The Following of the Star: A RomanceBarclay, Florence L. (Florence Louisa)
General
The Following of the Star: A Romance
Barclay, Florence L. (Florence Louisa)
Clergy -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Marriage -- Fiction; Missionaries -- Fiction
"The King of Love," murmured David. "The King of Love--my Shepherd is.
Can you--say it?"
Then, controlling her voice for David's sake, Diana repeated, softly:
"The King of Love, my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack, if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
"In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff, my comfort still,
Thy Cross before, to guide me.
"And so, through all the length of days,
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise,
Within Thy house forever."
"Forever!" said David. "Forever! It is not death, but life--everlasting
life! This is life eternal--to know Him."
After that he lay very still. He seemed sinking gently into
unconsciousness. She could hardly hear him breathing.
Suddenly he said: "I don't know what it is! It seems to come from your
arms, and the pillow--you did put your hand on the pillow, didn't you,
Diana?--I feel so rested; and I feel a thing I haven't felt for months.
I feel sleepy. Am I going to sleep?"
"Yes, darling," she answered, bravely. "You are going to sleep."
"Don't let's say 'Good-bye,'" whispered David. "Let's say 'Good-night.'"
For a moment Diana could not speak. Her tears fell silently. She prayed
he might not feel the heaving of her breast.
Then the utter tenderness of her love for him came to the rescue of her
breaking heart.
"Good-night, David," said Diana, calmly.
He did not answer. She feared her response had been made too late.
Her arms tightened around him.
"Good-night--good-night, my Boy, my own!"
"Oh--good-night, my wife," said David. "I thought I was slipping down
into the long grasses in the jungle. They ought to cut them. I wish you
could see my oleanders."
Then he turned in her arms, moving his head restlessly to and fro
against her breast, like a very tired little child seeking the softest
place on its pillow; then settled down, with a sigh of complete content.
Thus David fell asleep.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE BUNDLE OF MYRRH
"'If he sleep, he shall do well,'" quoted the doctor, quietly. "Nothing
but this could give him a chance of pulling through."
Diana looked up, dazed.
Sir Deryck was bending over her, scrutinizing closely, in the dim light,
the quiet face upon her breast.
"Is he alive?" she whispered.
The doctor's fingers had found David's pulse.
"Alive? Why, yes," he said; "and better than merely alive. He has fallen
into a natural sleep. His pulse is steadying and strengthening every
moment. If he can but sleep on like this for a couple of hours, we shall
be able to give him nourishment when he wakes. Don't move! I can do what
has to be done, without disturbing him.... So! that will do. Now tell
me. Can you remain as you are for another hour or two?"
"All night, if necessary," she whispered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account