
her aunts .shoulder Miss Beachs answering look Of
affection made people softly excaim after service
beautiful expression! The coming Of those two chill
dren has transformed her from hard unoyinq ,yo-
man to a gentle saint"
Mix anybody up with the Xix Of human kindness
and it beats all how light and happy they do grow!D
whImscally declared Hester to herself as she went
joyfully about preparing dinner, which this Easter
would be for four instead of two.
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