Middletown transcript., 1868-05-02

minister, even should he be as handsome
and smart as the Rev. Howard Willough.
by"
Kate walked to the window and com.
menced drumming on the pane and watch
ing the great snowfakes as they came auiv.
cring down on the dark earth. But DESPITE
her assumed calmness, she often stole a
quick glance at Miss Dalton, who sat BY
the fireside with idle fngers-a thing un-
usual for her-and a shade of deeper gray
ity on her thoughtful brow. She was
startled by light hand on her shoulder,
and, looking up, noticed her friends eyes,
usually filled with laughter, now shaded
over by tears.
Forgive me Carrie, If 1 have made
you sad. would not blot out one of those
bright lovc-dreams of yours; my heart,
too, has had its episode" A sigh, very
faint, foated from those naughty lips, but
it reached Carrie, who said in unfcigned
surprise
You, Kate, with your troops of lovers
l thought you said you were proof against
Cupid Z"
$50 l am, now, but the past -ah we'll
it is dead, of course, but may be par
doned if visit its grave sometimes, as
cannot help doing this morning for I,
too, was foolish enough to love a minis
ter
"Kate Austin, after all YOU have
said y But seeing the grave look in her
face Carrie stopped short and said tender
ly--" Tell me all about it, Kate; your
confidence is sacred y and she drew her to
her old position at her feet, where, hcsita-
ting moment, she said
The story may do you good, Carrie,
and I'll tell you. You have heard me
speak of my sister Eveline. She was
cousin of mine, and pa adopted her when
only four years old, both her parents
being swept away in one week by an OPT
dcmic. His twin girls, he used TO call us,
for, though very unlike, we loved each
other dearly, and our affection grew with
our growth; we played together, studied
together, and when we were eighteen made
our entree into society together. l re-
member so well how beautifully Eva looked
that night; the white drapcry, SO becom-
ing to her blonde complexion, flowed
around her in soft, graceful folds, the
hazel eyes looked darker from the ioy-
beams dancing over her sweet face, and
the golden hair, which rppled over her
white shoulders, would allow no one to
loop up but myself, and when had fast
ened the dropping blue hyacinths in it
carelessly, and stepped back to view the
effect, " You look angelic" burst from
my lips. "Angels always dress in white
and wear blue hyacinths in their hair"
was the demure reply, while the little rose
of mouth was compressed into a rose
bud to keep the laugh BACK. i laughed,
too, but had secret conviction, all the
time, the angels would not feel annoyed
at the comparison | remember, with
thrill Of pleasure, took more interest in
her attire than in my own. "She shall
be the belle of the evening" said, fondly,
and she cas. She was soon the centre of
a circle, and l forgot my part in watching
the bright CLEANS come and 90 on the fair
face, and i'll listening to the peals of laugh
ter that came from the gay ,throng at the
wit that leaped from her lips as naturally
as bright waters from fountain. Pres
emily noticed gentleman leave the cir
Gle with wearied air, speak to my father
and in moment more | was introduced to
the Rev. Hazleton Murford. | will not
dwell upon that evening, save to say, of
all there Mr.. Murford was the only gen
tleman for whose good opinion l really
cared. l was not jealous of Eva, but it
made me proud that he had turned from
her to me. His conversation showed him
to be SO superior to the coxcombs around
me, of whose insipid talk l was heartily
sick. He was triAe grave, perhaps, but
l liked him all the better for that. There
was spiritual atmosphere around him
which no one within his influence could
help feeling. Yet there was no cant about
him; none Of your religious whining,
which had made me hate more than one of
his profession, and yet the most worldly
felt, :" There walks Christian man." and
vice sank, abashed, from the purity it
could not fail to admire. His sweet, ex-
emplary Christian department won as
many as his words
From the hour l first met him l was
a different being. felt there was some
thing more to live for than round of
gayety. If ever the ladder, with the
angels ascending and descending, was let
down to me, it was then. placed my
foot on the first round, and knew was
mounting heavenward, but it will be
long way ere l reach the top, Carrie,
long way, for despite all the angles can do,
| will stop, sometimes, to let fall some
tears on the love which lef.dead at the
foot of that celestial ladder. Could l
have only taken that along, the climbing
would not have been so hard, it seems to
me but we all must have crosses, sup
pose, to bear with us in our heavenward
way, and that was mine"
Kste turned away to brush some tears
that would come, and Carrie whispered
:" But at the Pearly Gate the cross will van