Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-23

made him think that he detected pity in
her kindness. And all this made him
determine TO ask her hand as her equal.
But You do not understand, doctor. rs
do. how irresistible is this conviction of
duty in regard to the ministry. Under
that pressure my friend settled it that he
must preach. And now there was before
him good ten years of poverty at least.
What should he do about il?
"ln this extremity he took advice of a
favorite theological professor. The pro.
tesSor advised him not To seek The hand
of rich girl. She would not be suited
To the trials of minister's lite. But
finding lhat Henry was firm in the opin-
ion lhlt his sound general principles did
not ia the least apply 10 This particular
case. the professor proceeded to touch the
tender cord in the young mans heart
He told him that it would be ungencrous,
and in some sense dishonOrable for him
To take woman delicately brought up,
into the poverty and trial incident to a
ministers life. II you understood. sir,
how morbid his sense q: honor is. you
would not wonder At the inn reSsion this
suggestion made upon him. To give up
the ministry, was in his mind TO he q
traitor to God. To win her, if he could,
was to treat ungcnerously her whose hap
piness was dcarcr to him, thousand
times, than his own"
Il hope he did not give her up" said
the doctor.
"Ycs, he gave her up. in 4 double
spirit of medieval Sclf-sacrticc. Looking
toward the ministry. he surrendered his
love rs some of the old monks sacrificed
love. ambition and all other things TO
conscience. Looking at her happiness.
he sacrificed his hopes in more than kind
" dev otion for her welfare The knights
sometimes gave their lives. He gave
more
For three years he did not trust him.
self to return to his home But, having
graduated and settled himself for nine
months over church. there was no rca-
son why he shouldn't 60 home 10 see his
mother again. And once in The village,
the sight OF the school.houSc and the
church revived thousand memories that
he had been endeayoring to Danish. The
garden walks. and especially the apple
trees. that are the most Interchangeable Of
landmarks, revived the old passion with
undiminished power. He paced his room
at night. He looked out at the new house
OF his rich neighbor. He chafed nnder
the restraint not To think again of Jennie
Morton Ii wa. the old story Of the
monk who thinks the world subdued, but
who finds il all at once about 10 assume
the mastery OF him do not know how
ii might have ended. but it was all at
once stopped from without.
There reached him rumor that Jennie
was already the bctrothed wife Of Colo
mel Pearson, who was her fathers part
ner in business And indeed Colonel
Pearson went in and ont OF Mr MoIton's
gate every evening, and the father was
known to favor the suit.
Jennie was upt engaged to him how.
ever. Three times had she refused him.
The fourth time. in Difference 10 her IA.
ther's wishes, she had consented 10 think
about it, for week. In truth. Henry
had been home ten days and had not call.
ed upon her. and all the weary waiting
seemed in vain. When The Colonel's
week was nearly out. she heard that Hem
ry was to leave in two days. In sort
OF desperation she determined To accept
Colonel Pearson without waiting for the
time appointed for her answer. But that
gentleman spoiled it all by his own over
confidence.
For when he called, after Jennie had
determined on this course, he found her
so full Df kindness that he hardly knew
how to behave with moderation. And so
he fell to fattering her, and fattering
himself at the same time that he knew
the ins and outs of girls heart, he COM
plimented her on the number OF offers
she had received
"'And tell you what, he proceeded,
there ale plenty OF others who would
lay their heads at your feet. if they were
only your equals There's that young
parson, Gilbert. think they call him.
that is visiting his mother in the unpaint-
ed and threadbare looking little house
that stands behind this one. I've actual
ly seen that follow in his rusty, musty
coat, stop and look after you on the street.
and every night when go home he's sit
ting at the window that looks over this
way. The poor fool is in love with you.
Only think Of il. And chnckle to my.
self when | see him, and say, don't you
wish you could reach so high! declare
it's funny
In that one speech Colonel Pearson
dashed his chances to pieces. He could
not account for the sudden return Of
winter in Jennie Morton's manner. And
all his sunshine Was powerless TO dispel
it, or to bring back the least approach OF
spring.
Poor Jennie You can imagine, doc
tor, how she paced the floor all night
She began to understand something OF
the courage Of Henry Gilbcrts heart, and
sop,atbino of tho nnnlinnss of his mo