Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1892 — A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE

BY LULU JAMISON

CHAPTER XXI V. rachkl'h coxfessio.v. Brian at flrat was content to lie still and watch Margaret, but as he grew stronger he would ask her to sing or talk to him, and then would she tell him again and again of the bitter regret and remorse which had filled those three long miserable weeks “How cruel I was,” he whispered. “I did not know what I was saying. I could never reproach you. You have done more for me than I can ever speak of. Always my true, loyal wife. Always making sacrifices for me. It was such a dear, tender heart that I longed for just a tender spot in it ” "A very proud heart,” she corrected gently. “Only sometimes. And had it been a thousand times more proud I should forget it all in the joy of possessing it at last.” “You have possessed it all the time,” she confessed, burying her face from his glance. "It has been yours since we were together at S’conset, Brian. I did not realize it myself, but now I know, and am glad of the suffering that taught me.” “Ah, darling, that I have been so blind. When you married me I thought ” “Yes, Brian, so did I think. My sense of justice felt outraged by uncle Stephen’s will, and I persuaded myself that I was marrying you to make amends for that, and all the while my love for you was pleading so much more eloquently than my love of justice. I have kept it back so long I wish you to know all the truth now.” His eyes filled with an inexpressible joy, as he lovingly stroked her bowed head. ."Rachel has made her confession at last,” he said, softly, “and Jacob would willingly live over his sufferings again for the pleasure of hearing such sweet words. He is very happy now, for he feels that this is his true wedding day, and his life lies before him.” August was nearly gone, and he was only able to sit in his chair and allow her to wait upon him. They were together so one morning when a messenger arr.ved from The Cedars with a note for Margaret. She read it hastily, and, with a radiant face and the words “I am so glad,” handed it to Brian. “Good news,” he said, taking it from her hand and reading the words aloud: “Another Bertie came somewhat unexpectedly with the sun this morning. Alice hopes you will pay your immediate respects to his lordship. “Bebtie, Sb.” "Bertie is evidently in the fifth heaven of delight," commented Brian. "Carry my congratulations. Margaret. I suppose you are going. ” Margaret, of course, fell in love with the tiny bit of humanity, and fully agreed with Alice that Cuthbert Barton junior was a very fine-looking young man. She even fancied she discovered a likeness to Bertie, though not a particularly striking one, as she told Brian afterward.

September came in very cool and the invigorating air seemed to infuse new life into Brian’s veins. "Tea will not be able to impose upon me much longer," he said to Margaret, one morning. Til be strong enough to rebel against your tyranny soon." “As soon as you like, Brian," she answered, looking up from the roses she had placed on the table beside him. “I think I’ve played nurse long enough. If you do not get well very soon you will grow so fat and lazy that I’M never be able to get you out of that chair." He looked up into the face, which had never seemed more sweet and lovable. and catching her hand held it a prisoner within his own. “Never mind,” he said, “wait until I am out of this for good. Then I mean to take my dear little nurse in hand and make her fat and lazy, too. I want to see some roses in her white cheeks. ” “I don’t think you will ever be abie to coax them there, Brian. It is not their element, but the nurse feels that she desires some petting and coddling; she has given you so much. What can she do lor you now’ Read?” "No, my dear; talk. I am a great trial, am I not?” “Oh, yes, a dreadful trial,” she returned with a half smile. “But,” she added softly, ”1 could never do without my trial.” He caught her hand as she uttered the last words and drew her unresistingly to his knee. Then came a sharp and unexpected interruption, in Bertie’s voice: “Hello, there! I don’t want to disturb such interesting proceedings, but I would like to know how soon the public may be admitted. Such civilities ’’ “ You are extremely impudent, ” cried Margaret, starting to her feet with a brilliant blush. “If you do not learn better manners I shall drop your acquaintance." “Please don’t, ma’am, I need your protection sadly. My respected father has just sent me from his presence with a parting injunction to visit a certain gentleman who is credited with warm quarters. I prefered coming here. And, by the way, Brian, I’ve been commissioned to inform you that you have been indulging your laziness long enough, and, therefore, you are expected to pay your respects at The Cedars to-night. " ‘Tell Margaret to come and bring her husband along,’ were the words of my venerable father. So, Margaret, please do as you are bid." “I wish you could be more dignified, Bertie. lor a husband and a father you are sadly wanting in that quality.” For answer, Bertie laughed. “How are you, old fellow?" he asked, taking Brian’s hand. “Able to assert your authority?” “Not quite. I’ve just been warning Margaret that the time is not far distant when I shall assume the reins of government.” “She looks quite miserable over the prospect," returned Bertie, with his eyes on Margaret’s laughing face. “I saw Wilson when I was in the city a day or two ago. He inquired very particularly about you, and Margaret also. 1 told him you were doing finely, and that Margaret was as unmanageable as "1 shall be revenged for that, sir. Was Dr. Wilson well?” “I can’t say he looked very well,” answered Bertie, with some hesitation. 'He works too hard, I think. He is certainly very pale and thin. * 'Why not write and invite him here

