The weekly standard., 1869-09-22


cried Nellie Clifton, with CLEAN OF mis-
chief in her brown eyes, which boded no
GOOD to the subject of herwonder.
"Ihope so for his own sake" replied l;
'but somebody has discovered that 'he is
still in manly meditation fancy free.
ssWhat a mercy it would be to him, then,
to make him think of something besides his
books.n returned Nellie, with the air of a
good Samaritan.
ssNellie, Nellie, you must respect the
clotbr II isn't lawful to fiirt with a min
ister."
GA mans man for a that, and a. that"
she sang defantly, as she twirled round like
n ballet dancer on the toe of her boot.
Nellie Clifton was originally cut out for
n fiirt of the most unmerciful kind; but ma
ture had giyen her q warm heart, which
went far TO save the mark. She had often
made me little call in the morning, staying
in one SPOT about as long as butterfly does
to rest his wings; and as the. substance of a
woman's letter is always in the postscript,
she usually said the thing which she came
to saw lust as she was leaving our doorstep.
As She reached the gate with whirl, it
was, suddenly opened for her by young
man coming in; he put out his hand to
keep her from falling, and their eyes met for
one long instant; if their souls met, too, in
that giance. as young souls have habit of
doing. only one of them knew it. Nellie
walked slowly across the street to her own
door, and Fred Olney, my sailor cousin,
came in.
ST am so glad to see youl When did
your ship get in 2" -- -. - y - -
who is she ?" he exclaimed, without so
much as how-d'ye do, by way of greeting,
after his two years cruise.
"Oh, that's Nellie Clifton! She was at
boarding school when you were here last
and in pantalettes before that She has more
bcanx than she knows what to with now,
so she don't want you.n
We'll, Iwant her, which is more to the
purpose That is the girl have been look.
ing for for years."
5:How many, Fred2 1 remember wher
you wore long dresses, and am not 'in the
sere and yellow leaf yet myself, so you car
afford to wait long while for a wife Mel
lie needs an elderly husband, or perhaps E
minister, to train her continually in the way
she should go; for she would wofully de
part from it if you left her for a long goy
age" -. t.-..-r,
Never you fear but 1 am elderly enough
for her. Youth is fault that meuds every
day, and do you see that moustache? sale
Fred, pulling at some very soft down which
nestled on his upper lip - OIL e5.s.s>-
The fact is, you're jealous that hav,
eyes for any woman but yourself; but vii
graciously forgive you, if you will give me
chance TO make love to that little beaut,
over the way
IF you are really In earnest Fred, you
enc chance is to court her by contraries
Indifference is the only phase in gentle
mans manner that she is not familiar with.
Then half dozen more cousins, hearing
Fred, poured out of the house with rusl
OF welcome and took possession of him 70
the day.
We either chose mission, or have on
put to US, and if people call me matchma
ker and have reason for it, I still find som
compensation in the happiness which hay
grown out Of one or two marriages which
have helped to make.
Before Fred's arrival I had made up m
mind that Nellie Clifton was precisely th
person to fascinate studious young minis
ter like Mr.. Gray. A minister must have
wife most of them have two or three befor
they die) and as Mr.. Gray had been wonde
fully preserved from feminine snares throug
his college and seminary life, it did seel
foreordained that he should find a wife
our parish. ., ,.-.
When DR.. Perceval, after long pastoras
left our flock without shepherd, we sat
long under the preaching of candidates
that it began to look as if our fastidiousne
would never be satisfied with any mort
minister At last Rev. Ernest Gray cam
saw and conquered US with one sermo
1t was sermon full of thought and promis
but did think it was really his palene
which won the motherly hearts of the ma
rons, and the tender ones of the maiden
and settled him over the first church
Weston. "~itf+
He had seen Nelly Clifton in his pastor
call on her father, at the Sunday School,
which she now felt a renewed interest; an
in church there was no sweeter face in whit
to read the impression of his preaching.
At their first meeting in the sewing circl
it surprised no one to see the minister ling,
all the evening In her neighborhood, talkin
earnestly, while she listened with a swe
humility. There vas a tender, sympath
zing tone, and dash of sentiment in b.
low replies, which brought new look ini
Mr.. Gray's expressive face. She had alread
made him think of something else besid,
his books. .->,......,..,..... n
He gave her his arm on the homewar
walk, and as I passed them at Nellie's doc
she let her hand rest in his, while she sait
with eye-lashes lying thick and soft on ht
cheeks: sseeg5s.a .a.I- ..FE.religi51ssf
(" am SO glad you think there is SON
good in me. I will try to be good if 70
will help me.n "a, r-.-l 's.rr,l,'',.
"My dear Miss Nellie" the minister b
gan. And then realized that I was a Lii
tener, and fled. '.-'-'---ii.'. =. :. =
Vanity is not less flourishing in the min
isterial breast than in the rest OF the se1
and there is nothing like humility for strok
ing 1t the right way, which Nellie knew b
instinct. Women generally fall in love wit
mnr whom thsT bei;ere q be great Stea
better Or 8 great 3eal wo,se thaa thenlselve,
II the one case, tl.ey. set mp anidol and wol