Year: 1859

powerless to shield her from want. The
expenses Of my illness ate up all our little
savings, and We were too proud to ask for
charity. s


In this time Of trial there came to US an
angel Of mercy, in the young clergyman
Of Lousdale. Wolfgang Walsingham was
born in England, Of Swiss mother and
English father, and early in life was Sc,
aside for the ministry. He had received
call to settle at Lousdsle, and for the
space of four months he had attended to
the spiritual wants OF the people with a
zeal and earnestness which won for him
the love Of all. 70 q.


He heard Of my sickness and came TO
visit me in his capacity Of comforter. He
brought in the glorious sunshine when he
came, and in his absence the whole world
looked dark BY comparison. During the
days Of my weary convelescence my heart
learned new song-a song whose begin
ming and ending was WoIfrang Walsing.
singham. For the first time knew what
was the length, breadth, and depth Of love
which woman gives to the chosen Of her
sonl.


But my love brought me no happiness,
even when knew by the flushing Of Wolf
gangs cheek, and the deep tenderness of
his voice that it was returned. had no
one to dream of bliss, for the cold reality
rose up and confronted me. Hildred also
loved the young minister. 1t was not very
long ere made the discovery, and it cost
me many fierce wrestlings with the angel
OF duty. Love for my sister trlumphed,
aud ! rose from my sick bed ready for the
sacrifice. But a few days passed until it
was required Of me.


One evening, sitting BY my side, while
Hildred had gone to the shop for work,
Woltgang told me that be loved me. | do
not wish to write down his words, because
they are the one great blessed memory of
my life-my earthly foretaste of heaven.
| heard him through for wanted all his
assurances to support me through the fiery
ordeal which awaited me, and when he
had finished, I told him calmly that could
not be his. dared not confess to him
that l loved him, lest it should make him
unsatis6ed in the path which had willed
he should walk. When his first wild out.
bursts of grief and disappointment had
subsided, told him that my sister had
given her affection to him, and that it
would make me very happy to gee him her
husband. was bold with him in this, be.
cause l knew that he would not miscon.
strue my motive.


lie went away in great mental pertur.
baton, but the mex, day be returned, and
said:


Faith, you are the only woman l can
ever love with my whole soul, and you
have refused me Still, il anything that
! do will please you, it will be my greatest
bliss to do so! If you wish it, will ask
Hldred to share my lifs---she is your sis
ter, and ] can love her mex. to you"


... " And so may God in Heaven bless
YOU / cried, from out the depths of my
spirit, and for an instant my head rested
upon bis shoulder, and his lips pressed
my forehead. It was my first weakness
-and was likewise my last. '-


Two mouths afterwards Hildred was
made happy; and from the grand old
church in Lousdale, she went forth the
welded wife Of Wolfyang Walsingham.


For years subsequent to this event my
life flowed on uninterruptedly. remain
ed at my lodgings, still earning my living
by my needle, ard refusing the many
urgent solicitations of my brother and
sister to give up my toiliag existence and
live with them. l knew that could not
bear it, and so ! lived on in the old way.


Wolfgang and my sister were very hap
py, and rejoiced in the knowledge. One
child, q noble boy, blest their union, and
to this child my lonely heart clung. with
all the tenacity Of a woman's love.


Ten years after this marriage. Wolfgang
was seized with'a fatal illness. l stood by
his bedside through it all and when he
died his head rested upon my breast. His
last word was spoken to me--his last sigh
| alone listened to.


Hildred was almost frantic At her loss
and from that time forth she faded, until
with the coming winter, We folded her
pale hand away aid left her to sleep by
the side Of her husband she loved so we'll.


] took Hugh, her child, home with ne;
and in his care found some solace for my
loneliness. A year passed thas, and one
day there came news Of Paul Rayenwood's
death.


The very same day, letter was broagh,
me by the mail boy, marked with for
eign postmark. ! opened and read:


"Mlss FAITH MLBusN.-Many years
ago ! loved pure and guiltless girl she
was taken from me by death, on the very
evening SET apart for our marriage. l
thoaght l could love no more but when
! saw your sister, Hildred, thought my
lost Inez restored to me. The faces
seemed one and the same TO me. loved
again-I sought to make the second love
mine-1 was disappointed. But that love
never died in my breast il burnt fiercsr
and fiercer even TO the time which is almost