Vena cava

“ You'll forget what sadness is. You will go with us, won't you, dear?"
"Oh, how I would love to! Indeed I will!" exclaimed Venna, brightening. "God is good after all. He always finds us a way."
"Of course He's good, Venna, and gives us all Good. It is only our foolish mortal minds that imagine evil."
Venna did not understand what Anna meant, but she thanked God in her heart for sending her friend and with her the sunshine.
CHAPTER VI. Under the influence of spring, sunshine and flowers, our souls give birth to new thoughts, new ambitions.
The little village store in Ashfield was buzzing. ”

“ Hadly is my name," said Venna with simple dignity. "And yours?" she asked as they followed her upstairs.
"My name is Hallock. My companion is Brother Johnson," returned the older one.
Venna led them to the open door of a large airy room, the guest room, furnished daintily in blue and white.
The young men peered in. "Surely not for us?" said the younger. "We wouldn't like to disturb such daintiness."
"Go right in and make yourself at home. Daintiness is always refreshing when one is tired. I will give you just ten minutes to reappear!" and with her most winning smile, she left them. ”

“ Never did she play better. Her music expressed her mixed feelings—now sad, now questioning, now joyously triumphant. Brother Hallock watched her with a wrapt expression, entirely lost to his surroundings.
At last her notes died away in a gentle trembling pianissimo. No one spoke as she laid down her violin. For a few moments each one enjoyed the spell of her genius.
Venna seated herself by the window and, drawing the shade aside, looked out. Suddenly she started. Coming down the hill, she saw a large group of about forty villagers, led by Mr. Allworth and Miss Harriet. ”

“ Soffy, glancing at Venna, who was drinking in the beauty of the scene with a rapt expression. "How beautiful she is!"
"If human hearts were only as peaceful as nature!" remarked Venna quietly.
"You forget, Mrs. Hadly. To-night is wonderfully serene, to-morrow may bring a storm that will transform nature into wildness."
"That is very true," returned Venna. "After all, there is a great analogy between the spiritual and the material. I can see how the Christian Scientists can stretch the point and believe one is but the expression of the other. I wish I could accept all their doctrines. ”

“ I'd hoped that in a few years—"
"We are not human," Veena said gently. "And our life span is four hundred of your years."
For the first time, he noticed the faint malformation of her ears, the subtle differences in facial bone structure. He glanced past her, saw Lang and Merl waiting in the doorway.
"It will mean months of study," she said. "You have so much to unlearn, to understand. They may reject you, sacrifice you. That will not matter. What does matter is your impact on their culture, what it will mean a thousand generations hence." ”

“ Philip Hexton strode up the next moment, nodded shortly to the men, stepped into the crowded cage, and giving the signal, the stout iron-framed contrivance began rapidly to descend, and the fresh comer, who was still very new at these descents, felt that strange sensation as the cage rushed down, just as if the whole of the internal organs had burst out laughing at the fun they were going to have of trying to frighten their owner’s head.
It is not a pleasant sensation, that of a descent into a coal-pit. ”

“ When they were of such quality as to figure fairly on the table, Benito shot them; and, in the interest of all, his sister raised no objection; but if he came across any gray or yellow herons, or red or white ibises, which haunt the sides, he spared them through love for Minha. One single species of grebe, which is uneatable, found no grace in the eyes of the young merchant; this was the “caiarara,” as quick to dive as to swim or fly; a bird with a disagreeable cry, but whose down bears a high price in the different markets of the Amazonian basin. ”

“ But if you like country people, you'll meet all your heart can desire. As soon as they know you've settled, and Bessie will quickly report—all the ladies in the village will call, so prepare for a siege!"
"Will they?" asked Venna, smiling. "Mrs. Halloway and I must be prepared."
"No preparation necessary," replied Mr. Soffy, laughing. "They would rather take you unaware, and if anyone calls when you're washing, they would like nothing better than to come in the back way, seating themselves in the kitchen with a 'Never mind, my dear, go right on. ”

