|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 104
Thus Balder Helwyse, in tones agreeably vigorous, though grave and
low.
"Yes--yes; and perhaps, dear Balder, the denial of this one great boon
may save her from much indefinite disquiet; and certainly, as you say,
from the great danger of disappointment and its consequences.
Yes,--and you may still keep her lamp alight, with a more lasting than
Promethean fire!--But how is it with you, dear boy?"
"Let none who love me pray for my temporal prosperity," returns
Helwyse, turning his strong, dark gaze on the other's aged eyes. "I
have met with many worshippers of false gods, but none the germs of
whose sin I found not in myself. The _I_ to whom was confided this
excellent instrument of faculties and senses is a poor, weak, selfish
creature, who fancied his gifts argued the possession of the very
merits whose lack they prove. God, in His infinite mercy, deals
sternly with me; and I know how to thank Him!"--
Mr. MacGentle does not reply in words; but a grave smile glimmers in
his faded eyes, and, smiling, he slowly shakes his venerable head.
One more brief glimpse, and then we are done.--
A pleasant parlor of southern aspect, looking through a deep
bay-window over a spacious garden. Here sits a stalwart gentleman of
middle age, with a little boy and girl on either knee, who play
bo-peep with his wide-spreading yellow beard. How they all laugh! and
what a pleasant laugh has the stalwart, dark-eyed gentleman,--so
deep-toned and yet so boyish! But presently all three pause to take
breath.
"Thor," then says the gentleman, "whose portrait did I tell you that
was?" And he points to an oil-painting hanging over the piano.
"Grandpapa MacGentle, papa!"
"What did he do for all of us?"
As Master Thor hesitates a moment, the little golden-haired lady
breaks in,--"_I_ know, papa! He made uth rich, and gave uth our
houthe, and he thaw me when I wath a wee, wee baby, and then he--he--"
"He went to Heaven, papa!" says Thor, recovering himself.
Hereupon there was a silence, because the two children, glancing up in
their father's face, saw that it was grave and thoughtful.
But suddenly the little girl pricks up her small ears, and scrambles
to the carpet, and sets off for the door at full speed, without a
word. Thor is close behind, but just too late to be first in opening
the door.
"Mamma! mamma!"
And Balder Helwyse springs up, and as she enters with the rejoicing
children at each hand, he meets her with the thrilling smile which, in
this world, she will never see!
THE END.
Cambridge: Electrotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Idolatry, by Julian Hawthorne
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IDOLATRY ***
***** This file should be named 16283-8.txt or 16283-8.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/2/8/16283/
Produced by Wright American Fiction, J.N. Goslee and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|