Year: 1879

felt as II eood not give you up" he
murmuFed.


"You need not, Frank. } do not feel
that I sm giving you up. Il is hard, SC
bard, to be separated % she whispered
"but remember, when you are lonely,
that love you just as dearly as if we
were together And as long as know
you love me, shall not feel that am
alone in the world. Nothing can come
between our hearts. We can bless and
strengthen each other in our daily lives,
though we are far apart. could not
bear 10 have you go away feeling that 1
was Indifferent 10 your affection, for it
is worth everything else in the world to
noe. With It, though 1 cannot be near
you, can bear the ills of life patiently,
and try 70 find peace and comfort in liv-
ing FOR others. Oh will not you too do
this, and look above for strength, pa
tience and inspiration day by day ?''
and she tried g. release herself from his
enfolfing arms as she raised her eyes to
bis, her pure soul shining through.


But he held her even closer, aud said,
IN revsrent, earnest tones:


II viii try to become worthy Of you.
I see I am not now. will try to wait
sud do my duty, and perhaps my
mothers heart may soften toward you
after a while. It would, if she could
only really know you, my darling"


Then, as the words brought every
thing up before him again, he groaned {:


''Oh, Elinor, how can I live without
you? can't feel as you do. I want
you with me every day. Life without
you seems like nothing but a barren
desert, stretching out before me, cheer
less, lonely and hopeless"


We must learn to think Of others,
not ourselves" said she, in trembling
voice. "That is our ouly remedy for the
loneliness that would otherwise make
life away from each other uncomfortable.
Now, dearest, you must go" she whis-
pered, gently, for she felt unable to
maintain her calmness much longer, so
trying was 10 % see how the strong man
was shaken by his great disappOint-
meut. Besides, sheltered in that close
embrace, she felt, as never before, how
sweet and precious were love AMI home
aud protection, and ahe knew that il
was every moment growing harder for
her to adhere to her resolution. It
seemed necessary, therefore, to hasten
The parting.


Frank, too, felt that pain was begin
ming to outweigh pleasure, and that the
dreaded moment must come soon or he
would be unnamed. Slowly be al
lowed her to withdraw little, but, hold
ing her hands in his own, he gazed into
Der face as he might have done had she
been arrayed for the tomb. Then sud
denly gathering her TO his heart once
more, he kissed her shining hair, her
brow, her eyes, and then their lips met
in a long, clinging kiss.


There was a whispered goodbye; he
hastily snatched his hat aud was gone.


Presently she heard the hall door
close; then his rapid footsteps sounded
on the hardened, snowy path the gate
closed sharply, and she sank down, feel
ing that she was once more hopelessly
alone. The moral courage that had
supported her drring the interview
seemed exhausted She felt that if her
lover should return then, she could not
encourage and strengthen him, but
would weakly cling to and lean on him.
All the encouragement she had given
him 10 strive for peace in usefulness
seemed gone indeed. Life stretched be-
fore her as hard and desolate and love
less as It could possibly appear to her
lover. She felt as il the burden Of ex-
isteuce was too heavy to be borne alone.
All her senses seemed stepped in languor.
She felt nerveless; utterly destitute of
every aim and purpose. At length she
seemed 10 see, as In a dream, the pitv.
ing Savior's compassionate face. and to
hear Him say, ''Ay grace shall be suffi-
cient for thee" She raised her head
feeling as though the Presence must in
deed be visible, and, though nothing
strange was in the quiet room, she felt
that the word had been spoken to her
as truly as though she had seen the
comforter.


Again she received strength to walk
forward In the rugged path Of duty, aud
patiently she endeavored to feel that
call things work together for good to
them that love God" She retired TO
her room, feeling that she had entered
upon q new phase Of life, and earnest
were her prayers that she and her loved
one might worthily bear themselves in
all the vicissitudes that might befall
them, and that at last they might meet,
70 part no more forever.


CHAPTER XVI


When Frank Stoddard returned to
New York the next day after his part
ing with EliDor Norton, his heart was
full Of bitterness toward his mother for
destroying his happiness; but he fully
meant 10 treat her as respectfully and
kindly as he possibly could. All that
vas best and nOblest in him had been
reused by Elinors appeals, and. though
be could not possibly crush out the an
ger he felt at the wrong done him and
the woman he loved, he still felt that be
could honestly try to cultivate that