The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-16

brighter, her words or her eyes R,y
mond seemed, for the moment, at leas,
completely y bewitched.
Olarice did not seem to like the wa,
things were turning, and she recallet
some by cones, in which Ruth ee ha,
been the heroine. Raymonds mannc
changed at once.
u have been looking the city over fo
her," said he; "and hear but sad news O
The family, Mr.. Lee having died insolvcn
also. Pray, Miss Winslow, where hav,
Mrs. and Miss Lee removed?'
"Oh, did you not know Z" replied Ber
tha, quickly" they went out West, to som,
near relations of Uncle Wclter'S."
"Why Bertha" exclaimed Clarice.-
But Bertha gave her sister look that
Tor the time at least, silcnccd her.
Lincoln Raymond was so thoughtfuIly
studying the pattern of the carpet, that he
neither heard the exclamation of Chricc
nor saw her sisters look.
"Out West. How far out Vest
Miss Winslow? Out west is Il very L,r,,e
country"
Clarice left the room, looking as though
she were in high fever, and Bertha We
ry adrotly changed the conversation. She
sad many enchanting things; but Raw
mond seemed thoughtful and absent and
soon after took his leave not however.
until Bertha made him promise to call
the next morning and walk to church with
her.
"Ruth, my child, l do not feel well
enough to leave the house this morn
ng. You will have to 90 to church with
out me.
81 had thought to 90 to our old church
TINS morning, dear mother; have not
been there since we moved here, so far
out of the way"
"ls 1t not too great distance for vou
to walk my dear child I"
III think not, dear mother"
l'uth had dressed herself with uncom
mon care that morning, although she
would not have acknowledged even to
herself the reason. As she ncarel the
church, she felt as though she were a.
most guilty of some wrong-;ls though she
had deceived her kind, good mother, in
not conlcssing her real motive for not 20
ing to the place of Worship they were of
late attending. A soft blush stole over
her sweet face as she confessed to herself
that there could bc no harm IN wishing to
see II the last year and half had chang
my UIfnI" "'.l ''s'.",,,. -.
fashionable part of the city, and tie inos,
fashionable people of the city attended
it. For in religion, or its outward mani
festation, as in all things else, there is the
same spirit of exclusivcncss that strives to
bar the door to the "vuIgar mass" and
admit only those who possess the golden
key to is entrance. The many familiar
faces which she had not seen until now
for nearly year, filled Ruth'S heart with
sadness as she softly stole up the sid" aisle
and quietly seated herself in one Of the
wall pews.
There, in the broad aisle, near the pull
pit, was her cwn well remembered pew,
now occupied by strangers, and, near it.,
that of her aunt WinsI"w's vclvct-lircd
and velvet-cuShioncd. No one was in it
but Bertha and--now the hot blood
poured from her heart and burned upon
her pale cheeks, when she saw once more
his handsome face! She advcrted her
own instantly, and, for a few moments,
she thought she was going to faint; but
tears came into her eyes, and she turned
herself to the wall and poured her heart
out in bitter, silent tears.
She thought Of the difference that now
was between them, and magnifed the
difference until it seemed to her that he
must spurn her as the dust under his feet.
She had never felt until now her position
so degraded, nor her employment so mean
A feeling of independence, and the strong
desire to make her mother comfortable,
had hitherto supported her. But now
she almost hated herself for having under.
taken anything that severed herself so ut.
terly from the lift 10 which she had been
accustomed.
Then the strange, unnatural state o
society, and its self imposed laws rose t.
her mind. A panorama Of her former
numerous acquaintanccs, who had beer
hand in glove with her, but who now
when she met them i'll the street, cithc
pretended not to see her, or unteciingI
cut her, arose before her, until, to her div
w mind, it seemed us though she were
really less worthy of esteem since she har
undertaken that hateful employment. Sh'
thought of her weary, toiIing days, day
Of toll that often extended deep into tn,
night, and she felt that she and her moth
er had better accepted the invitation 0
uncle Richard, OF done anything thar
what she was now doing. Such n loath
ing for that weary, weary toll, and its end
less privations, came over her, as mad
her heart sick and sickcn within her.
The services of the church went OF
meantime, and RItb, alone, and in he
sorrow, seemed to read the hearts OF thos
present. And very few were there VIII
were sincere in the prayers their lips Vi
tered. The responses Of most Of thos
gaily dressed worshippers Of Mammo
were spoken with ready lip, but with
thoughtless heart and wandering eye.
Ruth felt sickeued to the very soul wit
the thoughts that crowded through h
mind; and then that such thoughts,
the exclusion Of those moro smted 20 u
place and day, had taken possession