The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-02-14

on on hef NnReth NUMBER OF ltbHl'
which Agatha did not catch, saying
"Hml" and "Yes!" to herself. Desplt,
her deep anxiety Mrs. stoddard wai
In her element She had nothing les'
than genius In nursing. She was cheer
ful, quick In emergencies. steady un
der the excitement OF the sick-room
and faithful in small. as well as large
matters. Moreover, she excellod 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 ten and Joined
Mrs. Stoddard as she stood looking
out into the twilight, seeing things
not visible to the outward eye.
Yes. that's IT," she ended abruptly
thinking aloud; then including Agatha
without any change OF tone, she went
on: II think we'd better change our
plans a little, I'm going upstairs now
to stay while your Mr.. Hand goes
over TO tho house for me. There are
several things | waat from home"
Agatha had no conception OF having
an opinion that was contrary 10 Mrs.
Stoddard's, so completely WAS she
won by her towerLike 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. I'VE are
In the Lords hands. He taketh the
young in their might. and he healeth
tEem that are nigh unto death We
can only wait his will"
Agatha was the product Of a differ
ent age and a different system OF
thought But she was still young, and
/ the pressure OF the hour revived in
| her some ghost OF her Puritan ances-
tral faith, longing 10 become a real
lty in her heart again, If only for this
dire emergency. She turned, eager
but painfully embarrassed. to Mrs.
Stoddard, OBTAINING her BY a touch on
her arm.
But you said, Mrs. Stoddard," she
implored, that the prayer of faith
shall heal the sick. And 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 we're
of the type that rise according to
need. She drew nearer to her sanctu-
ary, 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 Agatha's
for a 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. II was growing
dusk, a still, comfortable evening.
ever 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 a little,
convey to him the thought that she !
would love him and try to understand |
his nature, now that his rightful mas
ter wes 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 a 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 humored him, climbed
the low stile and entered the church
ynrd 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
walked here, among the
silent company assembled in the
and the minister's silent
friend was now having the peculiar
Of doing again what he
had once done with his master. Thus
he little acre OF the dead had it's
claim on life, and it's happiness for
hrobbing hearts.
Agatha called the old dog to her
again This time he came near, rubbed
lard against her dress, and, when she
sat down on a fiat tombstone, laid his
lead comfortably in her lap, wagging
lis tail in satisfaction.
Danny was q companion who did not
'bstruct thought, but encouraged it;
md as Agatha sat resting on the
tone with Danny close by, in that
Iuiet yard full of the noiseless ghosts
# the past, her thought went back to
ames. His unnatural eyes and rest
ess spirit haunted her. She thought
# that other night on the water, full
f heartbreaking struggle as it was, {
S a happy night compared to the one
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