Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-06-02

4
more 80 as the city grew older his most val
uaple property was in lots, which as yet
yielded no income. He had an expensive
| iamlly His children were being educated In
the most fashionable schools and Maria s
example OF lndoence and idleness was al
ready making itself feltbeyond the mild and
gentle counsel OF their mother. So he often
Tit that he had little pleasure In the eOntem
plation of his children future. But he had
been happier IN this month of Maria chan
ged course than he had been since she was a
pretty, playful child at his knee. She was
always 50 thoughtful of his comfort The
sofa was wheeled into thecoolest, most plea
SAINT spot, his slippers waiting, and Maria
was ready with cheerful smile to give her
Tune to his comfort and enjoyment
Mr.. Willets had always seemed an unde-
monstrative parent I'd Maria. She did rot
realize that his affections needed the smiles
and earesses of dntiful child to warm the
heart which the cares Of business and com
bats with the world, and the different char
actors with which he was brought into con.
slant connections, had well blunted There
Is great difference in natures but hard,
indeed, must the heart of parent become
that finds itself calloused to the loving ca
ASA.'S0 " q u.
Maria 5 changed Influence extended be-
yond her home, too. Many of her gay as
socrates came to realize how selfish were
their aims and aspirations, and how much
there was in the world which they might
and ought to do. The petty jealeusies and
enyylngs seemed to be cast beneath their
feet Maria tried to infuse into her circle of
TRENDS an interest IN art and literature,
love Tor something more substantial, and to-
turn their thoughts from the frivolous OBJ
jects thathnd heretofore claimed so great a.
part OF their conversation, and TO, learn to
practice that charity which seeketh not her
own, thinketh no evil - ifs
II was not without many conflicts that.
Maria attained the true life There were
many times when the old habits of indolence
and selfish indulgence nearly overcSme her
but she persevered, struggled on, and each
day effort broughti It's own reward Ralph
Denny was a constant friend, true adviser
and great helper to Maria in her trials to
overcome. They were not long in learning
how necessary they were to each other and,
strange and unlocked foras such adenounce-
ment had beer, they had promised to make
each other S happiness part of their great
ann, and to work hand in hand In the field
OF labor that to each had grown so plain
Maria was proud of her noble friend of his
strict morality, straightforward integrity,
and uprighteousness of manner and it was
not without little feeling of malevolence
that she listened to the formal offer of the
heart and hand of Carlton Hughes She
waited till his proposal was concluded, then,
eoldly Withdrawing the hand he had taken,
and for which he was pleading with impas-
stoned feryor, she replied in firm, even
tones
Il am not atliberty to listen to your words
sir. am the promised wife of another.
The gentleman started back, disappoint-
ment as well as astonishment written upon
his face
May I ask to whom. and if the promise
Is really binding, so that there sno hopefor
me ~
Certainly. ] am proud to repeat his
name and tell you my promise IS given with
the full, free love of my whole heart. 1t is
Ralph Denny.
Miss Willets, is it possible? No, no, - he
said, with gleam of hope breaking into his
voice, lit cannot be you would thus throw
yourself away.
Maria put up her hand In warning.
4 viii not hear you speak so, she said,
firmly.
''But Ralph Denny told me. more than |
three months since, he would not marry you
that you were not a companion to his taste
I donot remember the exact words. P"
''Let me assist your memory, Mr. Hughes. |
He remarked to you he could not marry |
girl who was living without an aim, and let |
me assure you his words have been blessed /
to me above every word [ ever heard spo-
ken, for they led me to examine the wrong |
way which was treading. and to see the |
miserable, aimless life / was leading but, |
through Gods help, I have benin meas
ure able to reform. Mr.. Hughes, what led |
to that remark?''
A crimson glow burned in the gentleman's
face, but he did not reply
"Mr Hughes you would marry me for |
my fathers wealth and position in society, |
but / believe Ralph Denny viii marry me |
because he loves and, as / am now his /
promised wife, Won viii perceive the COM
petition for Miss Willet's hand is at an
end.
Maria arose from the young mans side.
She pitied his deep embarrassment, and |
holding out her hand. said kindly
''But Mr.. Hughes. do not think I harbor
any resentment. [ hope that you may be
happy: and listen to one who has learned
by a bitter experience that the only road to
runs opposite to self qualification I
and mere worldly pleasure, and that weonly
arrive at the true state when we strive for
the good of others more than our own. III
Maria sphere Of usefulness was widening
each day, humbly, and with no loud preten-
tious efforts; but her aim in lifewas one that
gave peace to her heart, and laid secure +
foundation for the time to come .f i