The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-15

Inc singing was congregational, a
method very beautiful in theory, but usu
ally something fearful in practice. Good
Deacon G0idthwaite sounded the first
mole; it can hardly re said he led the
tuue, tof certainly no one followed him
The tune was Hebron" go sweetly SOL
emn and, despite some Earring dlscords,
there was real music in the performance.
There were all kinds &C NOTES.-THE dea-
cons cracked aud trembling tenor, which
played him such odd tricks at some of the
high notes; the rough bass of some OF
the young farmers the quavering treble
OF thin faced matrons, singing with more
OF piOus feryer than of correctness; and
the loud, ringing tones OF the voting girls,
sweet with the sweetness Of youth and
health.
When the hymn was given out, Hardy
had turned to the page, and, as the peo-
pie rose, he moved up the pew and held
the book for the stranger, who, with a
gesture of acknowledgment, looked over
the page with him. The first verse was
not half finished when sweet, clear
Voice took up the strain, end seemed to
fill the whole church with melody. When
it first te,i ON his ear Hardy looked quick
y down st the singer beside him; but
her eyes were fixed on the book At the
second verse he too joined in, With voice
rich, strong, and as perfectly modulated
as the lady's, 1t was now her turn to lit
her eyes To see what manner of man il
was with whom she was singing. She
saw pair % fine dark eyes looking down
into her own with glance OF undis-
guised, though respectful admiration. She
met his gaze steadily for an instant, and
then her eyes were calmly turned to the
page again, her face still wearing its Sc
rcnely unconscious look, as if she were
too Wei used to being looked at and ad-
mired To be disturbed in her quiet and
devotional frame of mind. Swcetly the
two trained voices rose and fell with the
majestic MEASURE; and unconsciously the
rest were led by them, until something
more like harmony prevailed than Was
often heard IN the little meeting house.
The "long prayer" was indeed long
and the sermon longer and then, with
one more hymn, the service closed. Hardy
stoOd holding open the pew door while
the lazy passed out, bestOwing upon him
grave bow as she did SO. He followed
with his eyes her graceful figure as she
moved down the aisle, and had some
thought Of joining her In her walk back
10 the tavern; but when he reached the
door she had disappeared.
He spent the rest of the day lazily lying
on the grass under the apple-trees. A
twilight he took long stroll, thinking
tenderly the while Of his dark eyed ab
sent charmer; and, after that, sat at his
window and looked at the stars till ht
grew most unromsntically sleepy. AS ht
leaned out to draw together the shutters
he heard 3 low voice in the next room
singing part Of the hymn of the morn
ing:
Spring flowers renew their rich perfume,
But ere another spring they hy;
Our lie IL longer than their bloom
Our bloom il sweetcr, yet We die"
He listened intently, but there was M
more. a marvelousIy sweet voice." ht
said. 81 wonder who she is"
The next morning he was awakened b,
great noise and confusion below, and
looking out, saw the Gathering stage
coach once more at the door. A stout
gray haired gentleman was handing int
it lady III travelling dress and q greer
gauZe veil. The coach rumbled away
and an hour later Hardy himself departed
Benton, its church, and the fair-faceC
stranger soon fading from his thoughts
H.-M0ONLIGIIT, MUSIC, LOVE, AM
FLOWERS.
The time is year later-thc scene tn,
small town of G., which lies on tn,
Ohio river, in the good State of Pennsyl
Vania, and which Is remarkable only fol
\ &c Falxa n tor hNr
other small, thriving towns scattered al
over the land. The steamboats, from
Pittsburgh 10 Wheeling touch there, which
is the only circumstance connected with
the place necessary to mention.
In pretty wooden villa in the quie
outskirts OF the town lived Mrs. Horton
sia Barlow, a charming lady, whose two
passions were music aud match making
A. very moderate amount of musical talcn
was sufficient to open alike the doors OF
her house and her heart to almost any
body; and she was always finding some
new wonder. at present the object o.
her enthusiasm was Mir. Hunt, gentle
man of some thirty FIVE years, the owner
of handsome estate few miles from
C, and the pOssessor OF glorious
bass voice, which, when exerted TO its ut
most, fairly made the ornaments on the
chimney piece of the Barlow cottage
trcmble in their places. He was 8 large
clumsy man, with a large head-whict
perhaps had not great deal in ii --bu
with large, soft heart, fair share .
good sense, the breeding of gentleman
and the best temper in the world.
Mis. Barlow had party of gay youns
people staying in her house, and amOns
them was the beautiful Miss Ada Morris
the daughter of a wealthy citizen of Phil
adelphia. Mr.. Hunt had met Miss Morri
in Washington the previous winter, and
like a great many before him, had falleI
deeply in love with her. He had con
fided the state Of his affections To Mrs
Barlow, who loved nothing better thai
forwarding the matrimonial schemes O
her friends, End readily promised him al
the aid ia her power. Such, indeed, wa
her confidence in her own abilities tina
she deemed the match as good as settled
1t might have been with some girls
but Miss Morris WAS not quite an cas-
person TO manage Accustomed to be al
mircd and wooed, the situation had m
novelty for her. She could be as COOL
critical of sutton as if the handsom
head she carried on her shoulders ha
been many years older than it was. Sh
had warm heart though, and was N
doubt willing enough to fall in love shoul
the proper object present himself; bu
DIR. Hunt was not that object. She like
the man well enough, enjoyed his fin
singing, smiled secretly at his awkward
neos, and amiably helped him ont of tn
absurd situations he was always gel
ting into; but that was all. Mrs. Bal
low managed TO throw the two CONSTANT
together, and-most important of all, i
her estimatiOn-contrived that the
should be constantly singing togethe
AS the good lady heard, day after da,
Mr.. Hunts magnificent bass minglin
with and sustaining the pure soprano
her friend, she mentally declared that
girl must be more or less than human [
resist voice like thatl
But Mr.. Hunt was less sanguine. Tn
poor man felt, through all the charmn
and gracious kindness of Miss Morris
manner, the subtitle infusion of a certai
silent but irrestible prohibitory force, til
weapon of defense which woman Of tn