Year: 1879

CHAPTER Kill


hen Frank i-ft the house that even
ins after the Interview with his mother,
he neither thought nor cared where he
was g'.ugi be only sought to relieve
his excited, burlened mind by vigorous
Ag-ieai exercise, uncons ei0usiy taking
one Of the best possible means to calm
himself by obeying nature, which al
s-gs calls Us % her broad bosom when
- le repulsed from human hearts.
H4 gently she soothes US sometimes,
WITH her soft Summer breath on brow
al cheek How sweetly tie myriad
tongues Of trees and waving grass whis-
per consolation in time of trouble, il we
VIII only listen. How joyously the
brght-laeed flowers smile up at US when
oar hearts are bowed down by anguish,
AS it they would tell Us, at is only for a
littie while" bow glorlously the stars
look down from their placid heights in
the blue ether, and silently inspire us
with courage TO bear the ills Of time,
and help as 10 realize that there is a
boundiess future all our own, if we will
have it, into which can come naught to
mar or veX that there is a God Of love
Watching over rs, caring for US, guiding
Us, not away from trouble, but through
it TO everlasting peace and joy. But
fierce Winlry winds had long since
driven summer breezes hence. Nature
had euveloped herself in her ermine
mantle and hidden her face with the
veil of night. The social trees were
only living skeletons. The humble
grass, the timid flowers were dead, and
gave no sign Of resurrection. Even the
serene stars, ever shining in heaven.
were entertained from sight by heavy
Clouds and the young man felt that the
outer world was but fit picture Of the /
siorm-swept kingdom of his heart. He
felt like a ship flying before the gale I.
without 2 helm. His love. his honor.
bis manhood beckoned him forward TO
happiness. Duty. like pale statue,
motioniess and stern, seemed standing
in his path, barring his progress with /
ogtsPread arms His impetuous self
will said:


"lio on it is y0urright; regard none
Who would deprive you Of il; crush all
opposition"


Conscience whispered:


"He csrefalt Your mother has loved
aud borne with you from earliest in
fancy. Beware how you wound her or
separate her from youl Beware p'


Aad thus the .uflict ragged within. as
.he young man continued his rapid
walk .th hai ir1wn over bis ewes, un-
obseTvant Of all about him, intent only
on tie problem Of his life.


He had always wished to do right.
For years he had been determined to do
so; but now, what lgas right? He
could not tell. To retreat, to yield TO
his mother, who from merely selfish
considerations Of worldly policy refused .
10 sanction his choice, was not to be
thought Of seriously. To defy her. to
take his own course In spite Of her op-
position, TO ALLEVIATE her from him, TO
leave her alone in her declining years, /
seemed impossible. What should he
do? He could not tell, and at last he
AAaN NAAtAA &C " az" " veal NtAAA he
needed rest, and that he must turn
homeward. Gradually he became
calmer, and the nearer ne came to his
home the more his hopefulness asserted
itself, and be felt that things might pos
sibiy not turn out so badly after all.


When at last be reached home and
went 70 his room, be retired, weary in
body and mind, but hoping his mother
might relent at last when she saw how
deeply he was interested in Flinor
He thought that be might have spoken
hastily, and vexed his mother into say
ing more than she really felt, for be
could not clearly recall what be had
said. He slept but little, aud rose
early, intending 10 see Elinor before his
departure; but, after he left his room.
he decided not to send for her, but TO
wait till his return, when he wouIdhave
ample time for explanation Of all that
had occurred, after he had had another
interview with his mother, which he
hoped might even render unnecessary
the painful and humiliating confession
he now had to make of his mothers op-
position ami bitter feeling.


He left home gloomily, feeling that
he would rather lose all the money in
volved in the business TO which he was
attending than to be absent that dav
but still he felt that he must 20. because
he had promised that he would. and il
never occurred TO him that ANYTHING
might happen.


The journey was unusually disagreea-
bic TO the young man, who thought he
had never Travelled when wind, snow,
cold and human beings united to make ]
things just as unpleasant as they well |
could be. He was too much absorbed in !
his own reflections to realize that the
difference was in himself; and the
friend who accompanied him was en-
tirely at a loss to imagine what had
happened to make the genial, pleasant,
gentlemanly young Stoddard so re-
served, silent and pre-occupied.


When they arrived at their destina-
tion, Frank did all he possibly could to
have his business attended to a. once
but everything seemed to be in his way. /
Obstacles seemed iunumerable to his |
impatient spirit; and when, at last, be 1
was free to board the homeward bound