The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-06-16
marry Henry Foster. +"


could not grasp ideas of much moment,
nor handle such as she was able to
grasp with any vigor or grace.
81 should like to know" returned
Bessie with spirit, if / am not likely to
have my share of chickering's and strife,
if stay here and don't get married +"
"That depends upon how far you
control your temper, Elizabeth"
"And SO it does in MARI iage, ] sup
pose"
Miss Mercy found herself involved
in an argument, when she had simply
intended to play the part OF a preacher
in his pulpit, warning and reproviug
without being answered She accepted
the challenge in tone of iced pugna-
city, which indicated in part certain
imperfect habit OF self-control, and in
part the the understandable peeyishness
of a. chronic invalid.
81 don't say folks will necessarily be
unhappy in merridge," she went on.
"Merridge is a Divine ord nance, an
Pm obleeged to respect it as SUCH l
do, suppose, respect it more'n some
who've entered into it. But merridge,
to obtain the Divine blessing, must not
be yoking with unbelievsrs. That's
the trouble with fathers wife she amt
a professor. There, too,'s the trouble
with Henry Foster; he's not one of
those who've chosen the better part
l want you to think it all over in sober
ness OF sperrit, Elizabeth"
sit is the only thing you know
against him." replied the girl, flushing
with the anger Of outraged affection.
"No, it amt He's brung home
strange ways from abroad. He smokes
an drinks beer an plays cards; an his
form seldom dalkens the threshold of
the sanctuary. Elizabeth, | must be
plain with you on this vital subject. I'm
going to be as plain with you as your
own conscience ought to be. l see it's
no use talking to you bout duty an the
lite to come. | must-there's no sort
of doubt about It'll must bring the
things of this world to bear on you.
You know I've made my will ; I've left
every cent Of my property to you,-
twenty thousand dollars Well, if you
enter into merridge with that young
man, | shall alter it. l amt going to
have my money,-the money that my
poor God-tearing aunt left mel amt
going to have it fooled away on card
players and scorners Now there it is,
Elizabeth. That's what my duty tells
me to do, an what shall do. Ponder
it well, an take your choice"
81 don't care" burst forth Bessie,
springing to her feet. II shall tell him,
and if it makes no difference to him, it
will make none to me-"
Here creak in the floor caught her
ear, and turning quickly she discovered
Henry Foster Entering the house by
side door, and coming through a
short lateral passage to the front hall,
he had reached it i'll time to hear the
close of the conversation and catch its
entire drift. You could see in his face
that he had heard thus much, for
healthy, generous, kindly, and cheerful
as the face usually was, it wore now a
confused and panied expression.
81 beg pardon for disturbing you,"
he said. IL was pelted into the house
to get out Of the shower, and took the
shortest cut"
Bessies Oriental visage flushed to
splendid crimson, and a whittier ashi-
ness stole into the salIow cheek of Aunt
Mercy. The girl, quick and adroit as
most women are in leaping out of en-
barrassments, rushed into strain of
light conversation How wet Profes-
sor Foster was, and wouldn't he go and
dry himselfl What a storm it had
been, and what won ertul, dreadful
thunder and lightning; and how glad
she was that he had come, for it seem
ed an if he were some protection.
There's only One who can protect
u.s." murmured Aunt Mercy, "either in
such seasons or any others"
''His natural laws are our proper
recourse" respectfully replied Foster,
who was religious too, in his scientific
fashion.
Bessie cringed with alarm here was
an insinuated attack on her aunt's favor
lts dogma of special providences the
subject must be pitched overheard at
once.
"What is the news in Hampstead 7"
she asked, ''Has the town gone to sleep,
as Barham has? You ought to wake US
up with something amusing"
"Jennie Brown is engaged" said
Foster. "Isn't that satisfactory I"
30 dear how many times does that
makei I" laughed Bessie sis it a stu
dent again 7"
"Yes, it is a student.
"You ought to make it college Of
fense for students to engage them
selves, )" continued Bessie "You know
that they can hardly ever marry, and
generally break the girls hearts"
"Have they broken Jennie Brown's7
She doesn't believe it, nor her present
young man either. I've no doubt he
thinks her s good as new"
II dare say. But such things hurt
girls in general, and you professors
ought to see to it, and | want to know
why you don't. But is that all the
newsi That's such q email matter
such an odd sort of thing! If l had
| coma from Hamnstaad / znnld have