"Somewhere in France."
In a convalescing tent sat a young officer, writing. When finished, he
took up the letter for perusal.
"Venna Dearest:
"You have doubtless worried at my long silence.
"A month ago I was brought here from the front, seriously wounded. When
I finally came to myself, I feared worrying you, so did not let you
know until all danger was past. I prayed to live to go again to the
front, and God granted my prayer.
"O Venna, my brave little wife! How I long to clasp you again in my
arms! But we are many miles apart. God grant that this cruel war will
soon be over, and that you and I may meet again in dear old, free
America.
"In one week I shall go to the front again.
"The doctors cannot understand my miraculous recovery, but you and I,
dear, know what faith can do. Pray for me always.
"Your devoted husband,
"Walter."
While he was folding the letter in an envelope, a private entered.
"A message for you, Capt. Hallock," he said, saluting his superior.
Capt. Hallock took the message and read.
He turned pale and grasped the chair convulsively.
When left alone, he covered his face with his hands and sobbed.
"My Venna killed! God! How can I stand it!" he cried in agony of spirit.
He felt a hand laid upon his shoulder. With quick self-control he
turned and looked up into the face of one of his comrades.
"Bad news, Hallock?"
"My wife is dead!" returned Hallock with a stern compression of his
lips.
There was silence for a moment while his comrade looked his sympathy
into his friend's eyes. Then he held out his soldier's hand which
Hallock grasped.
"Remember, Hallock," he said with emotion, "when you converted me to
your Mormon faith, you comforted me with the thought that my dead wife
had simply passed on before. There is no death. We will both have our
loved ones soon--probably _very_ soon, for next week comes the German
drive with you and I at the front!"
Hallock straightened himself up bravely.
"As God wills!" he calmly returned.
--
The battle was finished. On the field lay the wounded and dying. The
night was fast closing in to add its darkness to the horror and the
gloom of it all.
Most of the prostrate forms were quiet in death, but many were moaning
piteously.
"Is there no help near?" asked one of them. "Water! Oh, for a drink!"
Hallock felt for his flask. It was empty.
"No," returned Hallock. "No help yet."
"Comrades," he cried, raising his voice as high as his feeble condition
would allow--"we are all soon to go to that other shore from which no
man returns. Let us go gladly, heroically--like soldiers, not like
cowards caught in the jaws of death. Remember! We are entering a
glorious life!"
With the last words he fell back and the blackness of night settled
over the battlefield.
A bright shaft of light suddenly shone high above Hallock's head. It
drew nearer and nearer, until it dazzled him with its brilliancy.
With a thrill of unearthly joy Hallock beheld, approaching through the
wondrous light, Venna! His glorified Venna!
His arms outstretched in welcome.
"I have come to take you over," she said, softly, as she encircled her
arms about him.
"For all eternity!" he murmured happily.
CONCLUSION.
On the shores of Eternity, Venna and Walter communed together.
"At Last!" said Walter joyously. "How wonderful our life is here!"
"And to think that greater glory will yet be ours as we eternally
progress!" exclaimed Venna in ecstasy.
"Is it not strange," returned Walter, "that our earthly troubles seem
as though they had never been!"
"Ah! dear heart! If the world could only see beyond the veil!"
At this moment she looked along the shore with sudden joy.
"Here comes Daddy!" she said as a holy joy suffused her radiant
countenance.
Beside him walked a beautiful woman.
"It is your mother, Venna!" said Walter.
Venna pressed her cheek fondly against Walter's.
"If this is Paradise," she whispered, "I dare not think of Heaven!"