River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-27
den were Silent Mrs. stoddard was

thinking about the duties or the night,
Agatha was swallowed up in the mis-
cries of the last hour. Mrs. Stoddard
was the first to rise. She was tipping
off on her fingers a number or items
which Agatha did not catch, saying
"Hm!" and "Yesi" to herself Despite
her deep anxiety, Mrs. Stoddard was
in her element. She had nothing less
than genius in nursing. She was cheer
full, quick in emergencies, steady un-
der the excitement of the sick-room,
and faithful In small, as well as large,
matters. Moreover, she excelled most
doctors in her ability to interpret
changes and symptoms, and in her IN
genuity in dealing with them. Her two
days with James had given her an un-
derstanding of the case, and she was
ready with new devices for his relief.
Agatha finished her tea and Joined
Mrs. Stoddard as she stood LOOKING
out into the twilight, seeing things
not visible to the outward eye.
Eyes, that's It," she ended abruptly,
thinking aloud; then including Agatha
without any change of tone, she went
on: 81 think we'd better change our
plans little. I'm going upstairs now
to stay while your Mr.. Hand goes
over to the house for me. There are
several things / want from home.
Agatha had no conception of having
an opinion that was contrary to Mrs
Stoddard's, so completely was she
won by her tower-like strength.
You know, Mrs. Stoddard," she
said earnestly, that / want to be told
at once, if--if there is any change"
Il know, child" the older woman re-
piled, with a faraway look. 1--WE are
in the Lords hands. He taketh the
young in their might, and he healeth
them that are nigh unto death. We
can only wait his will"
Agatha was the product of differ
ent age and different system OF
thought. But she was still young, and
the pressure of the hour revived IN
her some ghost of her Puritan ances-
trail faith, longing to become real.
ity in her heart again, if only for this
dire emergency. She turned, eager
but painfully embarrassed, to Mrs.
Stoddard, OBTAINING her by touch on
her arm.
"But you said, Mrs. Stoddard,' she
implored, that the prayer of faith
shall heal the sick. And l have been
praying, too; have tried to summon
my faith. Do you believe that it
counts-for good?"
Mrs. Stoddard's rapt gaze blessed
Agatha. Her faith and courage were
of the type that rise according to
need. She drew nearer to her sanctu-
airy, to the fountain Of her faith, as
her earthly peril waxed. Her voice
rang with confidence as she almost
chanted: 'No striving toward God is
ever lost, dear child. He is with us
in our sorrow, even as in our joy"
Her strong hand closed over Agathas
for moment, and then her steady,
slow steps sounded on the stairs.
Agatha went into the parlor, whose
windows opened upon the piazza, and
from there wandered down the low
steps to the lawn. 1t was growing
dusk, a still, comfortable evening.
Over the lawn lay the indescribable
freshness of a region surrounded by
many trees and acres of grass. Pres
emily the old hound, Danny, came
slowly from his kennel in the back
yard, and paced the grass beside
Agatha, looking up often with melan-
Choly eyes into her face. Here was a
living relic of her mothers dead
friend, carrying in his countenance
his sorrow for his departed master.
Agatha longed to comfort him little,
convey to him the thought that she
would love him and try to understand
his nature, now that his rightful mas
| ter was gone. She talked softly to
him, calling him to her but not touch
| ing him. Back and forth they paced,
the old dog following closer and closer
| to Agatha's heels.
| Back of the house was path lead
ing diagonally across to the wall
which separated Parson Thayer's
place from the Westinghouse. The
dog seemed intent on following this
path Agatha hundred him, climbed
the low stile and entered the church
yard. AS the hound leaped the stile
after her, he wagged his tail and ap-
peared happy. Agatha remembered
that Sallie had told her, on the day OF
her arrival, of the dog, and how he
| was accustomed to walk every eve
ming with his master. Doubtless they
sometimes walked here, among the
silent company assembled in the
churchyard; and the minister's silent
friend was now having the peculiar
satisfaction of doing again what he
had once done with his master. Thus
the little acre OF the dead had its
claim on life, and its happiness for
throbbing hearts.
Agatha called the old dog to hel
again. This time he came near, rubbed
hard against her dress, and, when she
sat down on a fiat tombstone, laid his
head comfortably in her lap. waggine
his tail in satisfaction.
Danny was a companion who did not
obstruct thought, but encouraged it:
and as Agatha sat resting on the
stone with Danny close by, in thai
quiet yard full of the noiseless ghosts
of the past. her thought went back tt
James. His unnatural eyes and rest
less spirit haunted her. She though
of that other night on the water, full
of heartbreaking struggle as it was
as a happy night compared to the one
Modern Aesop.