“ Venna's interest pleased them and they never tired of her constant queries.
"You have great patience," said Venna, smiling.
"It takes no patience to answer questions," returned Brother Hallock. "The patience is required when no one is interested enough to ask them."
The third day brought Mr. and Mrs. Halloway home. Venna's explanations about the Mormons quite satisfied them.
"Of course, you were right, dear," said Anna in her big-hearted way. "The very idea of their being treated so! Why, we met a number of Mormons when we were West. They are very fine people, indeed. ”

“ A short, stout woman entered the room and held out a friendly hand to Venna as she came forward.
"I'm so glad to meet you, dear Mrs. Hadly," she said in a quiet, pleasant voice. "Brother Hallock wrote me that you might like to have one of our faith call upon you. I hope I'm not intruding?"
"No, indeed," returned Venna, feeling a quickening influence from this bright, motherly person.
"I'm Sister Maddon. My husband is president of the —— Company, so we have to live East now. I miss the West so much, but I'm thankful we have a conference of our people here. ”

“ The servants are so delighted you're coming. They're hustling all day to make the home fit to receive their queen!"
When they reached the Fifth Avenue home, Venna entered with a strange, trembling fear. A new life was before her—a happy life, but one of sacrifice—and sacrifice was a new experience!
As they entered the door, the fragrance of roses greeted her. Everywhere flowers! Hadly had spared no expense to have the home filled with nature's best. ”

“ Glenarvan could fancy the caimans’ teeth were tearing it up from the soil; for as he and his companions held on, each clinging firmly to the other, they felt the towering OMBU give way, and the next minute it fell right over with a terrible hissing noise, as the flaming branches touched the foaming water.
It was the work of an instant. Already the water-spout had passed, to carry on its destructive work elsewhere. It seemed to empty the lake in its passage, by continually drawing up the water into itself.
The OMBU now began to drift rapidly along, impelled by wind and current. ”

“ It was then with a feeling of relief that was shared by both the ladies, that after a few miles’ run Henry Vine stood up in the bows, and, keeping a sharp look out for certain rocks, shouted his orders to Leslie as to the steering of the boat, and finally, as they neared the frowning cliffs, suddenly lowered the sail and took up the oars.
They were abreast of a large cave where the swift grey-winged pigeons flew in and out over the swelling waves which seemed to glide slowly on and on, to rush rapidly after the birds and disappear in the gloom beneath the arch. ”

“ On my return to the village I had a most interesting interview with these ex-cannibals, one old and two middle-aged men, thanks to Masirewa, my interpreter. He first asked them how they liked human flesh, and they all shouted “Venaka, venaka!” (good) . Like the natives of New Guinea, they said it was far better than pig; they also declared that the legs, arms and palms of the hands were the greatest delicacies, and that women and children tasted best. The brains and eyes were especially good. They would never eat a man who had died a natural death. They had eaten white man ”

“ Anna smiled her approval at this remark and held out her chubby hand to be kissed.
"You're right," returned Venna, kissing the tiny fingers. "She's a little angel—all babes are. It's a repulsive thought to connect them with the sins of this world."
"Then it won't be hard for you to accept our doctrine of pre-existence," said Brother Hallock. "It is a beautiful revelation, given to us, I think, to inspire us to live up to our origin. We know that we are the spirit children of our heavenly Father and that we come to this world fresh from His loving care. ”

“ Venna was reading the papers with intense interest when Brother Hallock called.
She had come to look for his frequent calls as a necessity. At last love had come into her life and Brother Hallock was her greatest joy. Together they constantly planned for the Church and Red Cross work.
"So it has come at last!" said Venna seriously.
"Yes, at last! America has tried to keep out of it; but we, too, must bear our share of the world's burden. I intend to do my part. Venna, I have news for you. ”

