Year: 1872

~ was SdoDsth evening. All day long tho
rain had poured heavily, forming sad harmo.
ny with the thoughts Of the young girl who
sat looking out through the gathering twilight,
and facing, as she had done all day, her future
That very morning she had chosen her lot
prayeriuly and sadly, and now she was try.
ing to crush her rebclious heart into compli.
ance with the dictates Of what she believed Ia
be her duty. Nor was she altogether hope.
less. There was a CLEAN Of light in the dis.
tanee, faint glimmer Of hope for brighter
days, tha. helped her to bear her cross more
patiently. Yethad this been wanting, myrtle
EVANS decision must have been the same, for
to her the path Of duty was the only pleasant
path aud even now she was happier than il
she had hushed the pleadings Of conscience,
aud chosen the way her heart loved best


1t was little more than year siuce HrR-
BERT WAYNE first como TO her fathers house
yet in that time she had learned lesson new.
er to be forgotten. Almost uuconsciously sh,
had tasted the cup Of love only to have il
dashed from her lips. Mr.. Evans was a
wealthy farmer, aud Herbert only hired man;
but in the genial unreserve of farm life that
formed no barrier to intimacy, and he and
Myrtle met on equal ground. What she had
been to him that year no one save himself
aud God knew. He had never known a faith.
er's care, ana had hardly learned to value hi,
mothers love, ere she too was taken from
him, and he had been left poor and alone, ia
fight the battle of life for himself. To his
| gloomy mind and embittered nature, Myrtle
was revelation of light aud JOY Her cheer.
iul happiness taught him to look on the bright
side, while her unassumed goodness and purity
shamcd his faulty life, aud gave him new and
higher ambitious. lnthe worlds eyes no was
not bad young man A little impatient Of
restraint, little too prodigal Of time and
money, a little profane too, sometimes but
these were all faults that time would cure 49,
In the meantime there were hundreds of
young men who had worse faults.


But not so did Myrtle regard him. She
saw in his impatient aud improvident spirit
that which might make him reckless spend.
thrill, while the oaths that in moments of an.
ger fell from his lips, she regarded as direct
insults to her God, and harbingers Of ruin to
HIMSELF And when she saw that he was try
ing to overcome these faults, she knew that
he was building upon a sandy foundation,
that love for her, not love for God, impelIed
him, aud trembling for his safety, aud unwil
ing to trust him with her own, she closed the
doors of her heart against him, and. crushing
down the love that pleaded for and excused
his faults, sent him from her.


Too honorable to make pretensions to good
ness he did not possess, he made no vows
asked no hope for the future, but turning
bravely to his desolate way, went on with q
new sorrow to bear yet with new impulse
to guide his life.


And now 10 the silence of her own room
Myrtle fought her battle, All day long had
the conflict ragged between Love and Duty.
Love pictured the happiness that might have
been hers-peaded for his happiness too
whispered how she might perhaps have saved
him -reproached her with not caring for his
weliare-drew dark outline of life her re-
iusal might lead him to, aud drove her half
mad with tender memories of the past while
Duty tore away the dimsy veil of excuses,
and warned her on peril Of her soul against
forming alliances with an enemy Of her God
She was worn and weary with the strife, but
as the twilight grew deeper and the ce1seess
drip of the rain grew fainter, holy calm
stole into her torn heart, and the peace that
passeth understanding took possession of her
soul. Leaning on Jesus breast, realizing
His perfect she found rest from all her
sorrows, and cast her care on Him. And,
when in prayer she brought the object of her
young hearts love, aud impored Gods bless.
ing on him, anxiously she questioned her own
heart to know if Gods glory and the honor
of His name held the supreme place. But
conscience, now turned consoer, answered
these queries aud nights mantle rested not
more peacefully on the drenched and shiver-
ing earth than Gods comfort on this tried
soul,


Morning found her at her post the loving
daughter the sunshine OF the house, the
earnest warm hearted, Christian friend she
mad ever been. And if sometimes Memory 5
hand drew painful pictures, Faiths clear eyes,
looking beyond, brought hope and cheer for
all her woes.


Thus passed Eve years-years crowned
with blessings, and ripe with Christian ex-
perience years that had. given her Grmcr
character, deepened and widened her religious
life, and made her truer, nobler woman
Faithfully she had borne her crosses cheer
fully she had performed her duties; conf.
denty she waited her reward. There had
been times when her heart cried out for its
lost darling, and would not be comforted !;
times when she longed for the comfort of his
presence, and murmured at the long delay
when she would have given the world to know
the influences that surrounded him. aud the
paths he was following but now she gave
him, us we'll as herself, into her Fathers
hands, and waited his time,


In the golden autumn time their dear old
pastor died, and there were sad hearts, and
fearful eyes and earnest, sincere mourners
among his little flock, for the old man had
been true shepherd. For a time the old
church was closed then the bells rang forth
once more their solemn yet cheerful invita-
tion, and the people gathered again in the
sanctuary. But few as yet knew who the
preacher was, and as usual curiosity led many
there who otherwise would not have come.
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