The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-11-25

soft dark eyes, SO like his daughters. ais
might have been worse, Ruth; she goes
away from us but stones throw"
''But is it desirable connexion for
Annis ?" doubtingly resumed Miss Bel
lassys.
"Wait until you see him." said Mr.
Dudley. But the Lady Katharine form
ed her lips into mo- and lifted her
head with defiant gesture.
For the approaching union with Mr..
OLIVER did not give pleasure to Lady
Katharine Dudley She had married the
rector of Hilton Coombe in early life,
when she was plain Miss Bellassys, plain
in station, as we'll as poor in pocket
and she had deemed it an excellent settle
ment. But through the death Of several
intervening heirs, her father succeeded
to an eardom and she to title, and then
she began to find the quiet reetory of Hill
ton Coombe; with its FIVE hundred year,
all, somewhat unsuited to her degree
For herself, she could not change it; no
money had accrued to her with her title
she must continue to live the quiet life,
and not escape from it, and she was con-
tent enough to do so. but she began to
cherish dreams of ambition for her only
child Annis should marry we'll; should
soar into the rank to which, as her daugh-
ter, she was entitled; should become noble
and wealthy Great dreams Cherished
by many a mother, and by many found
to be vain ones as they were so found by
Lady Katharine Dudley. For Annis
marred the whole scheme by falling in
love, with the plain village surgeon, Tho
mas OLIVER.
Itmay be question, though, whether
her. However it may have been, the
mischief was done. The rector viewed it
favoiably He knew the mans worth
He knew that his practice was lucrative
one; that he could keep Annis just as
comfortably as she had been kept; and
dreams of greatness for her did not trou-
BILE him. He gave his consent heartily
to the marriage. Lady Katharine did not
refuse hers, but she made into a griev-
ance, and very much enjoyed dilating
upon it. She had been given all her life
to make things into grievances and dilate
upon them; so much SO, that the effect
upon the rectors mind had worn away.
To use familiar phrase, her grumbling
went in at one ear and came out at the
other; butshe sometimes said in her hasty
spirit hat which even she would be sorry
afterwards. She despised Annis's want
of taste almost as much as she deplored
it. That dashing young officer of dra-
goons, and her relative, the Honorable
Captain Bellassys, had come on a visit to
Hiltou-Coombe's rectory, and before he
left it he laid himself and his two thou
sand year patrimony at the feet of An
mis-. Annis only shook her hea d at him;
he was not Thomas OLIVER. Little won
der that my lady was put out BY taste SO
plebian
''Child" said Miss Bellassys, as she
stood in the bedroom to which she had
been shown, and clasped the hand OF
Annis in hers, do you love him, this
Thomas OLIVER p
The hot crimson rushed to Annis s
cheeks, aud the tears glistened on her
eyelashes. But, save smile which how
cred on her lips, there came no other
answer. 1t was not needed.
II see" said Miss Bellayssys. "And
your father says he is good-worthy-
noble. May God bless the Union.
Mr.. OLIVER was in the drawing-room
when they returned to it. He had but
then entered, and was bending over Lady
Katherine, who's hand he had taken in
greeting. Lady Katherine had a pleas
anter look upon her face as it was raised
to him In spite other prejudices against
his position, she liked the man; and coulC
she have forgotten that outer, tar-away
high-sounding place, called the grea
world, she might have been fully conten
with Thomas OLIVER.
Miss Bellassys scanned him keenly
She was reader of character in the hu
man countenance. He turned to her will
frank smile, and her heart went bounding
out to him, for Anniss sake. A good
noble face; one that could not belle itself
Had Annis been her daughter, she woulc
have given her to him fearlessly, although
all the honorables in the peerage had beeI
rayed against it.
The dinner was announced The recto
crossed the hall with Miss Bellassys, MI
OLIVER took Lady Katherine Ami
walked alone, and Mr. OLIVER whispers
something to her as they sat down, whicl
F called forth smile They were dinin!
alone, but several friends were expecte
to drop in later in the evening. The con
versation naturally fell upon the weddin
and its preparations, and an allusion wa
made to the decorating of the church
, which Miss Bellassys did not understand
, She said she did not.
"Nor anybody else, cried the rector
, half crossely, half lovingly, as he glance
at Annis. perhaps that young lady wi
, explain it to you, Ruth
She lifted her bright cheeks to he
father. ''Papa, it is not my fault. ltwa
5 not my proposal that it should be done.
"Of course not" said Mr.. Dudle,
: at was nebody's fault, was it? The fac
: is, Ruth turning to his guest,--'the
have wormed consent out of me to allo
the church to be set off with evergreens fc
this grand ceremony tomorrow"
. ''Set off in what manner" asked Mis-
: Bellassys.
'sOh, you must ask them about tha
j, They are to be strewn up the path, | b'
: lieve, that my young lady's shoes, thel
may not come in contact with the stone
! Are Won afraid of your boots, Mr. OLIVER