The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-01-31

could scmi u telegram To her husband ana
he could furnish her with means TO pursue
her journey.
lnquirins Of the ticket age,t the name OF
tho clergyman she hoped to find, ann he.
ing politely directed to lis house. she was
soon at his door and nng the bell. lie
answered the summons In peron, AMI In
few hurried sentences she made known her
misfortunes and her request.
The Rev. Mr.. Ripley was thin tall nnd
straight. lie was apparently about forty
live years ut ugc; polished, hut pompo,is
no particle Of dust could he found upon his
fine blackcloth or nicely polished boots !;
the tie in his cruvat wns ftul,less his hair
was hr,,shel carefully forward to conceal
comm. ial,lncss Very dignifcd. very i'm.
Iortaut, very ministerial appeared the rev.
crend gentleman; hut as Mrs. Herbert
looked into his cold grey eyes. she felt that
benevolcncc was by no means as strong an
clciuent in his composition rs seltisllncss.
Her heart seemed tn chill in his presence /;
she could not help contrasting him, men,
tally, with the good Mr.. Weston, who wns
pastor of her own church at home. All !!
not often hid the hand thrust into the hos.
om oi the tightly hutton'd dress-coat been
prolnpcd by the cold heart beneath Il to
place bright little coin upon the pslm OF
beggared childhood; moi often bad his ioot-
STEPS found their way TO poveriy's door
Vet this unworthy representative Of the
Christian church preached charity tn his
rich congregation. at least twice every
Sabbath and 80 tar rs he himself was con-
ccrncd made preaching supply the place OF
prnctice.
.Nladain.' he said, after cycling her from
head to foot, "you have apretiy story
but the streets OF l..-are full OF such
stories at the present day. Did listen tn
one half hear Of the kind, should have
my house flled with poor mendicants all
the time, and perhaps few OF them would
be worthy my respect"
Mrs. Herbert turned from the inh0sp.
table door Of the Rev. Mr.. Ripley. Tho
cool il,solcnce with which he had treated
her had almost driven courage from her
heart but she determined now to seek n
hotel. where at least, she might rest herself
and decide upon some new course OF nc
ton. She had eaten nothing since morn-
in: indeed, she had not even thought 0f
food; but now she Gel, faint and weary,
and the Consciousness that sho was alone,
in strange city, iiicndlcss and penniless.
with the shades ofevcning already falling,
quite unnerved her. As she glanced up
and down the street the first thing that nj.
trnctc,l her attention was--not n public
house sign, bit in large gilt letters tho
wouls-Nnsonic Hall Her heart gave n
quick joyful jump. Her husband belonged
tn the Masonic Fraternity, aud she knew
that any duty a Mason owed to his brother
hc owed equally to that brothers wife or
daughter. She remembered also. that to
nearly all OF the happiness she had known
in all her lie. Hut familiar us she hal
been with its workings in her native cify,
she had never realized is universally; and
never understood how, like some great tails
sla,,ic bolt. IL circles the earth. embracing
all mankind in its protecting folds: soften.
ing the asperitics oil dissenting rcligionists;
shedding the purple light Of love all tho
fierce rapids of commercial life, enliehten-
ing and ennohling politicians and harmon
izing Their conflicting sentiments upon u
sense Of kindred.
Mrs. Herbert paused irresoluie. What
would she not now give for knowledge
of one mystic sign, by which TO call her
husbands Masonic brothers to her side?
Men were passing rapidly up and down
the street elegantly dressed ladies' were
out enjoying the delicious GOODNESS Of the
evening, for the day had been sul,ry, hut
among all the husy throny there was not
one whom she felt at liberty to accost.
A gentleman wus passing her. leading a
little girl by the hand. With quick ges.
lure she arrested his step. She Ind oh
served nothing peculiar in the stranger $
face indeed she had not noticed II ut all,
hut Maltese cross was suspended from
his watch guard, snd the moment she dis
covered il she had individually lifted her
hand tn prevent his passing her.
The stranger looked Mt her inquiringly.
"Will YOU excuse me for addressing you,
and please tell me IL YOU are Mason"
IL am, he replied.
10, sir my husband is a Mason, and per-
hnps you would bc kind to your brother s
wife,"
"Where docs your husband live !"
.ln Boston. Ills name is G. w. Her
bert he isofihc INN oi ''erbrr'' Jackson
II CO., L-strect' ! was on my way
tn hii,i from WISCONSIN. o", nave "ec"
robbed oi the means o' paying my 'are'
and the conductor refused 10 'aSc me inr
!her. nave appNeu 10 'he nsV' Mr'
kiP'ey' anu nc turi'cu mo h's""'hsy "o"'
h's Io"r' =,
"Ihc oil hypocrue' muuere" the srn'
ticnaih Mrs heroer. my mousse Is ou'
one block distant, ana u Is m your service
My VILE w,ii make you welcome ana com
Portable W'ii you accept our hosp'ia''
M =,
~, s'r' how gladly ANA i'an'ah' :
hour later MIS- tier'er was ie,resn'hg
herself mt the Widespread table OF Mr. hch
d'rson, trst officer of Eureka Con'inaii'
dery. No. II.
When supper was over, MIR. Henderson
said to his wife. al have a few minutes
business down down town; will return ,,s ''n'9e. .,
% bo%s'. ""' ''' '''' '''' ~ "