The weekly ledger., 1857-07-25

vitation to spend the evening with Mrs Dunk
lee, friend of the family. She went with
her father and mother Quite little COM
pany was present, and the evening promised
to pass pleasantly. Among the visitors was
a young man who was introduced a Charles
Lindsay. tie wassomewhere about four and
twenty, and not only a man of superior in
tellectual appearance, but also of much per-
sonal bc a1ty. He seemed to take quite a
fancy for Kate, and ere long the feeling was
reciprocated. The light-hearted girl had new
er before met with one who so completely
pleased her. Staid and over-modest' people
she did not like; nor did she like such wild,
reckless men as she had often seen Angno-
rant man she could not endure; and a man
who assumed airs upon the strength of his
knowledge she abominated But Charles
Lindsay was not like any Of these. He dis
played deep knowledge without seeming to
know it, and he was as gay and happy as could
be- without the least coarseness or loss Of dig
nifty. The fact was just here though Kate
did not probably see it at the time: He ell
gagged her heart, and at the same time kept
firm hold upon her respect. There was a
peculiar air of elevated refinement, which at
once manifested itself to her, and commanded
her admiration; and she admired it because
she discovered it without his trying to show
it. And then she had found such fund of
wit and humor in him which, while it capt..
vated her with its brillancy, did not fail to
also entertain her with its good, strong COM
mon sense.
Kate was chess player, and at length she
discovered that Mr.. Lindsay understood the
game. She proposed trial, to which he
gladly acceded The first game she won.-
The next be won; and the third was drawn
game.
At nine o'clock Mr.. Proctor and his wife
had to go home, but Kate could not think of
leaving so early 1--WE will see her safe home
said the agreeable host, Mr.. Dunklee; and
thereupon her fond parents started home with
out her.
"Only think" cried Kate, after laugh
had passed upon some joke Of her own, PA
says he is going to board the new minister
Did you or anybody else ever hear of such
thing?"
"Oh, have heard of things worse than
that" returned Lindsay smiling. He sat by
her side and gazed into her face as he spoke.
Suppose that your father should take a
Bengal tiger into the house, what would you
say to that!"
"Ho-you can chain tiger" the girl re-
turned; "but you can't do that to minister.
He will carry his long face just where he
pleases, and you can't help it. But | won't
have it; and | told Pa so as plain as could.
Only just think-a minister in the house all
the tlmep
"You don't mean what you say, Miss Proc
tor" the young man said, half smiling and
half earnestly "Why-if you hold such
opinions now, shall really look to see you
boarding the minister yourself one OF these
days"
me? Ne board minister? Inever heard
anything 50 perfectly absurd in the whole
course Of my life-neverW
A hearty laugh followed this retort; and
Kate thought some of them laughed very fun
nily. But the conversation took another
turn, and ere long Lindsay and Kate were
again conversng together. They talked about
various things; and after while the young
man told his fair companion that he had just
purchased piece Of land in the place, mas
much as he thought of making that town his
home.
al have bought it of our friend, Mr.. Dun
klee.n he said, at the same time drawing
paper from his pocket
He then showed her by the deed-for
deed il was-where the lot was situated In
stinctiyely Kate cast her eyes up at the head
of the instrument to see what his occupation
was, for she knew that was always put down
on deeds. She read-"CHARLEs LINDSAY
Clerk"
"Aha-hes clerk" she thought to her
self. "And know he must be good one
And he'll most likely be merchant one ol
these days"
So ran Kate's thoughts, and they were
strangely interesting to her. Several OF The
more observing ones Of the company shook
their heads knowingly, for they saw plainly
enough that Miss Kate Proctor was already
in love with her handsome companion. Ano
they couldn't think much less of Lindsay. fol
he adhered to that particular chair which hap
pened to be nearest to Kate, with peculiar
nertinacity which certainly had some meaning
in it.
AT halfpast ten Kate said she must &c
home: Lindsay offered to accompany her.
She accepted the offer, and when she did Sc
she turned away her face SO that the Others
could not see it,
The evening was beautiful one; the moor
was no. and shining brightly, and the air sof
and cool, and loaded with grateful fragrance
from thousand dewy flowers. Lindsay sale
something about the calm and holy influence
of quiet summers evening upon those wh'
were at peace with the world and themselves
and who could look up to the Giver OF al
| aaa .r;th erratefnl hearts Ii was not smoker