South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-12-26
The Minister'S Choice.
A TRUE sToRY.-BY MARK EDWARDS.

board. lie is so handsome Now, if you
could only set your cap for him, aud catch
him, 1t would be grand. A minister's wife,
LIDDY How it would set you up and
the rest Of us, TOO -
Miss LIDDY ROBBINS simpered as daint.
lily as she could, and affected hopelessness
OF ever achieving such a success matrimon.
tally, while an involuntary start of surprise,
aud quick, eager lighting Of her eyes pro.
claimed that she was secretly aspiring, not.
withsianding
She was not less than thirty years of age,
of large, coarse person, with an innate vul-
garity evident in her whole appearance.
She was richly dressed, but not in good
taste-refinement was wanting, and the show
or means she endeavored to make was false,
for her Income was quite limited. But she
lived board-free with her sister; aud expend-
cd most OF her money on her personal a.
dornment. Both women were socially ana
bilious, and aspired to stand high in their
circle and set.
They kept one servant, sweet faced,
intelligent American girl, who had found
1t impossible on account of her suffering
health to support herself by her needle, and
therefore had bravely undertaken house
work. She had come under the fairest prom
Uses to Mrs. BLACK, but had been COMPEL
ed to endure many indigni,ies, for both her
mistress and Miss ROBBINS felt her gentle
ness aud refinement a constant reprosch to
their own pretensiou. They, therefore,
delighted to show her that she was only a
servan;-girl
| The young minister came-a modest,
qniet-mannered man, whose cheerful gray
ity wos wonderfully winning to all. Miss
! ROBBINS did her utmost to gain his favor,
but failed 10 making herself Us agreeable
TO him as she desired Though always
courteous to her, he was instinctively re-
| PEELED by her vanity and fawDing adulation.
T. It was days CATER his arrival at Mrs.
BLACKS that MIR. EMORY obtained his first
glimpse of Lucy GRAY. He had been con.
scious OF gentle moving presence in the
Kitchen, aud had wondered how it was that
his landlady's servant kept herself so en-
tirely out of the range Of his vision. But
Lucy had received her instructions, which
were not to appear in Mr.. EMoRY's pres.
encc during meal time, as he had given
Mrs. BLACK to understand $50 she said )tbat
he disliked the attendance of domestic at
the table.
| - Wo'h oh uiJSGli, bdlu WITS.
! BLACK, (Which | wouldn't do for nobody
but minister"
And Lucy thinking that minister must
be very superior and extraordinary per-
son indeed-far, far above hersef-was
careful not TO iutrude.
The truth was that both Mrs. BLACK
and her sister were afraid that LUCYs deft
and dainty attendance at the table would be
observed by Mr.. Emory, to the admiration
of such unusual efficiency. But of course
two persons-even il one be servant and
the other guest-cannot long remain under
the same roof without seeing and learning
something of each other
Mr.. EMORY met Lucy 10 the hall one
day, and guessed that she must be
the slightly mysterious servant who had
been fitting so softly about up stairs and
down, but heretofore invisible.
! She was dressed in the plainest attire,
but ut glance the young minister saw the
clean white collar and the general noatness
of her appearance.
He smiled and spoke pleasant word
recognize ng her as a human being. She
bIushed and started also-the word Of greet
/ ing was so unexpected.
"What is the young lady's name, whom
you have employed ?" inquired Mr. EMORY
of Mrs BLACK, the first opportunity he had
afterward.
"Tbe young lady - sueered that amazed
individual to herself "LUCY GRAY" she
answered aloud.
ga sweet name, and a pretty owner"
observed The young minister. ''Her face
is very intelligent"
"Tbe idea - thought Mrs. BLACK, quite
shocked, "of youog minister commenting
in that way on the appearance of servant
girl y Aloud she continued, "shO lie a pre-
sumptuous piece, sir ] have great difficult
y in teaching her to know her place."
"She surely has not forward and i'm.
pertinent look" returned Mr.. EMORY. "If
ever read refinement aud modesty in a
countenance did in hers. Is she not very
intelligent z"
| How provoking it was to have this youth
\ fol reverend express 30 much interest 10 a
mere servant-girl
"Oh, very," answered Mrs. BLACK, with
acerbi'y. "I wonder she does not offer
herself az an instructor"
! Her listener caught the sheer.
al am sure would DO glad to be rid Of
her," Mrs. BLACK went on TO say Which
was now the truth, though shc did not cx-
plain why.
10 her secret annoyance si hearing Lucy
so favorably spoken Of SELtNDA spoke more
bitterly than was prudent, and failed to OBJ
serve tho expression Of disspprobation that
came over Mr.. EMoRY's face as be heard