The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-11-11

"when we hand dear NJ Rivers 4 nc,
sum of money to help him rebuild thC
Parsonage '.aas 7-.T afE-s1
'That dreadful FIRE r. said Amy, shud
dering. "Mother says she don't approve
/ of fairs generally; but when ones minis
ter is burHed cut, and the money won't
come in fhstaany lther way, why, she II
bake cakes and make pincpshiohs with
the best of US
"And then, you know" said Mabel,
earnestly, ''there will be no rafting o1
Cheating, ana the articles are all pretty,
and good of tleir kiud.95 ELI lsa ..s
"Girls, is it not time to dress p said
/ Susy, consulting wee watch at her belt.
/ eve open at seven" .
''The tables are all ready."..
''True, but it is after five now, and
everybody wants Ii re for at least one
extra touch to their fnery, when they
must face all Claireville"
"Scattcr, then, said .Emy, laughing.
''Run home all of youl Leave the let
ters here; I will take care of them. I
am to be p1stmi distress, you know"
s'Nota bit of il, ," said Leonoras ~ on
/ are only to SIT IN the background and
direct the envelopes, which I vii deliver
to auxious-inqgirers'D rc 1- r.
"WheE how important We arer'
WIS the merry answer. And the laugh
ing group dispersed.
The large hall Of GIaipevilIe was brilli-
antEJ illuminated when, two hours Eater,
tue young girls announced all in readi-
ness for opening the doors. The pretty
tables, tasteful decorations. aud groups
of lovely girls made no mean picture,
and Clairevlle walked about, admired,
and, above all, purchased to the full
content of the fair orgiUators Of the enter
tainment. Hidden away from sight by
thafull fblds Of a curtain, Amy sat shrin-
ed in the post Office, answering LeOnora' s
call for letters Busy excitement had
flushed her fair cheeks, and, as hcr pen
| traced familiar names, one after another,
smiles chased each other over lips and
eyes. Suddehlya call from Nora made
her turn pale: her fingers trembled as
she drew from her bosom the letter SIZE had
written wih-a prayer. It was fully d.
rected, yet she hesitatcd, holding it as if
reluctant to let tgo.
/ srfGemo, Amy. Is there nothing. for
Mr.. Leonard Wutson?" cried Loonpra.
The letter was slirpcd through the ap-
pointed place in the curtain, and Amy
drew qu'ck breath IF apprehension as
she heard the manly ,vnice that said
''Thank you, Miss Darcy
IF he Is angry!" she whispered. 'sIf
he should be angry !"
/ But Eeonard Watson had slipped the
/ letter carelessly y into the breast pocket Of
his coat, ard was saunteringin his usual
lazy manner d wn the hall. He was a
tall, handsome man, with a broad fore
head and large eyes, which spoke we'll
/ for his heart and intellect; bus with t. e
blaze air'and deb6aadire manner of =nne
for whom the world had offered its pleas
ures to safety, and who had not learned
TO look for If S purpose in duty. The
/ little world Of ClaireTilIe spoke well of
( Leonard Watson. The girls admired his
courtly gallantry, his polished manner,
and houeyed words; the young men
applauded his generosity, his wines, his
horses, and his good temper; the older
headswere roadylto worship bis wealth.
his birth, and position; only here and
there word whispered IF late revels at
Fairbanks, Of an occasional lapse into
inebriety, or droppcda hint that "young
Watson was living too fast" Boo
/ There were many bright bellies who
I cherished a secret belief of aheonard' s
marked preference, yet the gay heart
was untou he'd, The travelled taste unsat-
isfed, and he was free man, in word or
I thought, as he sauntered up the fair at
/ ClairevilIe with Amy's letter lying upon
lis breast. -7f
twas night, and be was alone in the
| library of bis spacious house before he
! recoEected the missive; then; with an
indolent curiosity, he drew it F0ith.
"SOme fatschool-girl verses" or, worse,
a dose of fl ttery yelled by an incognita -
At first he lead. with a lazy expires
sion Of mockery upon his lips; but, as
the lines were traced with earnest. care,
so, as he read, the mln's soul was rous-
ed to thought and interest. Hot. angry
fusbes chased each other over his brow,
yet he did not finch every word of the
appeal, though it stung HIN with. its
scorching truth and searching questions,
was perused faithfu'ly, till. at the crd,
the dainty signature, ''Your sincere
friend" found him serious and sad.
"Ltis all true" he said, in low tore,
rising, and pacing the for with quick
yet even steps. 81 am wasting all Gods
blessings-squanlering my wealth foolish
ly; undermining my health wickedly;
finging my best years away in folly, if
not vice. How earnestly she writes and
her "dcar brother" seems from her very
heart Who wrote it? Ha the same
hand on the envelope as inside, ard it
was directed by Amy Greyson. Amy
Greyson I alwaYs thought her mer-
ry, light-hearted child, but .this-tbis is
the letter Of noble, earnest Christ ian
woman. How beautifully she writes
Yet-yet how she dcspises mel How she
la4hes my follies and vices With what
bitter sarcasm she questions my course !
yet how earnestly she imploros me to
pause whsle there is yet time, and think
Of where the path tread will lead me!
Think ~ All, she has raised train of
thought now that will not die THAT |
can never quiet again! Conscience is
alive now, and there is no more careless
fol y for me.
Up and down, pacing sometimes with
the Slow tread Of earnest thought, again
rapidly crossing aud recrossing the room,
his foot falling with passionate emphasis,
he spent the hours till long after mid
night; aud when, at last, he sought his
own room, Leonard Watson, for the first
time in long yelrs, kuelt and implorcd
Gods bl,s.ing oa his resolutions fer the
future. Pc .raal.- s.- 81 ga1-
Claireville wondered What had "c5me
over the young millionaire. Old ten.
ants, who bad be d wont to look upon
their young lapdlord as an elsy-gOrg
scamp, began to open their eyts over
sanitary Improvements In their lOw,y