Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-10-21
THROUGH THE
DARK VALLEY

The darkness Of night was over the
city. Here and there a house win q
lighted window frovned sullenly on
the belated passerby. who. with eyes
strained to catch a glimpse OF her de-
sired goal. hurried up the street In
a few minutes she reached the house
where the lighted piazza revealed a
black ribbon fluttering from the door
With a gasping cry she drew back;
then. the next instant. recovering, the
/ peal Of the bell echoed through the
house.
rs It you. Elsie7" the elder woman.
/ opening the door. asked softly Il
hardly expected you tonight; and yet.
thought that you would come"
How could ] wait after that tele-
gram? had just time to catch the
train" she spoke in a harsh. strained
voice.
Gently taking her hand, her mother
in-law led her into the library But
the usually attractive room seemed
filled with a strange weirdness. To
Elsies excited fancy. even the FIRE
flashed and leaped in an uneanny
manner, as the light. kindlings were
laid upon it. Elsie felt as If she were
stiffing.
Awed by the suffering which
changed the bright, youthful face
i:So one suddenly old and care-worn.
Mrs. Merton suppressed her own grief
to answer the unasked questions of
the woman Oswald had loved so well.
'It happened at 10 O'Clock" Elsie
leaned forward that no word might be
lost. Perhaps II was a mistake to
keep from you that his life might end
suddenly at any time; but he did It to
spare you pain. He came home for
document that he left there" pointing
to the table. Just as he reached the
door he fell. The doctor said that he
died instantly"
Don't go to him tonight" she beg
ged as Elsie moved toward the door.
And when she would have accompan-
led her. Elsie firmly motioned her
back.
A solemn quietness filed the room
where the still form rested. Elsie re-
moved the covering from the face,
which. noble In life, was now filled
with an added dignity. A smothered
moan, a confused tumble Of incoher-
ent words reached the ears of the
woman who waited outside; then the
minutes dragged into hours and the
silence remained unbroken.
As Elsie looked at her dead hus-
band. her loss was no longer vision
sry. Before, she had been stunned,
helpless; but now she felt a sharp,
poignant pain. Her hot hands cover
ed the cold hand Of the sleeper. Her
throbbing temple was pressed against
the cold, lifeless one. Only few
short hours ago. and what tender
words Of love would have answered
the endearing epithets that Elsie ut
tered. Oh! for only one word. But
never to hear his voice again. How
could she bear the long years of sep
aratlon with nothing but memory to
comfort her!
"If people would get the right idea
of death. much OF the bitter heart
ache would be avoided. Death is ad.
vancement. promotion. A short sepa.
ration. then endless reunion"
Did a voice speak? Or was It mem
ory recalling the precious words with
which Oswald had once comforted
her. AS before, 1t effected the same
purpose. Elsie was calmed. strength.
ed. Then memory yielded another
treasure.
IF can accomplish ever 80 little
good In the world before | am called
home, l will not have lived in vain"
Elsie shuddered as she thought OF
Oswald's class Of poor boys whom he
was educating to become useful. hon
orable men; Of his services as choir
leader in the church, which was un.
able to pay a salary; Of all the good
he had hoped to accomplish In the
city. Should these things cease be
cause their leader was found worthy
of promotion? Elsie bowed her head
low over her husbands. speaking each
word slowly; solemnly. impressively;
Oswald. / promise. with the help
of God. to carry on the work you have
left"
1t was is years later that the city
celebrated its centennial. The Y. NJ.
C. A. Building. dedicated the week be-
fore. was opened to the inspection OF
the public. In the City Hall inspiring
addresses were heard. But the climax
OF thes celebration was reached when
the young lawyer. whose elOquence
appealed to the hearts of his audi.
ence. finished his address with the
words.
Many have spoken tonight OF our
pride In our beautiful city. and in our
noble-minded, loyal-hearted citizens.
But none have spoken Of the far
greater pride We feel In the woman
who. 10 years ago. vowed TO perpetu-
ate the memory Of her dead husband.
1T Is chiefly to her that we owe
thanks for the erection OF the beauti-
full building you have admired to-day.
1t is to her that 20 boys owe an i'm
measurable debt OF gratitude that
she carried on the work her husband
left unfinished. OF that class Of boys,
two are missionaries in the Far East;
three are ministers; four In the medi-
cal prOfeasiOn: aix are mambera of