Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24


II hope 50. l don't know"
But, Great Scott, Mother!' Roger broke
out, quite forgetting that he had resolved to
curb his undignifed habit of speech, so i'll
becoming glorified spirit-well, anyhow, a
spirit, don, you know anything religious?"
"Very little, Son" she confessed smiling
We need faith here as much as on earth.
Perhaps in the next existence-'
"But-don't we stay here?'
"This is but step on the stair We leave
it as we left the life below; but joyfully and
not in fear, for each step is higher"
"Then there is parting here too?"
"Even here. Yet don't be frightened.
This life is infinitely longer than yours; we
shall all be reunited We shall wait for YOU,
if you do not come now"
Again Roger felt that chill sinking of the
heart. "Do you mean I'm not to stay here
with you?'
She looked at him smiling; but he seemed
to see again that woeful smile of her last tor
mented months on earth.
Il suppose said he humb1y, "you mean
| don't know how to behave in this lovely
world, and need to 60 to some kind of spirit
ual kindergarten to learn I've tried to lead
a clean, decent life; but I've been too busy
to study beauty. Della always said my taste
was worse than frivolous: it was flippant
And poor Amy couldn't pull me up to Celtic
poetry. fell asleep, the day had the acct
dent, over Fiona Mcleod. l like her-or
him-too."
you've no call to grovel, Laddie,7 and
now her smile was the very CLEAN that had
irradiated his bleak childhood. Maybe you
can't describe the heavenly vision; but you
were never disobedient to it."
Il might have been a lot patienter with
Della. And l used to get beastly irritable
when the nurses were stupid. And the way
I've abused Jim Forbes for his infer-there
| 60 again! l can't seem to refrain from
using language
But you were always faithful, from lit
tie child. That is why, l think, so great
mercy is accorded you. Dear, you may stay
or you may go back to finish your work
go back?' he uttered thickly. BE
aching and old and-but it can't be! Such
a thing never was!'
"Oh, yes Dear 1t is recorded
Roger was not needing her. He flung out
his arms with deep exclamation, "Oh, how
strong feel, how light, how eager! And you
are herel'
Never word did she give him, watching
him with eyes surely swimming in tears, and,
when he sank down beside her, stroking his
cheek with the back of her hand in an odd
Caress which little boy used to find very
comforting.
Amy and the boy, he SAID under his
breath,-"yes, they need me, guess. And
there's the work. | always did hate quit
ter. l may stay?"
you may stay
Il hated to come. But now with rue
ful twitch of the lips,-"now hate worse to
go. But l guess | understand my orders
I'm ready, Partner
Il knew you would feel like that,' she
cried. as it any comfort that your father
will be as proud of you as L? But first let me
show you something of our life, although you
will not remember"
Il can't forget"
But you will: you will be like the man in
Fiona McLeod's poem. You know how he
recalls his vision,-
20 Soul. OF that which was uttered,
o Soul. OF that which thou saw;
What is there now rernaineth-
Though trembling still with the awe?
No more than of summer fingers
In wind-whirled straw"
THE spring breeze, laden with vague
= odors, stirred pleasantly in the sick
room. 1t cracked the sheets of the clinical
record that the woman sitting bv the he'd