Bright Arrows

by Grace Livingston Hill

  He looked into the sweet earnest eyes of the girl as she eagerly drank in his words, and the voice of his heart became a prayer, as he went on to speak.

  "That is the story very briefly, and perhaps rather crudely told, but believe me it is true. When we have more time, perhaps you will let me tell you how I came to experience these truths in my own life, and to know that they are true, as little by little I went on to study God's Word and yield myself to Him in prayer.

  "God will talk with you through prayer, you know, and through the reading of His Book, and you will get to know Him so that you will trust your life utterly to Him and be willing to die to self and desires of the flesh. That might sound like a dismal life. It would be to unbelievers, but as you go on to know Him, you find out that the joy of knowing Christ and being one with Him far outweighs any sacrifice. I have found it the happiest life that can be lived. Just go to Him and tell Him you accept what He has done and rest on that. I would like to tell you more about it, but I know you have had a hard day, and you ought to get some rest."

  Just then Janet appeared in the doorway.

  "Yer bed is riddy, Meester Lorrimer, an' I'm certain ye're riddy for it."

  So with a bright smile the young man turned to the girl.

  "Good night," he said, giving Eden a quick handclasp. "We'll talk again about this if you like, and--I'll be praying for you."

  "Oh, thank you," said Eden with a lovely smile. "You don't know how you've helped me. I think I understand, a little at least. And I do want to know Him. I really do!"

  "Thank the Lord for that!" he said fervently, and Eden went away to her rest with a warm feeling around her heart.

  As she lay down to rest, she went over all that the young man had told her, and somehow the book she had read began to grow plainer. Sin was in the world, and sin was in her, that is, the tendency to sin, but there was a cure for it. Christ Himself would live in her and guide her. That would be wonderful! Why did nobody tell her that before? When she understood it all, she would be able to tell other people who did not know about it yet. This must be the resurrection life that the book spoke of. It said a crucified Christian had a right to it because Christ rose from the dead. A resurrection life!

  She went to sleep on that.

  ***

  Word about the robbery and excitement began to get around, and newspaper reporters arrived and wanted to be told everything, but Mr. Worden and Lorrimer and Mike had strictly forbidden them all to give out any information. They were just to answer, "I have nothing to say," and refuse to let anyone talk with Eden unless it was some well-known friend she could trust. And even then they were to say nothing about the excitement. That would be the best way to let the matter die out.

  So Janet put the morning newspaper away out of sight, and Eden didn't think to ask for it. She came down to breakfast quite rested and ready to begin a new day.

  She knew there would be duties to perform. She had an appointment with Mr. Worden and the lawyer to sign some papers about the estate, and that would likely occupy a good part of the morning.

  Soon after breakfast two or three of her girlfriends called up and said they were coming to see her right after lunch. They had just come home from extended summer vacations and were quite eager and excited over the news they had read in the papers. Wasn't it awful for her to have to go through a thing like that? Was she much frightened? They were most determined to get an answer even over the telephone.

  But Eden managed very well.

  "Oh, yes, we had a little excitement," she said, "but it's about over now, and I believe the whole matter is well taken care of. Why, yes, I'll be delighted to see you girls." That was all, and then she turned to greet the lawyer who had arrived ahead of Mr. Worden, having refused to stay to breakfast, as he said he had some matters to attend to before he met Mr. Worden.

  So the two young people had a few minutes together before the conference began.

  The young man looked into Eden's beautiful dark eyes and at once saw the cloud of anxiety in them.

  "What is it you are troubled about? Has something happened?" he asked in a low, confidential tone.

  Eden flashed a quick look at him and smiled shyly.

  "Why, no, nothing exactly happened," she said hesitantly. "Some of my girlfriends called up and are coming to see me this afternoon, and they are so excited about our robbery that I just know I'm going to have a terrible time answering them. They tried to get me to talking over the telephone, but I put them off. I know it is going to be dreadful to refuse to tell them everything, and I don't want to talk about it."

  The young man smiled sympathetically.

  "No, of course not," he said. "But I suggest you put it all in the hands of your heavenly Guide. Just tell Him about it as you have told me, and ask Him to take over and show you what to say and how to courteously avoid answers. I think you'll find your worries will vanish."

  "Oh, could I do that? About just little worries like that! Wouldn't He mind if I trouble Him about such trifles?"

  "Of course He would not mind. Remember He has loved you and taken over your life and shared with you His own resurrection life, and He has promised to take over everything, if you let Him live your life for you. Don't you know the verse 'Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you'?"

  "Oh," said Eden, her eyes shining with wonder, her cheeks flushing sweetly. "Why, that is wonderful! How grand life is going to be now if I can always do that."

  "You most assuredly can," said Lorrimer. "Only remember that old nature is still in you, and your enemy Satan will try to stir up to persuade you that it isn't true."

