The Broken Halo (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1913. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIX STILL WATERS AS calm succeeds storm, in nature, so in life, a time of peaceful quiet often follows hours of mental stress and strain. The sunshine of unclouded happiness, illumines each opening day; birds of bright promise sing; the bloom and blossom of fulfilled hopes, make fair and fragrant life's highway. The weeks succeeding Margaret's stormy visit were happy, though uneventful, to Dick and his Little White Lady; uneventful, except for the ever-increasing interest of his work, which daily became a more direct preparation for the greater things to be accomplished in the future. The news of Margaret's tragic bereavement, though gently broken by Dick on the following morning, came as a great shock and grief to Mrs. Herriot, emphasized by the fact that Margaret had been with her at the very time of the fatal accident. Her wish to go to Margaret in her trouble was firmly overruled by Dick, who well knew that the intense power of sympathy--sympathy in its true meaning, "a feeling-with"--which was so strongly hers, wore out that failing heart more quickly than aught else. Constant letters passed between them, however; and, though they were not shown to Dick, he was often given information as to how matters went with Margaret. "They will close the Hall and go abroad, probably to Italy, for the winter," said Mrs. Herriot one evening, looking up from a letter of many sheets which had arrived by the late post; "Margaret and her mother together. I think it is a good plan, though I wish poor Mrs. Cray were a more cheerful companion for Margaret. It is so sad--a mother and daughter both widowed within the year. In the spring they will return, and Margaret writes quite hopefully of taking up life again in the old home of her childhood. It will be lovely there in spring and early ...