The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-09
ness and fervcncy, May God take care of
you, my Grace.'5 s15as'aa plohg1l at :

/ 49," ~ - - -
you, my Gnce.'5 s12a''aa m1oh91t 'l q
.. Now, tell me all about tho ride, Mattio
You know you're not going home until after
tea, so just sit down, without demurring.
And Grace pushed Matte into the cushion
ed armchair, and unfstened her bonnet
strings while she spoke. q ".I n'oi' 81.
I'VE had delightful time, Grace.
never enjoyed myself 70 much in all my life.
But the beaming other smile was half lost
in the blushcs that gathered into the usual,
ly pale face. l.f,l ..i b..
Grace saw these, and with woman's in.
tuition, she half OWNED what lay behind
them, She pushed a stool to Mattie's feet,
and the gray light OF the departing day
looked into the window, and saw picture
which an artist would have rcjoiccd in.
The graceful, unconscious attitudes of the
two girls, thesweet, upliftcd face of the one,
the pure, fair, half pensivc outline of the
other, shaded by its rich curls of brown
black hair, were In beautiful contrast.
And was Mr.. Hunt as agreeable and
chiYalric as usual?' quericd Gruce, look
ing up archly in her friends eyes.
'0fco he was but we will not talk
about him now, darling, have come over
here to say once more, Grace ! thank YOU.
But that seems q very little, when I feel so
much. " ...,... r.lr. Hr..
Don't say it, then, Matte; or rather
say it to God that He gave me strength to
resist the temptation, for It was not light
one, when Charley came for me; say it to
God that lie put it into my head to pass one
day of my life in doing unto Others as |
would have them do unto me-
Tears-tcars of happy gratitude, were
swelling over the hazel eyes Of Grace Ham
mond. |f.l -'lN
Yes, darling, / will say it for you, as |
have said it for myself every night for the
past year, and Matte laid her hand
solcmnly ON Grace's head.
1T has been to me a year Of struggling
and bitterness, Of darkness and tears. Oh,
Grace, it is very hard thing to feel that
the mother you love, and the little sisters
whose hclplessness only folds them the closer
to your heart, are dependent on you for the
bread they eat, for tho roof that shelters
them
Il know it is, dearest, and you have been
brave, noble girl, to do and to suffer all
you have done for the last year, and
Come, girls, suppcr's all ready Mrs.
Hammond's kindly tones broke into the
room suddenly, and terminated the inter-
view. r.'
'Ohl I'm SO glad, Charley and Grace
sprang up from the sofa and clappcd her
hands gleefully as child. The yonng
man gazed up into the face of his bctrothcd,
and thought how very sweet and childlike
she seemed, with that joy-lisht breaking in
to her eyes.
She saw the glance, and the half fond,
half significant smile, and, blushing at her
own enthusiasm, returned quietly to his side.
Il cannot help rejoicing greatly she con.
tinucd, half apologetically, at what you
have told me- 10 think my Mattie's steps
have come out into the sunlight again
'shc is really engaged to your .friend'
you say, Charley, and will be the wife ola
millionaire, and what is much more, of a
good, true, honest man.
'If you know, as do, how many have
looked down in coldness and scorn upon her,
how many pages of her life have been dark.
encd and wotted together with very bitter
tears you would be glad as l am, at the
good fortune that has come to her ut last.
well, Oracle, answered the young man,
with little emphasis of natural indigna-
ton running through his tones, she can tri-
umph now over all who have treated herun-
kindly, for know him well, and in wealth
that the world honors, in high social position,
in integrity of life, in nobleness Of heart and
mind, Western Hunt is a man among mil
lion.' . ''
But Matte is above any of that triumph
of which you speak, Charley. Suffering
has only refined her character, and she will
60 up very meckly, with her own quiet
grace, to the place assigned her, remember
ing 1t is Goo who pullcth down one and
setteth up another