The Portland daily press., 1874-06-20

Geology opens up such interesting topics OF
inquiry, and is so enlarging and elevating to
the mind. Have you ever happened to meet
with Hqnkc0ck's Religion OF Ge0togy, MISS
Brewster?" he inquired, peerlng anxlously
into her face. a.eo.a tia atI
ssNo. I can't say that / have"
"You would find it interesting. I don't |
know any work that think more highly Of; |
and DR.. Bushnell-Dr. Horace Bushnell |
has been a most valuable contributor to that |
delightful branch of study. His works are
particular favorites of mine. / have them all |
in my little library, neatly bound in. green
cloth. They require study, for they are deep,
very deep, perhaps too deep for ladies'; but
can answer for it that they amply repay at
tentiye perusal." H']f neoi! 0'E sfi
"Ah?' said Bella, searching in vain for
something appropriate to say, Il have never
seen them" -.,,
The information which they give about the
fossils that are found there, is really surpris-
ing. Now the rocks about this place, what
do you suppose they are~ se7.a--
81 don't know, l am sure," answered Bel
''They are igneous rocks, rocks that have
been under the influence OF fire, from the
Latin word, ignis, a fire."
''Dear me! how strangep' said Bella.
''Mamma," she continued, turning round to
her mother and Rosie, who were lettering in
the distance, ''do you know that Mr.. Simp-
son says the rocks about here are called igne-
ous rocks, and that they have been under the
influence of fire 20 ''-4te a.
elbow very interesting! who would have
thought it?'' replied Mrs. Brewster, admir-
ingly.
ly very slight specimen of the great amount
of information that DR.. Bushnell gives on ev-
cry subject. He is an American, and con-
slider him one of the first writers of the day."
81 dare say he ISL replied Bella, as they
turned down one of the shrubbery walks.
"Come, Mamma, come, Rosie we are going
this wav. By the by, Mr.. Simpson," she
continued, 81 have finished that book you
lent me, Henrietta Temple have it up in
| paper, and must give it to you when we 60
| in.''
''Oh, any time will do for that" answered
Mr.. Simpson, with careless flourish of his
umbrella; ''and how did you like it, Miss
| Brewster" 3" "ftf
| ''Pretty well; but don't you think it is
rather stiff and old-fashioned?"
| ''Stiff old-fashioned !--not at all. To my
mind the love scenes are absolutely perfect.
Disraeli is, no doubt, an accomplished master
| of the pen he at once seizes on the meaning
of a thing. And what a difficult subject is
that of love--it touches such tender, such
responsive chord Don't you think, Miss
/ y
be the foundation of every home?"
81 suppose it should" answered Bella,
feeling as children do when they are looking
for something, and they are told that they
are getting hot. Bella and Mr.. Simpson
were now just in front of the cosiest of all CO.
sy summer-houses. 1t was temptingly situ-
ated in a hollow thickly planted with trees ;,
| the little table, ingeniously made of blocks of
wood laid out in patterns, was surrounded by
a seat made to match, and there was a mar
row door overgrown with hops and ivy.
''Don't you think it would be pleasant to rest
a little ?'' suggested Bella, and Mr.. Simpson
assented, and following her in took up posi-
ton, as usual, on the very edge of the seat.
What could be more love-inspiring than such
spot? The trees SO thick and leafy, the
birds chirping their cheerful notes, the tall
holly-hocks waving their heads, and nodding
encouragement as they looked in. ''Now or
never" thought Bella; and ''Now or never"
thought Mrs. Brewster and Rosie, from the
rockery overhead. a aal Tg1ue
''This reminds me, Miss Brewster" said
Mr.. Simpson--"this reminds me very much
of my'sster's place in Worcestershire. Her
husband, Mr.. Ibbetson, has a magnificent es
tablishment there--such lawns, such pineries,
such hothouses, and such salmon in the Sew
ern, which runs through the grounds. Do
you like salmon, Miss Brewster" he in
quired, tenderly.
