New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-03

would have dOno4f Mr. rAnsOne hsd looked wise a. Lord
| Builsgh
Tho Rev Rufus Lyon, In lcss sNful hands than those
o. George Eliot, would have been trsome; but hei d'
css touch has made of the little old preacher, VITA as
short legs and big bes and flowing silver yellow mari
with his abstraction from worldly cares his sonP.uia
phraeooy and his habit Of preaching IN season ana out
Of season character Of the most touching beauty Ihere
IL an exquisite pa,hos in the story OF his early hie-'he
romance which Providence had sent 10 him. OF al persons
IN the world: and the mingled happiness ana uouOe the
tender memories and tho keen sefnproaclns' Inc bless
ngs and the uneasness, which II had lei' oehihu H.
There il charming contrast between the smpe-hearted
minister and his sturdy friend Felix Holt and the CONVEX
satons that they bold together are admiabe They have
many noble thoughts in common, though Folk Is not very
fond Of sermons and prayer-meotings. "To talk with
this Young man, who, though hopeful, had
4. snrularity which some might at
have pronounced horesy. but which Mr.. Lyon per-
sisted in regarding as orthodoxy in the making was like
good bite TO strong tocth after too plentiful allowance
Of sPoon-mca" There something amusing and yet far
from being wholly laughabe. in the earnest simplicity
with which the poor preacher takes advantage Of com
pmcntary general onrr of the part of son OF
The rector Of Trcby 10 demand opportunity of publicly
discussing doctrinal questions win that dgnitay of tho
church and the whole of the sboryc meeting sum
moncd 10 listen 90 the debate comca as 1t IS has yet
OF the serious gracewhch author always throws
around tho ministers actions.
But the real beauty Of Rufus Lyons character only
fully displayed when we him contact with his sup
posed daughter Esther II lie Esther who makes the charm
Of the book and whom have no hesitation in pro-
nouncng OF the most perfect creations Of modern TIC
ton. Before we have he feel her influence in
the minister's room where the odoT Of musy books srug
giles with delicate scent Of rose leaves dainty work
tho uant
Gus volumes Of Honry's Commentary; and black bust
OF George Whitfield is condemned 10 vail OF green
eauze because Providence ordained that the good man
should sgunt" The faint suggestion OF garden swaed
as she enters the room and is borne TO Us OF an
elastic walk the tread Of small feet the proud delicate
graceful archng Of long neck. and the simmer OF
high Of shining brown pais with curls that doat
backward "She had that excellent thing in woman,
soft voice with clear fluent utterance. Hef sauciness
always charming because 1t was without emphasis,
and accompanied with graceful little turns OF the
head"
She had one Of those exceptional organizations which are
quok and sensitive without bong in the least moibid she
alive shades Of tue incest distnc
tons Of and she had little code Of her own
about scents and coors behavior by which she
secretly condemned sanctioned all things and persons And
she well satisfied with herself for her iadious tasie
doubling thai hers The highest standard Sho was
proud that the bestborn and haudsomst g az schoo hlu
always said that she might be taken for born LADY Her
own pretty insep Glad 10 elk stocking her te hee JUST
iislng rom kd siplef her ir,ept oaeao,e; mans ana
hers and che felt that II her superiority which made her
unable 70 use without any ou' tno hes nl
kercheis and freshest gloves Her money all went IN the
qualification OF these nice ste and she saved nothing from
science on this score r sSc @ sure that she generous
she hated all meannes would empty her purse mpusYey on
sudden appeal to her PITY and she found ont that her
father had she would supply with pretty device
OF asurprSe Bot then the good man seldom had want
except the perpetual desire which she could crafty Of
seeing her under CONVICTIONS aud tit " become member Of
the church
rate child more he feared than was consistent with the cue
nderanee OF mPersona and ministerial regards he
her spiritual deficiencies in the privacy Of his study aud thea
down stairs to lind himself IN morous subsection TO her
wishes los be inwardy said he should give his teaching
% he snie OF se or other laws OF later date than
Adam and Evei and here this small dngy house Of the
minister IN Nehouse Yard there was light looted sweet
voiced Queen Esther
Estlef had affection for her father; abe recognized tie
purity Of his character and qickness OF Intellect IN him
which responded her vness IN spite u what seemed
dreary ey which selected every thing That least inter
osng and IN life and history But bis Old eothes
had smoky odor and she did not Ike TO walk With him be
when people spoke to him in the street was h won't
insteod Of emsrkng On the wsa'.ea ana pg on 20 pour
ing mind about the traces of the Divine government or
about peculiar incident narrated IN the he OF tue eminent
MI Richard Baxter Esther had horror oil elc
ulous in the OF vulgar Iebans She hnced that
father; she wished she could have remembered
that mother more thoroughly.
Esther and Felix far they apart in the beginning
Esther with her innate fondness for everything that Is
talow candle and loves netting because 1t shows her
shapey foot and hand WHO keeps volume Of Byron hidden
in her work basket and reads Rene ofasunday instead
Of listening to her father Malthouse Yard and Felix
with lis hated Of lady his Tudenes lis open shirt
collar and hs patched colhes-are drawn toward each
other by irresistible attraction. "a peacock! cries
Felix TO himself the first time he her: q" should Like
TO and sco1 her every day. and make her cry and
cut her fine hair eff al think he is very coarse and
rude said Esther with touch OF temper for be had cnt
cized her. and abused Byron and had not admired her
hands or her neck, On her graceful movements. Felix
does scod her and MAXI her cry. She is piqued because
he plainly thinks himself superior 10 herr she is angry
because she cannot help feeling that ho is right.
She down the dull paror up her netting for
since Sunday had ie unabe read when she alone
being obliged spite OF herser think u Felix Hottie
took q life make II seeu valuable in the absence Of
all elegance luxury gsyety or DmaDce Had he yet re-
Perhaps Perhaps he had dismsed her from his mind
with contempt And at that though Esthers eyes smared
upplsassnty She fond OF netting showed
both her hand and her io and this i'm
Felix Hos Indifference and contempt there passed tho
and feet and delight In looking al heir beauty and
long yet not dare 70 ss tne o " Pc laen easef IA
satisfaction that FeH had repoched her with
Did be herocf That seemed HOssIDe with
out some great occasion Her life heap fragments
and her thoughts some great energy wa needed to
hind them together Esther beginning to los her com
paeency AZ her wit cTitcism 10 Lose the OF
perority awakening need for reliance On Ole whose
yson was wider whose nature and rOner
her own But then, she said TO herself that one Inst be
tender TO her not rude and edomnsng In bis mannes
man any ohivSry in him could never adopt Seeding
tone toward a wOman-that is toward charming
But Felix had no ehivay him he loved lecturing and
opinion too well 10 love any woman.
In way Esther that Felix thoroughly
In the wrong-s IL he did again expressly 10
show that he
How the struggle between these two young persons
grows into love- how Esther npens and develops under
the influence Of her shaggy Mentor until the charming
girl who had Ench keen perception Of the signs and