CHAPTER XXXI.
"Once let friendship be given that is born of God, nor time nor circumstance can change it to a lessening; it must be mutual growth, increasing trust, widening faith, enduring patience, forgiving love, unselfish ambition and an affection built before the Throne, which will bear the test of time and trial."
--_Allen Throckmorton._
"It seems to me, Grace, you have been touching up your complexion withsome of the same paint as that in your roses," exclaimed Kate,playfully, as she inspected Grace rather critically.
"Really, Kate, you must be more careful, or I shall add the sin ofvanity to my other faults," answered Grace, looking out of the windowand smiling pleasantly, with the least touch of absent mindedness in hermanner.
"No danger of that, you dear old Gracious, but if you should saysecretiveness, I might be willing to stop," said Kate, boldly, yethardly daring to look toward the window.
Grace did not answer, but continued looking out of the window forseveral minutes. "What makes you say that, Kate?" she asked at last,turning around soberly, while the rosy flush crept up to her temples andback of her ears.
"Oh, I don't know, Gracious, only it seems to me you are like a purewhite lily bell, and I want to creep into your heart and live in itsfragrance, but--" She stopped abruptly. It seemed as though the almostimperceptible veil of reserve was falling lower than ever.
Oh, why could she not gain Grace's confidence? These thoughts passedrapidly through her mind while she stood as if transfixed, waiting forGrace to break the interminable silence. If she had only known it, Gracewas nearer to her at that moment than ever before, but with her eyescast down, she saw not the yearning look on the face of her friend.
Grace spoke at last:
"But what, Kate?" she asked, taking up Kate's words where they haddropped.
"But the petals will not open, and I am left out," finished Kate,determined to be frank.
Grace looked out of the window again, and was about to reply, when a rapat the door startled them both. It was a boy with a note. "Miss GraceHall?" he said, handing it to her.
Grace looked at the letter and then at the boy inquiringly. "I am towait for an answer," he said.
"Oh," she murmured, in a dazed way, and hastened to find pen and paperfor reply.
"More mystery! I declare, it is getting interesting," thought Kate,recovering herself, as she furtively watched the rosy face of Grace.
"Any answer?" asked the boy as he took the note.
"No." The door was shut and Grace sat down beside the picture she hadbeen working upon, but presently arose and began pacing the room. Katelooked up at her as she passed, but said nothing. She could see thatsome deep thought was struggling for utterance, and wondered much.
After a few moments Grace stopped beside her. "I wish I might speakfreely to you, Kathie, but--" she hesitated, "but it has never beennatural for me to be confidential, and--"
She began her promenade again, but presently came back, and drawing herchair close up to Kate, told her the whole story, with long pauses andmuch hesitating speech.
"And now he is in the city; he--wants an answer. He has invited meto--ride with him--to-morrow."
"Surely, you will not refuse him that privilege?" cried the impetuousKate, with visions of a romance unfolding in thrilling chapters beforeher very eyes.
"No, of course not," in a low tone, "but how shall I answer him?" Thelast was scarcely audible. It seemed almost as though she spoke toherself. With her forefinger she idly traced some hieroglyphics on herlap.
"What says your heart, my Lilybell?" asked Kate, softly, as she caressedthe hand that was at liberty.
"'The prisoned bird doth ofttimes sing, but never at the bidding of itsjailer,'" was the low reply, with a faint smile, but tearful eyes.
"Poor Lilybell; she can not bloom before her time. I can wait for her toopen now, for I am close to her throbbing heart. Wait, dear Grace. Letus sit silently and ask the Father for guidance."
Sweet and solemn moment, when with one accord, they waited for theSpirit to pour out the full vials of love and wisdom. It was a precioustime of sweet communion, of giving and receiving the best, aconsecration of self to better efforts, higher aims, holier living; abaptism of strength and peace and lovely thoughts.
Grace had entered upon a new epoch. The past, with its longings andstruggles, its loneliness and bitterness, was already fading into thebackground of memory like some dark, ill-favored picture, and in itsplace came the present, with its balmy atmosphere and dainty colorings,promising joy and peace. The morning looked fair. How would be the noonand eventide?
Ah, no questioning when you ask the Father's guidance! Have you notasked, dear heart?
Wait till the answer comes. Wait till the soundless message is deliveredinto your heart's safe keeping....
The last beams of the setting sun came through the window and bathedthem in its red-gold glory. In her exalted mood, it seemed to Kate likea heavenly vision. She saw Grace glorified with a divine radiance,baptized with a new peace. White-winged angels hovered near, like purethoughts personified. Every glinting sunbeam seemed a golden shaft oflove.
The glory paled into a mellow twilight. The enchanting picture faded,but the essence of its beauty changed into a heart-melody of softenedsacred joy. What but music could speak in this hallowed moment?
Kate's very soul would utter itself. She went to the piano as in adream. Soft, low notes, faint and sweet, breathed of tender questioningsand tremulous doubts; then a higher, more triumphant strain of victoryswelled the notes that lingered but a moment, ere a tone of sadness andregret struck the keys, whispering of sacred duty and solemnresponsibility.... Again the music changed. Now peace and joy thrilledand rippled through the melodious chords....
Dearer than ever was the friendship thus cemented. They had been caughtup to heaven, as it were, and that which had been bound on earth was nowbound in heaven.
"Mystical more than magical, is the communing of soul with soul, bothlooking heavenward. Here, properly, soul first speaks with soul; foronly in looking heavenward, take it in what sense you may, not lookingearthward, does what we can call union, mutual love, society, begin tobe possible."
They sat till late into the night, discussing and considering all phasesof life and its problems.
Kate read Mrs. Hayden's letter, which in the agitation and excitement ofthe first part of the evening she had quite forgotten. Because of theirdeep earnestness they were well prepared to catch the healing mood. Thisexperience seemed indeed the shower that most opened the blossom ofunderstanding, and ere they slept, each had taken some poor sufferingmortal into her care as a patient. The blessings they had received werealready being passed to the waiting neighbor.
It is the deep, unselfish God-love that takes the world in its embrace.To perceive, feel, live the divine Love, is to have broken the old shellof selfishness, when we may begin to send the tender rootlets of beinginto the ready soil of the universe.