Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-08-14
A CRAVEN IMAGE.

The doctor had finished reading IN,
chapter, and folding bis gown around him
sank back into his seat. casting a, III,
choir resigned glance. which seemed to
say. Now do your worst" The tenor
had just begun to praise and acknowl-
edge the Lord in the style Of Sir Leolinc's
mastiff. with sixteen short howls;'- Mrs,
Hassan braced herself in the corner of her
pew to endure that long disconnected noise
to which the choir was won't to we'd the
noble words ofthe "Te Deum." when her
attention was diverted from the weekly
agony by an arpari,ion which had at least
the good effect Of closing her ears to the
howis. roars and shrieks. which the four
musicians above thought proper to attri-
butte to the prophets. apostles aud mar.
tyrs.
MS nrparition was pretty woman in
hait-mourning. coming up the aisle with
Mrs. Vale and her daughters who came
In late. rs was their custom.
chill, and then glow Of anger. ran
over Mrs. tiassan, and her husband won
dered what i; was that brought such sud-
den fash into his wife's eyes. lam afraid
that Mrs. llassan's mind, during the
prayers and sermon Of that morning was
not IN Christian frame. Every one in
Mcnango was in tie habit Of exchnre eing
greetings going out Of church: bu. to. .day
Mrs. liassan slipped away from her friends.
and went 20 her Bible class in the SUNDAY
school room.
The girls wondered why she spoke so
emphatirally about the duty and difficulty
OF ;orsiving those who. having injured us.
never think cf needing or asking forgive
ness; but girls are creatures given to Gu
fiosity aud conjecture. and | fear their
minds were rather occupied at guessing a,
Mrs. llassans personal experience than
IN making a practical application Of the
lesson
What's the matter, Classy 2" said her
husband, rs they walked homo together.
Mrs. Hassan's hand tremblcd on ber
husbands arm. as she said in low voice,
"lve seen ghost ~
THAT is nothing. Ghosts, as you know.
run in the family; but they 40 no harm"
'But it's not that so4t. James. ia
FATHER have seen every spirit that ever
walked in churchsard. or even a wchr-
wolf. than that ~oman who came into the
church this morning with the Wales"
''She was n pretty woman enough"
said Mr.. Hassan. What is the matter
with her" Ii
''Shc is Mrs. Armcr. She is widow
now: she was Anna Clayton" {
MIR. Hassnn looked as if he was going !
to whistle; but. being in the street, be re-
Trained. and only said
1.-The deuce she is.' which was, per- {
haps. no improvement on first intentions. I
81 suppose, Of course, she knew Syd.
ncy was here" said Mrs. Hassan, bitter !
ly. ''She might be satisfied with the mis- a
chief she has done. aud let him alone" 5
"Do you think he cares for her vet" n
"ilc cares for her so muci, that he cam a
not care for anything else. She has Ii
ruined his life. can, understand il; !
cant. cant" said Mrs. uassan, quite $
passionately. n
.'As to that. can YOU understand what a
makes any one care for any one else p r
" bat made you care for me y said Mr.. =
fiassan. trying to comfort bis wife.
"lou you!" returned Mrs. Hassan, m
IN most unwonted state of excitement, b
james! As il there were anv compar,- fl
sion! She is cOld-hcarted aud coarse d.
minded. and utterly selfish" e,
And Sydney. being the exact reverse W
u all this. devoted himself to her. and n,
owed her with all his heart and soul 2" il
'He didn't lcve her. He loved the n,
mage in his mind which he .omeuav "
managed to pin upon her personality: and SC
BOW l shouldn't wonder If he married her fr
,fter all, aud was utterly misersble: and Il
here Is no war for him to 20 away TO Ii
bow" in
Mr.. Sydney Dsviue was Mrs. Hasscn's
onIy brother. When quite young man ii
he had thrown away upon Miss Anna Clay n,
Ion love as sincere aud intense as anv to
mat ever gave to woman. Why he did a,
it eaunoi explain. for Anna was oil ,ha, o.
Me. Hsssan had pronounced her to be: A
aud. at nineteen. uas rs worldly, as sci. VI
fs,. and as calculating as thoash she had d,
no been blessed with pretty figure. 6ne A
eye. and pink and white skin. Of
iydney. so to speak. put all his eggs I'M
irss one basket bat Miss Clayton, like a b,
pruens yeung woman. preferred to have
two itrings 10 her bow. While she had Y,
bseuengaged to Sydney, she had been al
earring on Irritation by letter. with a 70
gen:!..sn ol! enough to Be Ter father b
. goo man, who was no wiser i'm his love ar
than ihe had been oue-apd ..~s>s, ISL