Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-19
.ELENE ADAIR,. :.
BY ZILMA ZERLE. =


siXtec., c..lilg for nothing lor noh0dy.-
She Eai ulntitrr to give her kind aut
t ylng advies. aud though: n IA her " 4.
II gp"'! lnan,. be- q ii LOT nnderstaud tn,
Wa ~ plt glag into snbiecsion tie wild
| yJutg ia;iy h BOD 50 F'leife grew 10 AN
tatcniiIvat q, uuttaiteI flower Her! oiC
aun sometimes demonstrated, but the
more she sad the worse Elene seemed tC
be, so the old lady did as Elder Adair did,
"kept her le4ce - thinking tucely there
e5ce. a time when the waves of Youthful
/ fancies Of their own accord break on con
tending ROCKS, aud expose the 2eep feeling
! soul wi hlD.
Elene had her sports the hunted with
her dogs aud her gup,4 fished and raced
! herhorEe when the mood seIzed her, which
was very often. She had no companion
when in school, for her nature was not
| like other children's. She studied well,
eut tormented both teacher and scholars
! 10 her hearts content as.+-. ~.
: One day in June the had rambled and
roamed about all day loug, and coming
gayly tripping to the house. passed on into
the parlor. her dogs, Festus and Paul,
closely folloWing behind her hat in hand
hair falling loosely back, held by a comb,
and turning ltke1 into curls at the end q
fevefi~h b glow on her cheeks, all combined
to mako her look like a gypsy sprite Of
the woods. On the threshold she sud-
d9nlg halted. fora handsome young stran-
ger conVersed with her father, who arose
and introduced him as Mr. Lester. Ex-
cusing himself to attend to his farm duties,
he left Elene to entertain him, without
one word as to who he was . .--. .es p
She was pleas ant in conversation, and O.
good listener, which is better than good
talker SO they conversed agreeably for
81 nae time, when the church was spoken
about, and Mr.. Lester asked her something
CONCERNING their church in Stanton =
Indeed, sir, I know nothing at oil
about TIE church here; Il is q place Enever
go to. " And she raised her d 1rk restless
the dislike she felt :. --
He looked at her with surprise for few
moments, then said, sas
"Exeuse the question, but your father is
an :, elder" is he not ?'' # l...se.s; go %
:, g Yes he is but EaQa is not I, you must
know" e -
Surprise gave away to pity in his eyes,
speak with such carelessness on such q
subject. ... o.
"And may I ask, Miss Adair, why you
do not attend church ?" -
t>Ob, I can easily explain that y she an
sWered, little nettled by his inquisitive-
ness "just because never could sit still
long enough to hear q sermon, for what
stirring creature could sit a whole hour and
listen to a preacher iumblng together
words to tell the fate of mankind and
after he is through, poor old Webster feels
terrific loss; all his overgroWn words are
gone, aud these have been tied together
by Latin, Greek and Hebrew. And oh,
sach a cOOglOmeratiOn of wisdom who
could sit and drink it into his being !!
conld you she asked, looking at him ro-
guishly.
Darwin Lester was sure then that Elene
Adair did not know that he was the new
minister called to Stanton, and he answer
ed firmly and emphatica!1y- -.....
'f Yes, I can listen to a sermon"
"Can you? Do you go for your own
edification and improvement, or because
others go or do you like to note the last
fashion cut ?"
81 go to preach the Gospel to men,"
answered Darwin with emphatic pride.
For a moment only was Elene discon-
certed; she gave him one hurried glance,
and the solemn frmaess of his face re-
stored her to herself and she burst into
merry laugh. Darwin Lester did not ex-
pect such turn, because he did not yet
know her. After laughing awhile she
nonchalantly said,
Had I only looked at you I might
have kuown You were q preacher, because
your nose IS SO long"
This speech opened his eyes completely
to her nature, and the lecture he was
framing for her he never gave her.
II suppose you are the new p: eacher?
heard papa saying something about one
coming"
81 am. Miss Adair; and hope among
my people there are not many like your
self.''
II aul the only one; papa says go, any
how. But, Mr.. Lester let me tell you
now-do not trouble me, and I'll not
trouble you for of all creatures whining
preachers are the most despisable. How
much hate them never let me have cause
undertaking here. Come, Festus and Paul,
let US go and feed the chickens" And off
Sue started whistling; then she struck into
Scottish song,- .... . 90.
sob whistle and I'll come 20 you, my lad"
=. smile crossed the lines about Darwin
ester's mouth as her voice foated back
to him, and he thought beneath that II ok
less exterior was a deep loving heart.
Life had lot been ali sweetness to him;
she who should now lave been his honor
ed wife was another bride, and the wolnd
in his heart which her dagger Of conquest
had made was not yes healed He was
calle to Stanton to preach, and he and
his widowed mother would make it their
nCmes u6 NOAIU stay dt IAu6E Add.L uhGAl
her coming.
Hearing voices, he Voluntarily arose and
went to the window, ard there stood Elene
dispep sing food to an army of poultry, and
taking to them all the while; when her
a1nt's voice put in.- ..........-
''Elene, child did you know the minis
ter was here?" @-|
eyes ma'am; I saw him and talked with
bin; and, auntie, 1 cannot help th5aking
how much he resembles that turkey there. "
Amt Mary disappeared instapter. and
E;ere, laughing, looked up to the win
dow, and seeing Mr. Lester, only said,-
'YoI do not believe it. do you?"
On Sunday he asked her if she would
attend church.
"No, sir" was her candid reply.
Glow shall you spend the day, Miss
Adair?"
"'You are very inqaisitive, bat, as you
are prercher, will overlook it and tell
you; in reading, writing, and having a
good time in general, said she, bowiBg to
him and leaving him alone.
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