THE WEST SHORE.
301
BAB, OR LIVES THAT TOUCHED.
1'aht in.
u 'PUREE years this day since Chester was called
I home. Does it seem so long to you, Maiio? "
The speaker a woman "handsome in old age"
looked across the breakfast table at her son, while
the unbidden tears coursed slowly down her faded
cheeks and fell upon the dainty lace cap strings on
her heaving bosom.
" No, mother, it seems bat yesterday. Oh, it was
to onr finite minds a terrible thing, bat Qod knew
best We wanted him here, lie wanted him above.
It seemed to us that his usefulness was just begin
ning, and perhaps it was. What we know not now
we shall know hereafter."
" Yes, dear, and it is a great comfort to know that
he was in Qod's hands, wholly consecrated to His son
vice, whether that service be here, in the nttcrmost
parts of the earth, or in heaven. I can not murmur;
I gave you both to Him in infancy, and fairly has He
divided with me. Blessed be His name,"
" True, mother, and we know that He knows host;
bat I oftentimes find myself wondering why Chet
was taken and I left He was so much better and
nobler, so much better fitted to hold out the bread
and water of life to a thirsty, famishing people."
" Humility is becoming to ns all, my son, but to
me there was no difference in my boys, though who!
ly unlike in many respects. And perhaps you could
1 not do the work the Lord has for him in heaven, even
I as he might have failed in the work you are doing
J here."
I It may be; I never thought of it just in that
I way. Has it not been an unusual time sinco we
; heard from Nellie?"
" Yes, nearly two months; I do hope we may Lear
soon. When she comes back we ought to have her
here with ns. Maxio, you need some young person
in the house. Mason and I are very poor cheer for a
! boy."
The broad-shouldered, athletic young divine laugh-
ed a merry, contagious laugh. " Why, mother, a M
1 low don't need any better company than yourself.
) You are worth a bouse full of dudes and butterflies."
" Hut Nellie is not a butterfly."
II Ob, no, no; I assure you I did not refer to ber.
8he is the dearest, best sister ever a fellow had.
What a fine, happy couplo she and Chet made, and
how bravely she bora bis death."
" Ye, she could be little dearer to ms if she were
my own child; but Msxie-" here she hesitated, and
finally rising, went around to his side and laid her
hand tenderly on his shoulder--Maxle, yoo ought
to find such a woman as Nellie and bring her hero to
bo mistress of the manse. You know I am no longer
what I onco was, and can not do the honors of your
house as I did of your father's, Besides, I'd like to
see you settled cro I go hence."
M Mother" his voice was full of pain, and rising,
ho led her to a seat by the window, and dropped on
an ottoman at her feet " Mother, it hurts me to hear
you speak thus of leaving me. Barely God will not
take all my friends from me so soon. Do you not
feel well?"
" I am feeling very well, foolish boy, and had no
thought of alarming you. I only meant I wish you
could find some ono you could care for as your broth
er did for Nellie."
" Perhaps I may," ho answered, absently, his
glance following the (light of a snow bird outside.
Tho persons hero introduced aro the mother and
brother of Chester Dwight, tho man of whom Nellie
Swinton so often sjioke to Dab Leslie and her moth
or. Max's father had been pastor here More him ;
but when he, too, was taken away, tho call came to
the younger, and the handsome, genial young domlolo
was the pride of his church. It was tho Sabbath of
Dab's first apjx'aranco at church in tho village that
Dev. Max, as he was familiarly csI1h, stopping to ex
change greetings with Madame. Laltue, asked-
" And who is that with Miss Winwuod, a now stu
dent?" " Yes, let me introduce you, she will bo pleased to
know you."
A moment later, Mrs. D wight, chancing to glance
that way, saw her clerical son bowing to a most be
witching toilet-ths face sho could not srt. At din
ner she asked him who it was.
" A new student at the villa, a Miss Ixslle, and
altogether tho handsomest girl I ever met. Hho is a
mere child, natural and sweet as a pansy, at least
something in face or toilet suggested my favorlto
flower."
That was tho beginning, and soon Maxwell D wight
became a frequent caller at the Villa Lallan. Boon
bo aaked Madame 's permission to adlres llab per
sonally. It was just after tho conversation noted
above with his mother, and Max was sanguine lo this
his first real love affair. Ho and Madame bad a long
talk, in which sho told him ail sho knew of tho girl's
history; but what ho heard only sad to Intensify
his regal d.
- If her friend Is willing, I shall try and Cod her
mother's people, when tho vacation gives mo moro
time," Madams said. Hho had not mentioned Har
old's name, as loth ho and Dab bad requested her to
not do so.