NEW SERIAL. “UNDYING MUSIC.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17030, 2 May 1923, Page 10

NEW SERIAL. “UNDYING MUSIC.”

(By L. G. MOBERLY.)

CH APTER XIII. —Con tiniicd. “ And liis thoughts what he was because after all a man is what he thmlvs—mean infinitely more to the world than any invention he discover■d. I am beginning to see the truth of this more and more plainly; and don t you see, too, dear, that the better you are living in the wav which was taught by your brother, 'through lu.s personality, the better you are Keeping that personality alive, and showing to the whole world the beauty of his thought and life. I am not putting It clearly, but I think you will understand. ’’ I believe I do understand, somewhere for away at the back of my mind, and 1 know you are right. It wasn't .just his life that mattered so much it was the thought he left behind him alter his life had gone on. And wo have to hand on his thoughts and spread them over the world.” ” His thoughts of sacrifice, of unseJfish "ess, of quiet heroism-all for the sake oi one woman who was worth fairiv'ir r said , «»«tly. '‘One “ Useless?” Gladys put a hand on the other’s shoulder and looked deep nto her steady eyes. “Once upon a time 1 used to wonder- you will forgive me now ton saying this—but om: L used, to ,v-onder why a life like Francis s life, lull of promise, of brilrance, of usefulness to mankind, should rave been sacrificed for ” For * superfluous spinster whose j rte was no very special good to any. >ody, Hester finished the girl’s sen- : “Ah, hut I don’t feel that now!” dladys cried eagerly. “It was only :nv first impulsive thought when it seemed so terrible that Francis’s great work should have been lost, and when ill the universe was falling about me lecause be yvas gone. I can sec now—-.-er.v dimly- but still I can see—that con and 1 and all of us who were inrueneed by him can show to the world iometliing of him that was greater than my discovery.” * <What are you going to do with rout- own life?*’ Hester asked presents'- ‘ 1 ani ff°i n J£ to work and work and work.” the girl answered. “ Work in every way I can. I am not going to allow life to beat me. Francis used lo say that sometimes- 4 never be , beaten by life. Conquer it all along the line.’ ” ‘J r wa nt to say again what 1 said nist now ! ’ Hester exclaimed, looking ;i(. Gladys with warm admiration. ‘‘Yon yourself are one of the best memorials your brother could have. You are still sounding the undying music which he began to send out into the world. His works do follow him.” On a sunshiny June day. two months alter this conversation. Gladys—a Gladys with very misty eves and a very tremulous smile -laid Hester's son in the arms of the gentle old Rector, and rather shakilv nave the hubv his nan l *' ‘‘Francis Brian.” the old man repeated after her. and a long ray of sunlight streaming ibrough the west window made a halo around the head of the newly born. baptised babe. Gladys’s mind, lost for a moment in dreams, became conscious ol the* words “ and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant until his life’s end.” ”11 was clear of you lo call him Francis,” the girl said to Hester, when, after the service, the two women sat together in Mrs Martindalo’s special sitting-room. “ I couldn’t have called him anything else."’ Hester’s hand softly touched the downy head that lay upon her knee. ”My son is going to carry on the mes--ago.” “The message?” Gladys looked across the sleeping babe to his mother’s peaceful face. “ The message which your brother’s death is to teach the world, the message of sacrifice. of unselfishness, of heroism, of Jove for humanity. My son will carry it on. That is why he | is here. He will carry on the message.” CHAPTER XIV. A XE W D El’ AK TcR K. When Gladys opened and read the ietcr which lay beside her plate on •> sunshiny morning in September, her first feeling was one of almost overwhelming relief. Since her return from { the christening, the weeks she had j spent in town had dragged with weari- | some slowness, and although she had j determinedly thrust the past away from her and tried valiantly to take up her life and fill it with interests and work, she felt very near the end of her tether on this September morning—and the letter she held in her hand offered her a way out, a most unexpected way Even the dear familiar rooms in which she and her brother had been so happy had lost their charm, because they were haunted for her now by memories of Philip. Philip had belonged so completely to their life in the old house, Philip had been her friend for »o long, her friend before the days when le had turned into her lover. And now Philip haul gone entirely out of her life, and each week the house was becoming more and more unbearable. Beyond a short note from Philip announcing his engagement to Ma.isie Chalmers, she had heard nothing from him. but Hester’s last leter had mentioned that the wedding was to take place almost immediately and that Maisie was giving up her cottage and leaving the place; and Maisie herself had written briefly saying she hoped that some day she and Gladys might meet- in town. And that last, letter had made Gladys laugh, a little sarcastic laugh not good to hear from any girl’s lips. But the letter she held in her mnd now gave her a strange sense of renewed courage, and she read it through thankfully for the second time: (To be continued*.