The morning of the next day was bright and fair. After dinner our
travelling party entered the carriage in waiting, and proceeded on their
way; the children chattering as usual, like little magpies, and Ruth and
Mr. Walter occupied with their own solitary reflections.
One of the greatest luxuries of _true_ friendship is the perfect freedom
one feels, irrespective of the presence of another, to indulge in the
mood of the moment--whether that mood be grave or gay, taciturn or
loquacious, the unspeakable deliciousness of being reprieved from
talking at a mark, hampered by no fear of incivility or discourtesy.
Ruth had found this a great charm in the society of Mr. Walter, who
seemed perfectly to understand and sympathize with her varied moods. On
the present occasion she particularly felt its value--oppressed as she
was by the rush of thoughts, retrospective and anticipatory--standing as
it were on the threshold of a new epoch in her changing existence.
"Where are we going, mother?" asked Katy, as the carriage passed through
a stone-gateway, and down a dim avenue of ancient trees.
"To dear papa's grave," replied Ruth, "before we leave this part of the
country."
"Yes!" murmured Katy, in a low whisper.
* * * * *
It was very beautiful, that old avenue of pine trees, through which the
setting sun was struggling faintly, now resting like a halo on some
moss-grown grave-stone, now gilding some more ambitious monument of
Mammon's raising. The winding cemetery paths, thronged by day with
careless feet, were silent now. No lightsome laughter echoed through
those leafy dells, grating upon the ear which almost listened for the
loved voice. No strange eye, with curious gaze, followed the thoughtful
group, speculating upon their heart's hidden history; but, now and then,
a little loitering bird, tempted beyond its mate to lengthen its evening
flight, flitted, with a brief gush of song, across their pathway.
Hushed, holy, and unprofaned, was this Sabbath of the dead! Aching
hearts here throbbed with pain no longer; weary feet were still; busy
hands lay idly crossed over tired breasts; babes, who had poised one
tiny foot on life's turbid ocean brink, then shrank back affrighted at
its surging waves, here slept their peaceful sleep.
* * * * *
The moon had silvered the old chapel turrets, and the little nodding
flowers glistened with dew-drops, but still Ruth lingered. Old memories
were thronging, thick and fast, upon her;--past joys--past sorrows--past
sufferings;--and yet the heart, which felt them all so keenly, would
soon lie pulseless amid these mouldering thousands. There was a vacant
place left by the side of Harry. Ruth's eye rested on it--then on her
children--then on Mr. Walter.
"So help me God," reverently murmured the latter, interpreting the mute
appeal.
* * * * *
As the carriage rolled from under the old stone gateway, a little bird,
startled from out its leafy nest, trilled forth a song as sweet and
clear as the lark's at heaven's own blessed gate.
"Accept the omen, dear Ruth," said Mr. Walter. "Life has much of harmony
yet in store for you."
THE END.
Transcriber's Note
In this txt-version italics have been surrounded by _underscores_ and
small capitals changed to all capitals.
Obvious errors in punctuation have been corrected silently. Also the
following corrections have been made, on page
15 "her's" changed to "hers" (Had that craving heart of hers at
length found)
79 "its" changed to "it's" (it's an awful cold night to)
93 "rouès" changed to "roués" (whister-dyed roués)
93 "batchelor" changed to "bachelor" (bachelors, anxious to give
their)
148 double "him" removed (and seating himself at what he)
199 "christain" changed to "christian" (resignedly as a little
christian)
247 "stifly" changed to "stiffly" (peering out from behind a very
stiffly-starched cap border)
306 "gullability" changed to "gullibility" (only equalled by the
gullibility of the dear public)
377 "sudlight" changed to "sunlight" (quenching the sunlight in many
a happy home.)
381 'Floy' changed to "Floy" (saying that '"Floy" lost her
self-respect before she lost her friends.')
395 "opiuion" changed to "opinion" (In my opinion, nothing).
Otherwise the original has been preserved, including anomalies and
inconsistencies.