The Hindered Hand

f A Seeker

its coming is so insistent; the contest for supremacy, raging everywhere, must be fought out among so many souls of power-these accumulated considerations so operate that it is given unto but a few of those who come upon the earth to obtain a look of recognition from the universal eye; and fewer still are t

give up the contest with a sigh and retire, as it were, to the shade of the trees and with more or less of yearning await the coming of the deeper shades of the evening eternal. Others, fully co

well shaped hands were lying one upon the other, resting on the back of an open book which was in her lap, face downward. Slowly she rocked backward and forward, tapping first one foot and then the

making travel along the elected course as agreeable as possible. The door to her room opened and there entered a young man of medium height with delicate, almost feminine features. H

' my boy," said Mrs. Seabri

es halted him. Instead of the determined stand which he had resolved to take, in the presenc

irectly in the eyes. She wanted him to see

l go, mother," said he. "Be

ting a look of inquir

ayer that you taught me in my childhood-days when you were not this way. Lead me back t

ntimental turn of her son's mind, but she b

y me down

n to sleep," repe

y soul to keep," h

rd my soul to

before I wake,"

e before I wake

y soul to take," c

oul to take," the son

oul away. When I awake from this sleep into which your influence as a m

ut of a burning heart: "Oh, mother! May your soul meet God. As

on of your mother,

r, possessed nothing in common with his own soul. In spite of the manner of his leaving, Mrs.

on the bed, lay the beautiful young woman whom we first saw endeavoring to attract the attention of the Negro porter to a note. Her hair lay wildly about her pretty brow, there

began to sob violently. The mother put her arms around the young

ou can't see how bright a future I hav

head in rejection of all t

e her as often as

oman, stamping her foot upon the floor,

ture I will not interfere with y

eck. Between sobs she said, "Mother, mother, do with me what you will, just so you allow me to be

gently released herself from her daughter'

revealed in shaping the course of human society," said she. Going to her wi

bered as long as

f infamy. Those who offer too strange a p