Roe_Barriers_Burned_Away.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
face like a peony, snatched up the youngest little
, saying, " is time these sleepy children were in bed"; but
the doctor and the went off again and again in uncontrollable
fits of laughter, in which could not refrain from joining,
though he wished the unlucky a thousand miles away. put
down his mug, stared around in a surprised and nonplussed manner, and
then said, in a loud whisper, " say, , was there any hitch in
what said?"
set them off again, but answered good-naturedly, slapping
his friend on the shoulder, ", you would make a man laugh in the
face of fate."
took this as a compliment, and the strange party, thrown together
by an event that mingled all classes in the community, broke up and
went their several ways.
was glad to escape, and went to a side door where he could cool
his hot cheeks in the night air. fairly dreaded to meet
again, and, even where the wind blew cold upon him, his cheeks grew
hotter and hotter, as he remembered what had occurred. had been
there but a little time when a light hand fell on his arm, and he was
startled by her voice--". , are you very tired?"
" in the least," he answered, eagerly.
" must be: it is wrong for me to think of it."
" , please tell me what can do for you?"
looked at him wistfully and said: " is a time when loss and
disaster burden every heart, and know it is a duty to try to maintain
a cheerful courage, and forget personal troubles. have tried to-day,
and, with 's help, hope in time to succeed. endeavoring to
wear in public a cheerful face, may perhaps now, and to so true a
friend as yourself, show more of my real feelings. it too far--would
it take too long, to go to where my father died? remains could not
have been removed."
", ," said , very gently, "there can be no visible
remains. words of the are literally true in this
case--' to ashes.' can take you to the spot, and it is
natural that you should wish to go. you equal to the fatigue?"
" shall not feel it if you go with me, and then we can ride part of
the way, for have a little money." (. had insisted on her
taking some.) " for me a moment."
soon reappeared with her shawl cut in two equal parts. she
insisted on folding and putting around him as a wears his
plaid. " will need it in the cool night wind," she said, and then
she took his arm in perfect trust, and they started.
the cars she gave him her money, and he said, " will return my
fare to-morrow night."
"!" she replied, looking a little hurt. " spending two dollars
on me, will you not take five cents in return?"
" spent it foolishly."
" spent it like a generous man. , . , you did not
understand my badinage this evening. had not spoken to you in
that strain, could not have spoken at all. have been a brother
to me, and we should not stand on these little things."
" is it," thought he again. " looks upon and trusts me as a
brother, and such must try to be till she departs for her own land;
yet if she knew the agony of the effort she would scarcely ask it."
as they left the car, he said, " that you would ask from a
brother, please ask from me."
put her hand in his, and said, " now ask your support, sympathy,
and prayer, for feel that shall need all here."
retaining her hand, he placed it on his arm and guided her most
carefully around the hot ruins and heaps of rubbish till they came to
where the had stood. moon shone brightly down, lighting
up with weird and ghostly effect the few walls remaining. were
utterly alone in the midst of a desolation sevenfold more impressing
than that of the desert. to the spot where, in the midst of his
treasures of art and idolized worldly possessions, . had
perished, she said, in a thrilling whisper, " father's ashes are
there."
"."
breath came quick and short, and her face was so pale and agonized
that he trembled for her, but he tightened his grasp on her hand, and
his tears fell with hers.
", my father!" she cried, in a tone of unspeakable pathos, "can
never, never see you again? never tell you of the love of ,
and the better and happier life beyond? , how my heart yearns after
you! forgive me if this is wrong, but cannot help it!"
" is not wrong," said , brokenly. " himself wept over
those could not save."
" is all that can do," she murmured, and, leaning her head on his
shoulder, a tempest of sobs shook her person.
supported her tenderly, and said, in accents of the deepest sympathy,
" every tear fall that will: they will do you good." last, as
she became calmer, he added, " that your great
has called the heavy laden to for rest."
last she raised her head, turned, and gave one long parting look,
and, as saw her face in the white moonlight, it was the face
of a pitying angel. low "!" trembled from her lips, she
leaned heavily on his arm, they turned away, and seemingly the curtain
fell between father and child to rise no more.
". ," she said, pleadingly, "are you too tired to take me to
my old home on the north side?"
