Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-31
Talts and Sketehes.
WILL SHE RIDE OR WALK?


out one over the mill-dam another along
the fats the longest of all bridges the
river, and then going on and on, the
straight wide street steadily rising until il
overlooks the bay suddenly bends like the
crook of finger, until its tip touches the
water.
1t is ladder hill of difiiculty--to the
dwellers at this end of the town, most of
whom began life at its foot, in the dingy
shops and tenement-houses there, and
have slowly struggled up; some to the
long blocks of comfortable dwellings
Others, going on still farther, have reached
the more pretentious point of all-that ly-
ing close down to the water upon the
other side.
There is an air of newness, flavor OF
Jonah's gourd about the Italio- Chinese
pagodas with French roofs here They
seem, indeed, to have sprung up in
a night, the dampness of the mould still
clinging to them There is straining
after pinnacles and towers and topknots in
rchitecture-after effects quite dispropor-
toned to means in landscape gardening,
! and, in fact, an evident attempt to crowd
to their utmost capacity the present limited
space and time.
roek-gold. Another generation will de-
velop the fine arts, and possibly the
sciences.
In the mean time will tell my little
story.
Paul Hayes was sent here to preach the
gospel, for there are churches. Some of
| them, even, even SO soon, are beginning
to pride themselves not upon their sancti-
ty, but upon the high social position OF
their members in other words, upon the
distance at which they live from the foot
of the street, which is their social scale.
Fortunately, Paul's church was not
among these. II one has to deal with
ignorant people, it is better to take them
in the rough. Iron in its natural state
holds wonderful possibilities. But iron
spoiled in the smelting-what can one do
with it
His church was only a mission chapel,
supported by richer society of the same
denomination; his people-the men and
hands. But he was young and strong,
and believed himself called of God, which
is the best preparation for any work He
threw aside his books and read men.
There are few exceptions to the house
nav Z NtSNLi ipNNi III tiiS lIOlC dllSlOtIttlC
part of the town. One will suffice to
prove the rule. 1t stands away from the
street, just below the staring white hotel
that crowns its rise. 1t is square of stone
and painted white. Upon one side is a
pleasant garden Possibly it was built in
colonial time, when the saltwind swept in
here from the sea, unbroken by anything
save these walls and the scatteredremnants
Of L. L., Al.
spirit of modern times as to don mansard
roof, but the tall Corinthian pillars still
| remain, as we'll as the wide stone steps,
with a lion couchant upon either side.
Nesey Welles stood upon the hearth-rug
in the long, low drawing room, awaiting
the coming of her guests. Ordinarily she
might be trihe pale-quet, possibly
though with depths quickly stirred by the
dropping of n careless stone. Tonight
she was flushed, tremulous, excited.
"By the way" said her father, pausing
at the door as he passed through the hall,
al met that young minister-Hayes, you
know-this morning, and asked him up
to dinner"
but don't know" responded Vesey,
as he passed on, her eyes growing wider
and wider in dismay: II don't know him
at all. And tonight of all nights !" she
half-sobbed, pulling at the flowers in the
porcelain vase before her. until the one red
rose dropped all its petals at her feet.
1t was to be the last of the pleasant eve
nings that had frightened all the winter.
Darrel Winslow and his mother were COM
ing to dine with them once more before
going home. They had been boarding at
the hotel Just above, two or three months.
Nesey had built so many hopes upon this
evening. But now
She was fastening a bunch of daphne
sweet-scented, velvet -leafed-into her belt,
when Paul entered the ROOM Passing
fair" he said to himself, at glimpse Of
the bent head.
The Rev. Paul Hayes!n announced the
servant. She turned quickly not catching
the name, hearing only the sound of feet
and the opening Of the door, But the
flush upon her face was not for him. The
maladresse with which she hesitated and
then came to meet him was something
strange in Vesey-graceful, self-possessed.
IL am Miss Welles," with rather un-
necessary frankness. "My father will be
down in moment. He was unusually
late from town tonight" The last words
were uttered with her grandest air, in her
efforts to compose herself.
''But naughty and cold,n Paul added
mentally, as he turned away to meet her
father
Then, at last. Mrs. Winslow and Darrell
came.
"Who the----is this MANI" looked out
of barrels eyes, as Vesey, grown sudden
y shy, presented him to Paul, and Paul to
barrels mother.
$50 glad, I'm sure" murmured Mrs.
Winslow, eifusively. "Always delighted
to meet our clergy. Hayes, did you say ?
And where"
Vesey interposed. 1t would never do
to chill the air, already frigid, with theo-
logical differences. Mrs. Winslow was
stanch churchwoman. Paul, she knew,
was of another faith.
"Let me wheel your chair to the fire.
There-so.' She seated her in triumph.
The gentlemen gathered in knot at a
little distance.
"And you really go home tomorrow ?"
Vesey said, sitting down beside her.
"Yes. I've done all my shopping. My