eyes," answered Bella! as she pulled an
ivy leaf to pieces, and thought how different
was the question that was expected to come; !;
'syes, very much indeed" E s-y Z n
"Mrs Ibbetson often sends me present of
some. Last time it arrived ready dressed,
just as we were going to luncheon at the bank
and invited some of our people to take a
share of it. and they all declared that they
had never tasted anything so delicious in
their lives" ll--'7l sfn -0
''Reallyp' answered Bella. 81 believe"
continued she, Il have seen Mrs. Ibbetson-
she is very like you and you say she has such
good taste in arranging her house and furni-
ture ?" III. ,..a s-..,3
'Her Taste, Miss Brewster, is perfect. All my
| sisters have good taste, but Belinda's taste is
something quite unequalled and extraordina-
ry." ee.ia
eyes, Miss Brewster, yes, and my two
brothers. l am the solitary unmarried one OF
the family" tt T., lss.s- ,....l.
Here there was slight inclination to sigh
and Bella was on the point of saying, ''per-
haps it is your own fauIt;'' but her courage
failed her, and she merely remarked that it
must be very pleasant to belong to large
family. .-ql-e i-l- -e.af4s
eyes, Miss Brewster yes; but il has its
disadvantages. One sometimes feels more
isolated than ever in the midst OF numbers"
"Marry come upr' Bella was ready to ex-
claim to her tagging suitor, who now, glanc-
ing away from the verge Of tenderness, again
| relapsed into an ecstaLic state of admiration
about the beauty of Ibbetson Hall, which had
been lately purchased by his brother-in-law,
who was rich cotton lord from Manchester.
Bella, anxious to proptiate her admirer,
tried desperately to keep up an appearance of
interest which was far from genuine. At last
she bethought her of a solitary arrow that
still remained in her quiver. A sagacious fe-
male friend had once remarked that "when-
ever you want anyone to come to the point,
say you are going away and that is sure to
clinch the business" So Bella now cleared
her throat, and began:
81 am going from home the day after to-
morrow, Mr.. Simpson"
care you, ndeedr' he cried, ''but not for
any length of time?" /
| ono just for week or soto my uncle,
Admiral Jones, who lives at Winderton."
''Ah you must come home soon," said he,
throwing one OF his would-be tender gances
from bis pale ferretty eyes; ''you know we
cannot do without you" ., .r I
Something ought TO have come of this, but
nothing came. The afternoon was now be-
ginning to wear rapidly away; the clock had
long since struck 5, and still, in spite of the
| alluring surroundings of the summer-house,
Mr.. Simpson had made no definite declara-
tiOn of his sentiments, but actually was again
| returning 10 uull WaCeTS OI Dr. bushnell, ana
his sisters magnifcence, and the library at
the bank. In the meanwhile, Mrs. Brewster
and Rosie, whose hopes had been mounting
4 higher and higher, decided that Mr.. Simpson
had had ample time to confess his matrimoni-
al intentions, and SO they descended from
1 their rockery and announced to Bella and her
adrnirer that it was time to 60 home. Tea
was ready when they returned, and Mr..
Simpson dispatched two patefuls of veal pie
and a couple of glasses of wine, finishing up
with pieces Of muffin and cup of tea,
poured out by the fair hands of Bella her.
self. Now the evening was to come on, but
Mr. Simpson did not come on. In vain Mrs.
Brewster and Rosie skilIfully retreat, and
leave Bella and her companion sitting on tine
sofa. You might as well have tiled to pump
water out of a dry well, as proposal from
Mr.. Simpson. 1t was as much as Bella could
do to refrain from yawning in his face; she
loathed the very mention of DIR. BushnelPs
name and hailed the postman's knock as a
welcome relief. He only brought postcard
for Mrs. Brewster, but still the incident made
a diversion. i't 81
"Just line from my brother, the Admiral,
| to say he expects Bella the day after to-mOr-