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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1889)
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.