Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-15

the spectacle of her friends, Hepsey
and Esther, conducted, weeping, to tie
"anxious seat" failed to move her
60 cannot: it would not be honest.
Such was Lucy's creed; and her flower
like beauty concealed an undying
strength, even as beneath the mountain
slopes enameled with butter cnps
spreads the indestructible granite.
By the afternoon of the third day
widespread excitement had seized
upon the camp A rugged and reserved
people like those of New England are
most formidable when under the intiu-
ence of unexpected emotion. The very
novelty Of sensation and expression as
.ounds them. Strong men sobbed;
women became hysterical young girls
rushed forward and fell upon their
knees; the elders went to and fro
among the crowd, expostulating, ex-
planning, entreating. Over all rang at
intervals the voices of the choir IN
wild, sweet snatches. A darF thunder
cloud for moment hid the sun, and
one low peal shook the air. Brother
Parker stood again by Lucy; he held
her hand She was excited and IN
tears, but she was firm. Just then a
stir took place near them. A young
man with bowed dead was hurried past
by the two elders. His face was hid
den in his hands, but Lucy could not
mistake. A sudden tide of emotion
shook her soul If Kane Welded if
Kane were going to that place-then
she would go too.
Was NOT her place by HMM time
and eternity? Brother Parker felt the
fingers culver in his grasp, the resist
ance slacken. Another moment he had
| led her forward She was kneeling-
kneeling by Kanes side; and this victo-
ry of an early affection, which was to
him as a heavenly one, had power to
bring tears like rain down the good
mans cheeks. Sweetly rang the hymn
over them, the cloud hoated past, the
clear sunshine streamed in and bathed
the place, and heaven seemed to smile
upon the scene
To our young lovers-who shall say2
To some hearts God has revealed him
self in this manner. We may not dare
to question. But with their deeper
thoughts mingled the strange sweet
ness of being there side by side-the
earthly blended with the unearthly, as
it will do while we are things of earth.
Don't let her converse with any
one, Sister Wider" said Brother Park
er as he restored the agitated Lucy to
her friends. "Keep her aloof this
evening. Let no vain conversation or
gossip arise to disturb the impression
on her mind Tomorrow we will talk
with her further"
Oh, Brother Parker, had you noticed
the hand clasp, warmer and more ling
ering than became those who met
merely upon a spiritual platform, ex-
changed between your young converts
| Did you hope to make matters quite
safe for the important conversation of
| the morrow Oh, Brother Parker,
who shall guess or compute the moral
blindness which Cupid can throw over
even good mans soul
SO Mrs. Wilder kept Lucy "aloof,
Poor Kane, lowering about the family
group for chance of word, found only
downcast lashes on the part of his idol,
and discouraging looks from the rest
| Father, mother, brother Nathan, sister
in-law Ellen, and faithful Draxy, all
were determined that there should be
no "philandering that night at least.
| So the flame in Kane's soul, thus re-
pressed, burned more holly than ever
and at "murk midnight" he was still
lying, unable to sleep, and longing for
the dawn, his eyes fxeo on the fair
head not a yard from him.
A slight movement showed him that
| Lucy, too, slept not. In a moment,
prudence and propriety alike forgotten,
he had gentlyipushed his pillow some
inches nearer,
"Lucyw
Such tiny whisper Smothered by
| Deacon Aliens hearty shores, it would
scarcely have caught the attention of
Fine Ear, but lucy heard.
She half turned, her face dyed with
scarlet bushes, as she saw that bold
head so near. "Oh, don't ~ she
breathed somebody will hear ~
They are sound as dormice,' whis-
pered Kane; they won't wake. Do
let Inc speak, Lucy. | shall die if you
won't listen. This afternoon, when [
knelt there, you know: | said to God,
O Lord, l will be good man and a
church member, with thy help, but
how can l be anything good unless /
have got the girl 1 love to go along with
me 2 Oh, let ne have her Lord And
just then, Lucy, your dress rustled, and
you came and knelt down by me. /
knew it in a moment, though 1 didn't
open my eyes. And then l felt that
the Lord was as good as they say, and
/ took it as sign from Him that l was
to have my hearts desire, and l prayed,
Lucy-with all my might for the first
time in my life. Did you pray, too,
/ 1arlinp2'