  Then the doorbell rang and Janet let in Mr. Worden, and their quiet time together was over for the present. But before Lorrimer went away, she said in a low tone as he took his hat to leave: "Thank you so very much. You have helped me a great deal."

  "I'm glad," he said, giving her another smile like a ray of sunshine. So Eden went into her afternoon with new strength and comfort, feeling that she had not only found a real Savior who could give her victory over self, but she had also found a new earthly friend in her lawyer. He was somebody she would not be afraid to ask about her perplexities.

  The conference with Mr. Worden was brief and friendly. She learned that Ellery Fane had not as yet been found, but that his mother had been safely placed where she could not do any harm. Court would be in session in a few days, and in the meantime, she had been taken to the nearby county seat and taken care of until the trial. They had been looking into her case and found that both she and her son were wanted for fraudulent acts in the far West, so there was no need to further worry about any trouble from them. At least, unless Ellery should turn up again, which was not likely.

  The telephone rang as the lawyer went back to the library to get a paper Mr. Worden wanted, and Eden went herself to answer it, for Janet was busy. When she returned, Lorrimer was standing in the hall waiting for Mr. Worden to answer some question of Tabor's.

  Eden had come back with her face shining.

  "This is wonderful," she said. "I didn't want those girlfriends of mine to come to see me right away while all this excitement is so new. They would just talk and talk about it, and I don't know how to keep them from asking questions that I've been told not to answer. And now they called it off themselves. They have been asked to help out getting ready for some servicemen's party, and they have to spend the whole afternoon making favors. So now by the time they do come, perhaps a lot of my perplexities will be straightened out and I won't find it hard to answer their questions. Besides, they will have forgotten a lot of it and won't be so interested by that time."

  The young man's eyes shone.

  "That's it," he said. "You'll be surprised. I've had many experiences like that. Some of my friends, when I told them about it, have laughed and said it was my imagination, but you'll find it doesn't work out to be imagination. It is real. The Lord cares for His own, even in little things."

  "Do you mean
nothing ever happens against your wishes and prayers?" asked Eden almost breathlessly.

  "Oh, no, but I mean that when you leave it all to Him, He works it out marvelously. I don't mean it always comes the way you have planned it, or want it even, but that if it doesn't, you know it will work out in the end to be even better than you wanted, if you are patient and rest in Him. The condition, of course, is that you leave it all to Him and rest. You know His wish for you is that you shall become like the Lord Jesus. Whatever hinders that, He does not allow."

  "I see," said Eden slowly, trying to think it out. "But that is almost unbelievable. It is like living a charmed life."

  "Yes, isn't it? But it is true. It is the kind of life He wants His own to live if they are willing."

  When he was gone, Eden spent much time thinking over what he had said and went shyly up to her room to pray. She had never before felt shy in approaching God, but now it seemed she had really just been introduced to Him and was so filled with wonder and gratitude that her natural self-assurance seemed to desert her.

  By and by Janet came up to tell her that the doctor had come and that he found Tabor's condition much improved. The wound was not deep and was doing nicely. Tabor had roused to ask once what had happened and why he was in the servants' dining room, and then he dozed off again. The doctor had said the concussion was clearing up. He hoped it would not be a long siege for him.

  Eden asked if she might go to him, and the doctor said yes, if he waked again and seemed to want to see her. So toward evening when he woke and was being given nourishment, she went and sat by his bed and put her small smooth hand in the old faithful one that had served her so many years, since she was a mere baby.

  At her touch old Tabor opened his eyes and smiled, perhaps thinking he might have died and this was an angel coming to meet him. But when he saw her, comprehension dawned in his glance, and he smiled again and pressed her soft fingers respectfully. "Miss Eden!" he said. "My lady!" And smiled again and closed his eyes, sinking away to sleep with an expression of content on his old lips.

  Then Eden went up to her room again, this time to pray for Tabor.

  Just after dinner a neighboring woman came in for a few minutes and brought some lively flowers, and Eden felt she should see her for a few minutes, so she came down to the little reception room near the door and thanked the woman for the flowers.

  "But, my dear," purred the neighbor, "I was so horrified when I found out what you had been going through, and right after the sorrow of your father's death, too. It was cruel! Now isn't there something we could do to cheer you up? Wouldn't you like to come over to our house to stay a few days until the excitement is over? It will be quite convenient really, and it must be so horrid to have policemen coming and going all the time. I've seen them come in, you know."

  "Oh, thank you! That wouldn't be at all necessary," she said quietly. "The policemen do not bother me. It just seems pleasant to think they have been protecting us at night. And most of them have been friends of mine since I was a little girl. They used to direct traffic when I was on the way to kindergarten, you know, and always took my hand and led me across the street, so I know them all quite well. And besides, of course, I couldn't be away anywhere till Tabor is well and up and about again. I couldn't think of leaving for anything just now."