" , could go to the ends of the earth for you, but you
are not equal to this strain upon your feelings. mercy on
yourself."
she said, in a low, dreamy tone: " wish to take leave to-night
of my old life--the strange, sad past with its mystery of evil; and
then shall set my face resolutely toward a better life--a better
country. bear with me, my true, kind friend, a little longer."
" me, my thought was all for you. sense of fatigue has
passed away."
they made their way, till they stood where, a few short days
before, had been the elegant home that was full of sad and painful
memories to both.
" was my studio," she said in the same dreamy tone, "where
indulged in my wild, ambitious dreams, and sought to grasp a little
fading circlet of laurel, while ignoring a heavenly and an immortal
crown. ," she continued, her pale face becoming crimson, even in
the white moonlight, " most painfully wronged you, my most generous,
forgiving friend, and a noble revenge you took when you saved my life
and led me to a . reward you; but humbly ask your
pardon--"
", , do not speak of that. have buried it all.
not pain yourself by recalling that which have forgiven and almost
forgotten. are now my ideal of all that is noble and good, and in
my solitary artist life of the future you shall be my gentle yet potent
inspiration."
" must your life be solitary in the future?" she asked, in a low
tone.
was very pale, and his arm trembled under her hand; at last he said,
in a hoarse voice, " not ask me. should pain you by telling
you the truth?"
" it the part of a true friend to refuse confidence?" she asked,
reproachfully.
turned his face away, that she might not see the evidences of the
bitter struggle within--the severest he had ever known; but at last
he spoke in the firm and quiet voice of victory. had called him
brother, and trusted him as such. had ventured out alone on a
sacred mission with him, as she might with a brother. was dependent
on him, and burdened by a feeling of obligation. high sense of
honor forbade that he should urge his suit under such circumstances.
she could not accept, how painful beyond words would be the necessity
of refusal, and the impression had become almost fixed in his mind
that her regard for him was only sisterly and grateful in its character.
", ," he said, "my silence is the part of true
friendship--truer than you can ever know. 's richest blessings
go with you to your own land, and follow you through a long, happy
life."
" own land? is my own land."
" you not intend to go abroad at once, and enter upon your ancestral
estates as the ?"
" if can earn a livelihood in ," she answered, most firmly.
". , all that nonsense has perished as utterly as this my former
home. belongs to my old life, of which have forever taken leave
to-night. ancestral estate in is but a petty affair, and
mortgaged beyond its real worth by my deceased uncle. possess,
all value, is in this city. was my father's ambition, and at one
time my own, to restore the ancient grandeur of the family with the
wealth acquired in this land. plan lost its charms for me long
ago-- would not have gone if could have helped it--and now it is
impossible. has perished in flame and smoke. . , you see
before you a simple girl. claim and wish to be known in no
other character. nothing remains of my father's fortune shall
teach either music or painting--"
", !" he interrupted, "forgive me for speaking to you under
the circumstances, but indeed cannot help it. there hope for me?"
looked at him so earnestly as to remind him of her strange, steady
gaze when before he pleaded for her love near that same spot, but her
hand trembled in his like a fluttering, frightened bird. a low,
eager tone she said, " can you still truly love me after all the
shameful past?"
" have ceased to love you?"
a little cry of ecstasy, like the note of joy that a weary bird
might utter as it flew to its mate, she put her arm around his neck,
buried her face on his shoulder, and said, " _hope_ for you, ,
but perfect _certainty,_ for now !"
though the home before them is a deserted ruin? is joining
hands that shall build a fairer and better one, because filled with
that which only makes a home--love.
though all around are only dreary ruins, where the night wind is
sighing mournfully? has transformed that desert place into the
paradise of ; and, if such is its power in the wastes of earthly
desolation, what will be its might amid the perfect scenes of heaven?
story is finished.
only remains to say that stands high at court, but it is
a grander one than any of earth. is allied to a noble, but to one
who has received his patent from no petty sovereign of this world.
has lost sight of the transient laurel wreath which she sought to grasp
at such cost to herself and others, in view of the "crown of glory
that fadeth not away," and to this already, as an earnest ,
she has added starry jewels.
is the in which sturdy independence led her to begin
her married life. she is climbing the mountain at her husband's
side, and often her hands steady and help him. ash-tree, twined
with the passion-flower, is not very far above them, and the villa,
beautiful within and without, is no vain dream of the future. even
in happy youth their eyes of faith see in airy, golden outline their
heavenly home awaiting them.