Bradford Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Haverhill, MA)

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NINETEEN THREE 97 they are speaking of me, and wondering whether I am happy. Happy? Yes, I have been very happy in the midst of all this sorrow. The night of Mrs. Errington's reception-oh, how far away it seems. Raynor-the way he looked at me-his voice-it all comes over me tonight. Three years! I wonder if I have changed. She. shivered slightly and then rose from the steps. It was dark and the air was cool after the heat of the day. The mountains were black and sombre. She stood gazing into their depths for a moment and then turned to enter the house. CJ Oh, Miss Gracia, here is a letter for you. The mail has just arrived from Bogota! called the peon, and Grace turned eagerly to receive the welcome missive. ff From Raynor! she exclaimed. Ahl it has come like a message of cheer and courage, at a time when I needed it most. She hastily tore open the envelope and read it through. Come home, it said. I have waited three long years, and if you do n't return now I shall come after you. I am in earnest, dear, I shall comef' The letter dropped from her fingers, and she buried her head in her hands and sobbed. He cares, he cares, even now! Oh, I am so happy, so happy. And it shall be as he wishes. I will go. I believe I have accomplished much since I have been here. The doctors have told me I have done more good'than I, myself, can realize, and I know the lepers love me, but I believe I have done my duty and I am going home. Going home -how sweet it sounds. When? In a month? a week? tomorrow? Yes, it shall be tomorrow. I can wait no longer-tomorrow. A step sounded on the veranda. Miss Gracial Miss Gracia! There is a courier here. He would speak with you. Will you admit him? Yes, Francisco, just a moment-there-I am ready, you may bid him enter. The courier, a fine looking Spaniard, entered and bowed respectfully. Miss Gracia, will you come at once to Purifacto? Lionel is dying, and he begs that you will help him to enter into your heaven. I-Ie will talk of

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96 THE CHIMES Oh, Grace ! You know I care-and yet that is not the word to use. I care so muoh I cannot begin to tell you how I feel about it, but my proof that I 'care,' as you call it, is that you shall never go alone. Give up the idea, Grace, and make me happy. Say you will. Her eyes filled with tears. No, we will talk no more of the matter tonight, but I am determined, and I must tell you now that you cannot think of going with me. It would be impossible for me to accomplish the work I am undertaking and yet be with you. Tlren, too, what would the world say? You must see it is quite impossible. I shall be gone three or four years, but when I come back, then if you still feel the same-perhaps-but here we are at the door. I am very tiredl Good-night, and I appreciate your kindness far more than you can realize. Good-night, he murmured, as he lifted her .fingers to his lips and kissed them. 'tGood-night, and may heaven guard you. The sun had just dropped down behind the topmost peak of the Molino mountain range. It was the twilight hour and the streets were deserted. Occasionally someone came out of a house and loitered about the door for a few minutes, but for the most part no signs of life were visible. The little town of Popayan was quiet after its day's Work. The heat of the noon-time was over and the earth was reviving in the evening shadows. The door of one of the low houses opened and a girl came out upon the veranda. Her dark hair caught for a second the last dying radiance of the sun, and her face, lighted by the reflection from the summer sky, was very beautiful. Seating herself on the steps, she leaned back against the pillar of the veranda and looked across at the wood-covered mountains opposite her. Her hands lay idly in her lap and her whole attitude showed complete fatigue. Three years ago tonight, she mused, I was leaving New York for South America. How far away that time seems. Three years! No, three hundred years. And yet tonight I can seem to hear their voices, see them and mingle with them as of old, the loved ones at home. They are rising from the table and gathering before the open tire, Uncle and Aunt and the children. Possibly

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95 THE CHIIVIES nothing else and he will see no one. He entreated some one to get a message to you, and I came myself. But it is dark, and if you do not care to go I will tell him you cannot come? No, I will gladly go. My horse quickly E Let us be off at once. The ride was a dangerous one after dark, but at last the little settlement was reached and Grace hurriedly dismounted. This was the leper village. Here were the outcasts from the neighboring places-the suffering, dying lepers. Here it was that she came day after day, and worked and prayed among them. Tonight she went straight to a little, rude hut and softly opened the door. Lying on a pallet of straw was the dying man. She saw at a glance that he was failing fast. Kneeling by his side she took his head in her lap and gently called his name. ' 'PH Lionel, Lionel, I am here, what can I do for you. she whispered. For a minute there was no answer. His sightless eyes were closed. She bent over him and listened. He was trying to speak: You have come-I knew you would-will you tell me once more the story how I-Ie cleanseth all His children. So, softly and slowly, she told him of the great love her .Redeemer had for the sick, how, when he was here upon the earth, he had laid his hands upon the lepersg and lo, their disease left them at once and they were made clean. She told him of the life awaiting him, of the Christ that had died for him, and when she had ended she bent again over the dying form. What change had taken place? The awful disease that had worked such havoc had ceased its terrible ravages. A new look of peace rested upon his face. She slowly rose and covered the motionless figure with her own wrap, then silently left the hut and mounted her horse. The courier was awaiting her. Together they rode back through the night and neither spoke. f'Death, it was merciful, she thought, it came as a friend and not as a foe. She slowly climbed the stairs to bed. It was almost time for the first grey streaks of dawn to appear from behind the mountains. -