Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-08-22

uo very wei lot aWnlle, Mary shipped the mo-
ey In her hand, and left with the widow
blessing; and when she, on arriving at hom
searched up the old collar she had thought
discard and after darning, to use a laundres
phrase, she done it up and thought
would look passably genteel, so true is it ths
the cheerful mind, contented with itself. give
a pleasant coloring to all In which it is inte,
ested
Very soon after Mary Irving left Mrs. Mi
ton, she was told Mr.. Elton was in her draw
ing-room, and arraying herself in one of Ma
rvs most becoming caps, she made her ap
pearance with many gracious smiles. After
short chat ON general topics, Mr. Elton state,
the cause of his visit. He had just heard of
Mrs. y Harra, and come to solicit Mrs. Mil
tons interest In her favor, who as soon as b.
and proposed they should walk Immediately t,
the poor creatures house." Mr.. Elton de
lighted at such hearty concurrence of hi
wishes, gladly agreed, and in few moment
| they arrived at her house, just as Mary Irving
| had gotten out of sight.
| Mr.. Elton in his usual prompt and KIND
manner enquired into her affairs, and told hel
if she stood in need of anything to let them
know, as his companion would gladly relieve
any wants she could, And Mrs. Milton in hel
| sweetest tones confirmed what he said; ; and
| she hlushed with delight when she saw the
handsome preacher look on her with admira-
tion, for he was beginning to think her truly
! lovely woTaan
In her truthful, plain manner Mrs. O'Harra
thanked them, and told her difficulties, and ex-
patiated warmly on Mary Irving kindness, and
expressed her fears of what would have been
her fate if ''the darling young lady, had not
heard OF her, for the rich she said had neg
lected and mistreated her. and she told of how
the wealthy Mrs. Milton had only that even
ing served her-the poor woman it must be re-
membered, did not know that lady personally,
consequently the startled manner of Mr.. Elton
and confusion Of his companion were wholly in
eXplicable to her. Mrs, Milton stammered
out
THE servant must have made mistake"
Never bit of it darlnt, for | heard her
tell the mistress | was waiting for the fifty
go tell the woman to go about her business"
A considerable pause succeeded this, for Mr..
Elton felt embarrassed, and indeed distressed
for be 1t known, the gentle fame was well
nigh klndling in his breast, and to have it thus
suddenly extlnguished was painful. Oh! what
is more sorrowiul to high and we'll toned
mind than to become conscious of deception in
character to which it had attributed virtues
and principles of the purest order. Mrs Mil
ton too was confused, and not knowing how to
extricate herself, she threw purse in Mrs
0 Harra's lap and left the house.
But although she heard the grateful widow
invoke blessing on her head, and Mr.. Elton
with gentemanly politeness accompanied her,
and with christian delieacy forbore mentioning
the occurrence, but conversed on other subjects,
this was no palliation, she was unhappy, for
Heaven smiles not on ''Ostensibe Charity"
She had spent her money without gaining
credit in his sight, and without enjoying the
heavenly Sabbath to the feelings that blesses
the heart that prompts to deeds of charity
from a pure motive; yet she showed not her
ehagrin, but while her face was serene and
cloudless as an Italian sky, revenge was in her
heart, and only waited the opportunity to vent
its hurricane on Mary Irving, whose angelic
charity had been so vividly contrasted with her
own, and whom she looked upon as the robber
of her good name. She felt that Elton had
fathomed her conduct and searched out the
deep hidden ishe had hoped) frailty that pro-
duced it.
This was mortifying, indeed, to Mrs Milton
who wished to be first with all, and from her
agreeable manners and social disposition, she
had been looked upon by Society,"" that great
affair In small towns, as nOnpdrelt, and now it
was too much to have her conduct contrasted
with Mary Irving s-the gentle Mary, who in
her isolation was overlooked, or merely consid-
cred convenience to the fashionables not an
associate even, much less a leader.
The next Sabbath morning as Mr.. Elton
walked to church with the old pastor, they
passed Mary and her modest beauty greatly
pleased our young clerical friend, whose pleas
ure was almost unbounded on learning she was
the lovely character Mrs. O'Harra had depic-
ted In few days he managed to become ac-
quainted with her, and in few months Mrs.
Milton had the modification of seeing Mary
Waldo Elton.