Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-16
tender. upturned eyes of Susan BeIlwere


dam with glistening tears, ard when at
the close oil the ermon, he said in deep,
asitated tone, LET sorrowing souls pray
God for resignation" and lifted his voice
in earnest prayer, the sympathizing girl
bowed down her face and sobbed.
Six weeks later. on a lovely Sabbath
morning, the clergyman assembled the
pulpit with an elastic step. and clear,
sunny brow. The fresh summer morning
air had given to his pale cheek a fine
glow, and TO his eye hopeful brightness.
such AS his friends had not Seen for many
days; and when he rose to pray, mis- rich
voice vibrated with the solemn joy Of
soul at peace with all the world. .
Mr., Wortley had evidently conquered
the melancholy to which his spirit had
long been a prey. -
After the second hymn, the preacher
arose TO prepare the subject of his dis
course; but at that moment. the sexton,
III his noiseless slippers, ascended the
pulpit, and handed Mr. Wortley some
notices to be read.
. The first was to call attention to a
yer-meeting to be held at the house Of
! brother Woods, on Wednesday evening.
and the second related to some church
business. Having disposed of these, Mr..
Nortley proceeded to unfold the third
slip of paper. Suddenly the blood for
sock his cheek: he became deadly pale,
and he leaned against the pulpit f.r sup
| port. Then in q tremulous, scarcely au-
dible voice, he read:
"Notice is hereby given of an intention
to marry, by MIR. Julius Britton and Su.
san, daughter Of Joseph and Maria Bell"
| The paper fell from his hands. He
opened the Bible and read his text, from
one Of st. Pasl's epistles. At first, his
! voice was feeble, but clear as the tone of
the organ; his manner was languid; but
warming up, his voice ran out like clarion
tones, his eyes burned with the fervor of
his eloquence, and the word of thought
fell from his tongue like fire. He had
never preached with such feryor and ef-
feet. Even the stern and dismal Deacon
Mills, who was great stickler for o.
thodox sermons, the dryer the better,
| confessed, with his eyes still wet, that
MIR. Worley's sermons must have some
good in them, even though they were not
SO orthodox as some-they made the
| heart SO open for love and sympathy of
| the world, AS the minister concluded,
there was scarcely dry eye within the
| church; yet, strange to relate, Susan Bell
appeared unmoved. She had not taken
her eyes from the preacher, since he read
the notice of her intended marriage, but
not a tear had started; and when he
closed, her face was so white. and her
gaze SO florid and unnatural, that the
preacher, dropping his eyes towards her,
as was his wont, could not but observe
the strangeness which had come over her.
Some days after, as Mr.. WortIey was
sitting in his study, a visiter was an
nounced. 1t was Mr.. Britton.
have come 10 engage y our services"
said he, smiling.
The preacher turned pale.
IF you can attend at Mr.. Bells house,
on Thursday evening of next week."
added Mr.. Britton. Significantly. synn
will place me under obligations. CanI
depend upon you7 2"
80 soon g murmured Mr.. Wortley,
making mighty effort to be calm.
"Why, since the marriage contract is
made, the sooner it is fulfilled, the better,
[ think. +" said Mr.. Britton.
Perhaps So" replied Mr.. Wortley,
thoughtfully. But" he added, fixing
his eyes on Britton's face, Miss Bell has
known you only few months"
Mr.. Britton changed color, and ap-
peared i'll at ease, as he replied, with O
feeble attempt at humor, Il take advan-
tage of that: for you know she might
grow sick Of me, if our marriage was de.
layed too long"
! After the heaspiring bridegroon had gone,
; Mr.. Wortley was plunged in deep thought.
He paced his room nervously, then to
cool his fevered brow, he sought the open
air. Long and painful was the struggle
in his heart. At last lie exclaimed fer
vcntly:
Il will forget self Twill do my duty.
will be strong. Shall my voice betray
emotion. when pronounce the fatal words
which shall make her his wifer'
The young preacher smiled, and lifted
his eyes to the leafy canopy which shaded
the azure vault of heaven. He seemed
to see guardian angels looking approving
ly down upon him. He was resolved.
But Mr.. Wortley was troubled with
an after-thOught. And be was sure
there VAS no selfishness in the fear that
Britton was not worthy of his intended
bride. He thought only of her, and
something within him whispered:
alt is your duty to study more deeply
into his character before this marriage,
which may be fatal to an innocent bride"
Their silent monitor would not let him
rest and before the sun had gone down
IN the west, he was entering the house of
Mr.. Bell, whom he saw all alone.
The clergyman made but little hesita-
ton in introducing the subject, of which
he deemed it his duty to speak. With q
proper apology for inquiring about the
character of Mr.. Brittsn, be seriously
wished to know if Mr.. Bell had given
consent to the marriage, without first
ascertaining whether his intended son-in-
law was really what he represented him.
SELF
Why, to be sure, "said Mr.. Bell, who
was an easy, unsuspicious sort of man,
it has never entered my head, that there
could be any deception. Mr.. Britton
certainly appears respectable, and for bis