  "But, my dear! You don't mean to tell me that servant is still here? Why didn't you have him sent to the hospital at once? That would have been the natural thing to do. Surely he is well enough to be removed now! Would you like me to call for an ambulance and arrange about his being moved?"

  "Oh, no, Mrs. Mattox," said Eden with horror. "Why! Tabor is a part of our family. He has been with us since I was born. I wouldn't think of letting him be taken away. It would grieve him terribly. He has cared for us for years, and he is very dear to me and was to my father. He is being cared for quite well as if he were in the hospital. We have a nurse, and Janet and the other servants are much attached to him. They are all anxious to do all they can for him. Besides, the doctor feels he is getting on very well, and I know he'll be happier here than anywhere else."

  "Oh, but, my dear, don't be silly! He is only a servant. He would be very well cared for in the hospital, you know. That's what hospitals are for. And it must be so very gloomy to have someone so ill in the house. You have to keep so still, and it must react on you. You're looking pale, my dear. I'm sure your father would want us all to take better care of you than to let you harbor an old worn-out servant in your home, when you must be having a hard enough time without anything more."

  Eden sat up with more than her usual dignity and lifted her pretty chin.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Mattox, but I couldn't think of having Tabor taken away, and my household arrangements are very comfortably settled. We have a good doctor, you know, our old physician, and a fine nurse. No one need feel any responsibility about me. I am quite well taken care of, and I should feel very unhappy to have Tabor away."

  "But that is just sentiment, my dear child! Don't be silly."

  Eden looked up with a smile of dignity.

  "Sentiment is what we feel for the people who are near and dear to us, isn't it? But it really doesn't matter what you call it. Tabor stays here in his home, or what has been his home ever since I was born. But it certainly was kind of you to bring these lovely flowers to me, Mrs. Mattox. They are beautiful."

  "Well, I'm glad you like them," said the lady stiffly. "But I do wish you could come over, my dear. It wouldn't be like going out. Of course, I know you don't feel like being cheerful with your father just gone, but this would be just our family and my niece, Rilla Wattrous. She is about your age, you know, and you certainly would have things to talk over in common. It would be better than being alone with just servants."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Mattox," said Eden, relieved that the lady had arisen as if about to leave. "You are most kind, but I'm sure you will excuse me. I really don't feel like going anywhere just now. I prefer to be at home for the present."

  The woman studied her quiet pose for an instant before she finally left, and when she got back to her home she remarked to her husband, "Poor child! She seems utterly crushed. She's just determined to sit down in the dust and be gloomy. Imagine a young girl being willing to stay at home with just servants!"

  But it was with a sigh of relief Eden went upstairs to pray for Tabor and his swift recovery.

  Chapter 9

  The next day some of Eden's girlfriends barged in without warning, and Eden took them to the living room because it was farther away from the room where Tabor was, and he need not be disturbed by their chatter.

  But at the doorway Celia Thaxter paused and looked across at the great vase of flowers on the table under the opposite window.

  "Oh! Funeral flowers!" she exclaimed with a shudder. "Have they kept all this time? Why on earth don't you throw them out? I just hate the thought of flowers in connection with a funeral, don't you? I think it would be so much better if they could completely break down that idea of sending flowers to a funeral. I always appreciate it when the death notices have the request 'No flowers, please.' Flowers seem so out of place when one is in trouble, don't you think?"

  Eden gave Celia a wondering look and caught her breath. How could she talk that way?

  "Why, no," she said brightly. "I think flowers are the most wonderful conveyors of sympathy, and I'm always grateful for them. But, Celia, those aren't funeral flowers. Those are some roses that Mrs. Mattox, my neighbor, brought over to me last night. Aren't they lovely? Come in, won't you? Take that chair over by the desk, Celia. It's my favorite chair."

  "No, thanks," said Celia, shivering a trifle. "I'll sit right here by the door. Wasn't this the room you had the funeral in? I thought so. Why don't we go into the library? I always loved that room."

  "I'm sorry," said Eden coolly, "but it's right across from the servants' dining room where we had to take Tabor when he was brought in, and I'm afraid our talking might annoy him. He's sti
ll in a very critical state."

  "Tabor!" exclaimed the visitor. "You don't mean to tell me you kept him here? After he was stabbed? He was stabbed, wasn't he? How perfectly dreadful! Why, Eden, who suggested that? The doctor? He ought to know better. Tabor's just a servant, isn't he? The very idea of your keeping him in the living part of your house where your friends have to come. Hospitals are for such cases! That's what we give all those fairs and teas for, to get money to have free beds for the poor. You could have paid his way yourself if you felt all that obligation to a mere servant."

  "I preferred to have Tabor here," said Eden haughtily. "This is his home, and he has been our faithful friend through the years. Would you like a cushion, Celia? That chair is rather deep."

  "No, thanks! I'll make out. But you certainly are keeping up on your old college character of being peculiar! The idea! A servant having all the attention a member of the family would have!"