Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1861-09-28
aflistellaneolrs.
THE PASTORS ELECT.
ny VIRGINIA =. TOWNSEND.

" Now tell me about it, Weldon. am so
anxious to hear the whole story, and it's such
nice evening for it too. 1t is such n luxury
to be all alone with you that the rain sounds
really musical as it drops against the panes."
She had pushed q low ottoman to his feet and
throwing herself on this, lifted her sweet face,
set in its framework of brown soft hair, to her
So you have at last caughtmc, and intend
turning my confessor-do you little sig 2"
smlingly responded the young clergyman, az
he turned his eyes from the anthracite blaze,
where they had heen dreamily fastened for the
last half honr, and beautiful, almost dreamy
tenderness seemed to drift into them rs they
rested on his sister.
ayes TO think you are really engaged,
Wcldon2 What would your parishioners say
if they knew it, particularly the younger por-
ton of them | am somewhat apprehensiye
their daily bequests of bouquets and fruits
would be sensibly diminished, But about the
lady-is she beautiful Weldon?"
q A woman's first query?" and again that
rich smile went like sunlight over the grave
but handsome features of the young pastor
81 am not certain, Hattie, whether an artist
could think her so. Her features are not en-
tirely regular, and her checks are less rosy
than your own but the emotions of her deep
gentle loving nature look out of her deep blue
| in the smiles that sparkle at times over her
small and rather pensire mouth"
"You are drawing n charming Raphael pic
turc, brother mine. She is young, Of course ~
" Hardly twonty-one"
"And-no, need not ask If her mind is well
cultivated, for | know your opinions respect-
ing woman too well to doubt this. But is she
intellcctnal-in short book worm ?"
"Well, something of one, The formation
of her hend indicates n superior mental organ
| ization, but the faculties are well balanced"
"And--let me see-is she wealthyW
"Only in the possession of those great jewels
which are above all price,"
But her family-who are they ?"
al never saw but one member of it, and he
was n beggar."
Weldonw The little fingers that had
been playfuly braiding themselves with those
of the young mans were suddenly Withdrawn
the quick blood iashed into the questioner's
cheeks and II look of mingled astonishmen
and displeasure filed her brown eyes as sht
breathlessly ejaculased-
"Weldon, you are not in earnest?"
Yes, am Hattie. You know would no
jest on such a subject"
But you took me so greatly by surprise
And-and--n
The little red lips trembled moment ant
then the tears brimmed over the brown lashes
and journeyed slowly down the cheeks.
"And troubled you, too, Hattie ~ interro
gated the young man, as he leaned forward
and caressngly smoothed down the bright hal
of his sister. "Don't look so sorrowful, dar
ling, as though some great evil had chancet
me. But listen to what shall tell you, ant
then see if your own true and noble heart, un
biased by social distinctions and prejudices
does not commend my selection. viii you d,
this, Hattie, it not for my sake, for His Wit
said that the poor and the rich were alike il
His sight?'
Sweet Hattie Marshal Her one great foib
was her pride for her handsome, noble-hearte
brother; it was hardly weakness; for he
all that God had left to her of the household
over whom the spring daisies had long sprea'
their golden covering and for Il moment sh
had looked with the worlds eye upon his be
irothal to the sister of a mendicant But he
brothers words had silenced the pride-whisper
in her heart, for Hattie Marshall had learne
of Him who was meek and humble in spirit
" will do as you ask Weldon. Forgive m
il | have done wrong" she whispered drawin
up closer to her brother, and laying her hen
in its old resting place against her heart; 70
very tenderly did brother and sister love eac
other.
Weldon Marshall drew his arm around hi
sisters waist, and then when the rain moane
and the wind muttered around the window
and the anthracite FIRE mingled its ruddy glo
with the silver astral light, and filed the pal
sonage sittiug-room with a dreamy crimso
light, he told a story of the past, and his eye
grew darker, and his low earnest tones full
pathetic eloquence as he told it.
# 1t is eight years next month, Hattie, and
was in New York, engaged in my collegia
k studies. You see it was three years after OF
mothers death, and you were at that time wit
g uncle Harvard, attending school.
1t was n cold, wild, disagreeable night-ar
" remember standing at the window of mysnr
sanctum, and looking out ruefully into Il
darkness, for I had an engagement to me
a several of my fellow students that evening
a distant portion of the city.