“ Meanwhile Venna's ten girls were happy and worshipful in Venna's presence. The village wondered that the mothers seemed pleased, too. Bessie was a constant visitor with the city people and sharp as she was to detect village sentiment, she carefully kept all rumors from Venna, and gave her opinion airily in the store as to what "old fogies wished young people to be."
Ashfield was really enjoying itself. Unless you have lived in a little place like that, you cannot appreciate the pleasure the people derive from "some one new to talk about." ”

“ Miss Hastings—Venna—may I call you Venna? because you have never feared a storm in the past is not to say you never will. Won't you give me the privilege of sheltering you from all the storms of the future? Venna, I love you. Not with the half love of a youth, but with the strong love of a matured manhood that knows the world and can therefore appreciate a girl like you the more. ”

“ Almost immediately, the orifice used to gain access to the den was flung open; in bounded Wagram and Marengo, and after them appeared Clovy.
“Here I am, boss!” cried the poor fellow, “unless, maybe, it's not myself! For I really don't know what's become of me!”
“That's exactly how we feel, too!” replied the boss, as he stretched out his hand to him.
“And our Fair Rambler?” inquired Cornelia tremblingly.
“The Fair Rambler?” answered Clovy. “Why, those gentlemen outside ferreted it out under the snow; they yoked themselves to it like so many heads of cattle and brought it here to this village.” ”

“ She sat in her luxurious easy chair by the window and was soon absorbed in thoughts quite new and interesting to her ever receptive mind.
Meantime her aunt downstairs was undergoing quite a shock.
A few minutes after Venna retired, her cousin Luella Allen called.
She was a tall, thin spinster who had never married because the love of her early youth had died. Have you ever met that kind, reader? I mean the one who constantly reminds you of by-gone sorrows with a sort of weepy allegiance to the past which is pious in the extreme and forbids the thought of too much joyousness in the present. ”

“ As they entered the room where her father lay, Venna stood still and gazed with horror at what she saw. Was this her own beloved Daddy? There upon the couch lay a man with the pallor of death making more ghastly the two awful gashes on cheek and forehead. ”

“ How could she have withstood the force of such a sea? Would not her torn and mutilated body have been carried out by the retreating waters? Would not the currents have swept her past the rocky causeway, right up to Clam-shell Cave?
“Helena! Helena!”
This name was persistently shouted through the hubbub of wind and wave, but there was no answer.
“No! no! she cannot be in the cave!” replied the brothers in despair.
“She is there!” persisted Oliver Sinclair.
And he pointed to a piece of ribbon which a retreating wave had cast on the steps of the rock. ”

“ He paused for a moment, but Venna made no remark. She was earnestly listening to his every word.
"Now, my dear," he continued more confidently, "you have, of course, always been sheltered so by your father, that you are ignorant of life in many respects. Please don't think your husband a monstrosity. I'm no better than the next man—no worse, either. I've lived in the world, seen all sides of it, too, but that is why I am all the more able to appreciate a girl like you—by contrast, you know, dear." ”

“ Soffy eyed Venna keenly as if to read her very soul.
"Are you a Christian Scientist?" he asked.
"Not exactly," replied Venna. "Mrs. Halloway is trying to make me one. I live by many of their principles. There is so much beauty in some of their ideas. But I must believe in the Personality of God. I can't see how they do away with it. When Stephen was being stoned to death, the heavens opened before him, and he saw the Christ sitting on the right hand of God. Now, if we believe in the inspiration of the Bible, how can we accept this vision without the belief in God's personality? ”

“ Venna patted the child's head.
"She'll be well taken care of—by the Red Cross."
"Will she?" asked the old woman eagerly. "That's a piece of comfort to know."
Venna felt she was lingering too long.
"I must be back to Noyon at a stated time, so I must not stay as long as I would like to," she said. "Come, tell me some things you need. You surely need something?"
"Everything," replied the woman hopelessly. "We need windows—it's so cold—every one is broken."
Venna's heart ached. Even her money could not buy glass here! ”