for awhile?” said Brian, turning to Margaret. “This air would infuse new life in his veins.” “He needs it certainly,” observed Bertie. “He has not seemed quite natural for some time. I’m afraid he Is losing his old happy spirits. ” “We will ask him to eome,” said Margaret, quickly, “though I fear he cannot give us any of his valuable lime. When I think of what he has done for you, Brian, I do feel so grateful to him, and I should like nothing so well as to find him such a true, gcod wife as he deserves.” “Margaret turned match-maker,” mused Bertie. “She becomes more interesting and original every day. I will tell Wilson to get himself in readiness, and meantime, my dear, I hope you will search diligently for the particular woman destined to become his blessing and torment at the same thne. Now 1 must be off. I suddenly remember that Alice sent me for some mixture for that young hopeful of ours, and if I don’t hurry he may bawl his head off.” “You outrageously unfeeling man. If I had known you were on any such errand, you shouldn't have staid here a second. That poor little innocent may be actually suffering for his medicine. ” “No more than you, my dear,” laughed Bertie. “It is simply the Barton temper asserting itself. Even father recognizes it, and while he accepts retributive justice in a meek and lowly spirit, it sometimes gives way to a mild ejaculation, such as ‘thunder’ when Bertie grows particularly demonstrative. However, I’ll get the decoction and say good-by to yon until to-night.” A day or so later, Margaret sent to Dr. Wilson a warm and pressing invitation to spend at least a few days at Elmwood. Wilson found the letter awaiting him when he reached his rooms after a long day’s work, and, though his face brightened at the sight of it, he did not accept the tempting pleasure offered, and his regrets, not himself, found their way to Elmwood. The letter found a place in a corner of his desk, and it was still there when time had whitened his hair and his eyes were dim from something more than sweet old memories.

CHAPTER XXV. AFTER TWO TKARR. Two years have passed, and brought their inevitable changes. The seasons have come and gone. The flowers have bloomed and died and bloomed aga n, and once more Elmwood is crowned in the full beauty of the month of roses. It is lata in the afternoon, and for some time Margaret has been waiting Brian’s coming. Her eyes are fixed alternately upon the long drive and upon the little face sleeping peacefully in her arms. Maternity, that perfect completion of woman’s nature, has given her a new grace and dignity, and left upon her life the impress of a happiness that even the shadow of old sorrows cannot lessen. Indeed, the sorrows are never remembered, except in a philosophical sort of way. and in the realization of all that she hoped and expected she feels that they have brought an ample reward. Brian has fully redeemed his pledge, and, with a life full of higher and nobler purpose, is walking faithfully in his father’s footsteps, and winning the same honor and respect. He comes home with a light heart this evening, and seeing Margaret, leaps from his carriage to take her in his arms and kiss the two faces with warm and tender love.

“Are you very tired?” she asks, looking into his eyes. “So, so. It has been warm in the village, but here it is quite delightful Poor Mrs. Ellis is down again for good, I fear, this time, and Brown has an attack of influenza. He is more frightened than hurt, I think, and more troublesome than either. He fancies lam no! giving him sufficient medicine, and insists on taking a double dose. His wife has quite a time with him. “What have you been doing with yourself, Margaret? Not trying any of yesterday’s experiments, I hope. Give me Marguerite; she is growing quite heavy. You must not try to carry her any more, dear. I will take her to Milly and we will walk to that hill to see the sun set. It is really superb." When the baby had been given Into the care of Its nurse, Margaret linked her arm in Brian’s, and they walked toward the place he had pointed out. “I have a piece of news which will please you, I know. Wilson has at last made up his mind to come to us for a week. We may expect him about the 21st, he says. ” “I am so glad," Margaret answered, with genuine feeling. “We must make it such a delightful wqek that he will want to repeat it. It is really quite curious, I think. But, do you know, I never had such a strong desire to see any one married as I have to see him? I know it would make such a happv difference in his life.” “I suppose you think that the only happv state for man?” “1 hope you do," she replied, meeting his laughing glance. “It should be, and, ae a rule, I think it is; the exceptions are individual cases. To my mind a poor, lonely old bachelor trying to persuade himself that he is fortunate in having escaped the evil of matrimony is a most doleful and pitiable spectacle. Ah, how glorious!” The last words were uttered as they reached the summit of the hill and the full splendor of the sunset burst upon them. They stood for a few seconds in silence, watching the globe of fire sinking in a sea of gold. Then Margaret stole more closely to his side with the words: “It seems to hold the peace of benediction, Brian.” “Abenediction,” he repeated, slipping his arm about her waist and holding her to his heart. “Ah, may we always feel the peace of such a benediction, darling. May we always stand together as we are standing now, through better and through worse; ever firm in each other’s trust; ever strong in each other’s love. And when our suns shall set, may our skies be as calm and as tranquil as this glorious one before us. “Oh. tranquil sunset of the soul. When all the jar of earth is past; When storms no longer round us roll, And heaven Is near at last; We know, though fail and faint we may. Calm sunset ends the longest day.” [the jsd.] Stentor. In the Grecian army it was usual to have three men in each battalion to communicate the commands of the officers to the men. Of these, one carried a standard and another a trumpet. But in the confusion and din of battle, when neither signal could be seen nor trumpet heard, the third man (who for this purpose was the strongest in the army) communicated the commands by word of mouth. Homer relates of one of these men, Stentor by name, that he shouted as loud as fifty other men. Hence a man with a powerful voice is said to possess the voice of Stentor, or a stentorian voice.*