Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-12-01


thinking of that Higher Pantheism' wher
| met you. and repeating to myself
IT'S not the vision He? though He be not thai
which He seems?
Dreams are true while they last, and do we MOI
live in dreams 2"
IA continuation of my train of ideas,
How shall we account for it? Upon the
principle that our minds met even before
our eyes had seen each other 2"
"a wave of thought which touched US
both. perhaps"
He looked pleased. "Do you then be-
lieve that there is sympatby-although
often uurecoguized-existing between peo-
Iple of certain temperamentsf That mind
acts upon and influences mind 7"
"Yes, I believe it without knowing
why. and it puzzles me isexpressibly."
''Thauk you for acknowledging it.
think many people believe as much. but
for fear of being thought foolish or trans
cendental they will not admit it. am an
enthusiast upon the subject, and fond ol
experimenting. Now, will you make q
compact with me which we shall neither
of US mention to q third pcrson2 We are
eatire strangers; l do not know your name,
nor you mine; will you promise me not to
try ia any way to ascertain my residence
or ideutity. and l will preserve the same
|sileuce 10 regard to you. We are oppo-
sites ia looks and temperament, believe.
We have some points of interest in COM
mon, our admiration fy Teunyson, for iu-
STAGE. shall never read his poems with
out thought of youi and I believe your
miad will in the same way revert to me,
although you must not invest me 10 your
imagination with all the virtues of Sir
Galahad. We will each pray for the other
at our daily morning and evening devo-
tions. and trust to our own minds to ac-
tuate us--by that higher knowledge which
is not instinct-as to our future meetings.
And fully believe that somewhere in the
golden future our life-paths. which have
crossed each other this morning, will meet
and Row on ia the ssne .channei.A -
Il. promise" said Laura, and added, in
a tone of real regret, Il am sorry. but
here is the possofice, and if you do not
hasten you will lose the train"
MANY thanks, be said earnestly. rails
ng his hat aud bowing low in adieu; and
each went their seperate way, but with a
new interest at heart, which they would
carry to the end.
A curious beginning to curious &C.
quaintance. Parkhurst was young min
lister, handsome. talented and just starting.
in life under suspicious circumstances -
Hope aud faith we're predominant traits in
bis character, aud he went on his way as
confident that the beautiful girl with whom
be had just met and parted would some
day be his wife as though they had been
formally betrothed. He had never been
particularly fond of the ladies, or ''he
loved all maids, but none in special" and
this fair, radiant face. with pure spiri-
tual light and grace shining through.
which far transcended any mere physical
beauty, was the one to whom the spirit
cried like Peleas, "Whcre? 0 where {?
I love thee, tho I know thee not"
Laura was lovely, imaginative young
person. possessing strong intellect and
taste for studying into aud pondering
Of all kinds of things. seen and unseen.
OF course this meeting and compact with
an entire stranger took strong hold Of her
imagination, particularly as the stranger
chanced to be one of the handsomest aud
most impressive men she had seen. Al
though minister's daughter, she was no
more religious than the generality of girls.
She had never been given to reading the
Bible very attentively, or to spending
much time at her private devotions. think
ing if she was reasonably regular at fam
lily prayers. that was all that was required
of her. But tonight "On the Heights"
was laid aside while she read of Christi
undying love, and kueeling prayed with
passionate tears. not only for her unknown
friend, but for forgiveness that she had
neglected her childhood's prayers until led
in this way to seek the Throne of Grace.
This new religious Impulse was continued
With a deeper devotional feeling and in-
oreasing interest. as if inspired, as. she
fully believed she was. by stronger
mind. Her reading took an entirely DIFF
ferent turn. One by one the fashionable
publications of the day were dropped. -
some of which she had been in the habit
of surreptiously borrowing and reading
gave way to magazines Of bighor grade.