The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
BELLS MATCHMAKING.

My dear Flora, wrote Miss RAY
mond, st is long time since we have
met Why can't you pack your trunk,
and make up your mind to spend the
summer with me in this green and quiet
corner of the earth You shall diet
upon iocusts and wild honey, if such be
your pleasure; You shall put in an APP
pearance at parish picnics, or sit in the
sybor and embroider while somebody
reads Tennyson aloud-in short. YOU
shall do as you please, If you will please
To come to your rural friend, BELL"
90 Miss Raymond regarded it as a wise
and far-seeing policy that she had for
borne TO mention the name of the Rev.
Clarence Gascoigne--a poor but promis-
ing young clergyman recently settled
over the parish of Haphazard. whose
welfare size had chiefly in view in issu-
ing this invitation to "dear Flora" who
was nothing less than an heiress and a
beauty. Miss Raymond herself, being
neither. naturally set a greater value
upon these things than they deserved.
and devoutly believed that Flora would
carry all before her own sweet will
She remembered, when they had been
at Madame Bulls finishing school to-
gether-before adversely had visited the
Raymonds' roof-that Flora had been
the cynosue of all the neighboring
eyes Mt DR.. Cieed's theological seminary.
that she had been deluged with valen-
tines, surfeited with 6OnbOns, and en-
shalmed in sonnet and song in the poets
corner Of the local daily. But appar-
emily these things had not availed. Miss
Flora had already survived several
seasons, and was yet Miss Flora and
urtrammeled. Whether she had firted
toe hard, her heart had remained un-
ou;hed, or she had never inspired her
loves with anything stronger than
passing fancy, nobody but Flora knew.
Miss Eaymond's family consisted merely
Of herself and widowed aunt; and, as
her income was small, she usually filled
the roomy old homestead with summer
b0rrders. But, since the new rector of
hhe parish had taken up his abode un-
der her roof-tree and Aunt Milly was in
somewhat failing health, she had de-
C;ided not to add to her cares, but to
ElGr pleasures, in begging Flora to spend
& El,e season at Haphazard. And Flora
was nothing 10th. She stepped from
the numbering old stage late on one
SKINNER afternoon, III the jauntiest of
travelling toilets, with the most killing of
hats perched upon her shapely head-a
very bewitching picture of a girl OF the
period, the soft, fluffy curls upon her
white forehead, the dark eyes shining
with mischief, the wild rose blushing
upon cheek and chin, and ready smile
about the mobile lips. Bell felt sudden
" old and faded and dowdy beside her,
and upbraided herself smartly for the
sensation. She went up to her guest
room with her, threw open the blinds,
pointed out the views, and helped her
nnpack.
Il do hope you won't find it stupid
here, Flora" she said; 60 that time will
not hang heavy upon your hands. So
ciety here is rather chaotic, to be sure,
but"
81 suppose there isn't such an article
asa gentleman within ten miles, yawned
Flora.
"Wen, they are not as plenty as j
could wish, for your sake, L confess.
We are always living in hopes that the
master OF Pine Hill will return and en-
danger our monotony you can see the
towers OF the mansion from this window,
there, behind that belt of pines but he
prefers the gay world. And then there s
our rector; he is very good company. y
"Oh, spare us / had theology
enough, thank you, at Madame Bull s.
If there's anything detest, it's a.
Say, Bell, who is that splendid appari.
ton coming in at the gate ?"
"That?' laughed Bell-"that is the
aforesaid rector"
GO Is he coming to give YOU ghostly
'counsell I shall be getting change OF
heart, depend ont"
"He's coming home to tea. He boards
here.
There il n divinity" quoted Flora.
"I thought, TO be sure, it was no les,
than the master of Pine Hill coming r.
his estates just in the nick Of time. How
long has his Reverence been here. ma,
i ask"
"Only three months"
"Well, / wonder you haven't fallel
IN love-"
"I-where would be the good ?"
"Who ever stops to think of that9"
cat least one must have a little en-
enlargement to begin with