Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-21
THE CLERGYMAN AND THE WIDOW.

'' And must We lose you, Mr.. % Moore The
widow burst into tears Must we lose you2''
she repeated, pathetically. ALAS. what will
become Of me- But tell me at least where you
purpose going'' L don't know myself. cam
not tell, | shall 90 TO town and seek employ
EIent. Then whenever you finally settle [
shall follow said the widow. Your ministry
has been blessed to my soul, / cannot live with
cut il, my spiritual life would languish aud die;
] must-l must follow you And Maurice
OMDore was something more than man. for he
listened unmoyed to these gentle batteries, not
entered his heart. Tie only drew further
back. You talk Of seeking, waiting for employ
ment.' said the undiscOneerted widow (she
very much ike widow Wadman at that
moment, showing her eye 70 Uncle TOby.) As
- Moore had retTeated, she had prOporIionate-
~ advanced, and now she was quite near, look
lug up in his face with a sort of mock innocent
bnldDeSs. 'Nhy should you seek Why should
you watt And the pretty white hand was
laid afcctionately on his arm. How he longed
10 shake it Off how he longod to retreat further.
but he was actually in a corner.
The widow soft eyes looked softer, a veil of
tears came over them. the tears Oyerhowed
they ran down her rosy checks, pink and soft
y Over-Tlpe peaches. Take what Providence
sends you, she sighed; ''my fortune is unfct-
tered. be its absolute master purchase for your-
self good living. in a situation where Your
tsientS may De known and appreciated, and in
your - An, you must have ssen. you must
have known - and sobs stopped the lady's
voice. One hand pressed an cxquisitely fine
csmbric handkerchief 90 her eyes, still leaving
the glowing choek visible, the other still rested
on the preachers arm. "A good living, In a
place where his talents would be known and
appreciated, Those words darted through
Maurice Moore whole soul. they moved him
~ the Establishments Of the widow could not
sudden gleam lit his eye; he forgot his COM
panIun, he travelled On-On, in imagination to
fame and distinction. He pressed his hand
tightly over his eyes. and plunged into an abyss
of thought while the widow stood PATIENTLY by
and her patient hand still lay resisting on his
arm. waiting-she knew he was deciding her
fate and his own. There was faint. weak voice
whispering in hiS heart, Stop, Maurice, stop
there Il yet time, stop" but "a stronger voice
WAS shouting 10 him from the mountain tops of
ambition, Come up, come up, why tarriest
thou Mount ON the golden LADDER and the
strong voice slew the soft whisper. il walled a
moment plaintiyely, and wailing died
A. It with sudden spasm, O'MoOre snatehed
las hand from his eyes, seized that patient hand
sill on his arm. and In broken accents begged
permission To retain it for life. and while he
spoke be must have forgot it was human quite
forgot thai flesh and blood could feel for he
grdspej Ii "a lift were in III iron Vice-grasped
it with n fierce tenacity; it was not beautiful
wOnan : hand; not, IL was sealed bond that
secured him his good living, wherein all his
ambitious dreams might fructify. The widow
gave gentle scream, hot from physical pain
she could bear that.) and not loud enough to
alarm the servants. but she thought il right To
assume a little surprise. and to seem quite
frightened at the offer she had long look ed for
long labOred for. But the scream subsidized
the agitation cooled down on both sides and
the betrothed lovers still sat together till the
candles burned dim in the sockets and finally
went out. The fire-light burnt with II dim flame
aud the Iich room was in shadow. while the
lovers still sat together with hands claspcd
They We're silent: Moore shaded his broE
even from the last lingering rays of light In
ths fire Through the increasing gloom Mr.
Craig looked piercinsly at Maurice; it was a
glance Of esger triumph which she east on the
being she had bought with her gold. She knew
he did not love her; she knew that he had sold
himself. but she felt satisfied. if not happy
From the first day Of the meeting. she had
coveted 20 bear the name of O'MnDre Why
she best knew, but it not for love, at least
hot the love that God and his Angels look down
upon and bleSs,-IHe Dean: or, fhs PopHiar
P,sJnhcr. By Berkeley AiKin.