to him and
stay. It was a wish that had been growing, growing in his lonely heart
since that visit home when it seemed as if he could not tear himself
away from her and go back; and yet knew that he could not stay--would
not want to stay, because of his beloved work. And now it was over
forever, his dream! She would never come to cheer his home, and he would
always have to live a lonely life--for he knew in his heart there was
only one girl in the whole world he would want to ask to come, and her
he might not, must not ask.

As endless and as desolate as his desert his future lay stretched out
before his mind. For the time his beloved work and the joy of service
was sunk out of sight, and he saw only himself, alone, forsaken of all
love, walking his sorrowful way apart; and there surged over him a great
and deadly weakness as of a spirit in despair.

In this mind he lay down to rest in the shadow of a great rock about the
noon hour, too weary in spirit and exhausted in body to go further
without a sleep. The faithful Billy dozed and munched his portion not
far away; and high overhead a great eagle soared high and far, adding to
the wide desolateness of the scene. Here he was alone at last for the
first time with his grief, and for a while it had its way, and he faced
it; entering into his Gethsemane with bowed spirit and seeing nothing
but blackness all about him. It was so, worn with the anguish of his
spirit, that he fell asleep.

While he slept there came to him peace; a dream of his mother, smiling,
well, and walking with a light free step as he remembered her when he
was a little boy; and by her side the girl he loved. How strange, and
wonderful, that these two should come to him and bring him rest! And
then, as he lay still dreaming, they smiled at him and passed on, hand
in hand, the girl turning and waving her hand as if she meant to return;
and presently they passed beyond his sight. Then One stood by him,
somewhere within the shelter of the rock under which he lay, and spoke;
and the Voice thrilled his soul as it had never been thrilled in life
before:

"Lo, _I_ am with you _alway_, even unto the end of
the world."

The Peace of that Invisible Presence descended upon him in full measure,
and when he awoke he found himself repeating: "The peace which passeth
understanding!" and realizing that for the first time he knew what the
words meant.

Some time he lay quietly like a child who