The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-26
A PASTORS Fleet.
BY VIRGINIA Z. TOWNSEND.


so anxious to hear the whole story, and
, it's such nice evening for it, too. 1t is
such luxury to he all alone with you,
that the rain sounds really musical ns il
drops against the paneS.' She had pushed
low ottoman to his feet, and throwing
herself on this, lifted her sweet face, set
in its frame work Of brown soft hair, to
her brothers.
80 you have at last caught me, and in.
tend turning my cOnfrSsOr--dO you, little
sis ? smilingly responded the young cler-
gyma', as he turned his eyes from the
anthracite blaz". where they had been
drcamily fastened for the last half hour
and beautiful, almost dreamy. tenderness
&C med to drift into them as they rested
on his sister.
Yes; to think you hre rcnlly engaged,
Weldon? What would your Pensioners
say If they knew it, particularly the more
youthful portion Of them? am some.
what nrprchcnsiw their daily bcqucstS 0f
bouquets aud fruits would be SrllSiblv di.
ninishcl. But about the lady-is she
beautiful, Wcldon:'
y wolnan's first query!' and again that
rich smile went like sunlight over the
grave but handsome features OF the yOnng
pastor i am not certain, Hattie, whether
an artist would think her so. Her features
a~c not entirely regular, and her checks
are less rosy than your own; but the emo
tons Of her deep gentle, loving nature lock
ont "f her deep blue eyes, and there is q
sweet heart chirography in the smiles that
sparkle at times over her small and rather
pensive mouth.
You are drawing n charming Raphael
picture, brother mine. She is Young, of
course =
Hardly twenty. one
'And-nO, | need not ask il her mind
is well cultivated, for ] know your opin
ions respecting women too well To doubt
this. But is she intcliigcnt-in short, n
book wOrm!'
well, something Of ono. The lorma
tion Of her head indicates n superior men,
tai organization, but all the faculties ARE
well balanced
And, let me see, is she wcalthy?'
Only in the possession Of those great
jewels which are above oil price
But her ianily-whO are they ?
i never saw but one member Of it, and
he was n bpggar'
'Weldon!' The little fingers that had
been playfulIy bruiding themselves with
those Of the young mans were suddenly
withdrawn-the quick blood flashed into
the questioncr's cheeks, and look of min
gcd astoniShment and diSplcnsurc filled
her brown eyes as she breathlcssly cjac-
nlated-
Weldon, you are not in carncst?'
Yes am, Hattie. You know I would
not jest on such subject
But you took me SO greatly by sur
prise. Ard--and--'
The little red lips trembled a moment,
and then the tears brimmed over the
brown lashes, and jOurneyed slowly down
the cheeks.
And troubled you, too, Hattie ? inter-
rogated the young man, as he leaned for
ward and caressingly smoOthed down the
bright hair Of his sister. Don't look so
sorrowful, darling, as though some great
evil had chanccd Inc. But listen to what
| shall tell you, ard then see If your own
true and noble heart. unbiased by social
distinctions and prejudices, does not com
mend my election. Will you do this, Hat
tie, IL not for my sake, for His who said
that the poor and the rich were alike in
His sight?'
Sweet Hattie Marshall! Her one great
foible was her pride for her handsome,
noble.hearted brother; it was hardly q
weakness; for he was oil that God had left
to her Of the household over whom the
spring daisies had long spread their golden
covering; and for moment she had look.
! ed with -the worlds eye upon his betrothAl
to the sister Of a mcndicant. But her
brothers words had sienced the pride.
whispers in her heart, for Hattie Marshall
haA Auasrned Of Him who was meek and
humble in spirit.
Twill do as you ask, Weldon Forgive
me if have done wrong, she whispered,
drawing up closer to her brother, and lay.
irg her head in its old resting place against
his heart; for very tenderly did brother
and sister love each other.
Weldon Marshall drew his arm around
his sisters waist, and then, when the rain
mOaned and the wind muttered around the
windows, and the anthracite Gre mingled
its rudy glow with the silver astral light,
and Allied the parsonage sitting.room with
a dreamy crimson light, he told story Ol
the past, and his eyes grew darker, AuG
his low earnest tones full Of pathetic elO-
quence as he told It.
II is eight years next month, Hattie
and was in New York, engaged in my
collegiate studies, You see II was three
years atler my mothers death, aud you
Vere at that time with uncle Harvard, At
tending school.
1t was . cold, wild, disagreeable night
and remember sitting at the window
Of my snug sanctNm, and looking out rue
fully into the darkness, for I had an en-