The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-08-23

summer with me in this green and quiet
corner of the earth? You shall diet upon
ocusts and wild honey, if such be your
pleasure; you shall put in appearance at
parish picnics, or sit in the arbor and en-
broider while somebody reads Tennysor
aloud-in short, you shall do as you
please, if you will come to your rura
friend BELL"
Miss Raymond regarded it as a wise
and lar.seeng policy that she had for
borne to mention the name of Rev
Clarence Gascoigne, poor but promising
young clergyman recently settled ovel
the parish Of tIaphazard, whose welfare
she had chiefly in view in issuing this
invitation to dear Flora" who was
nothing less than an heiress and beauty.
Miss Raymond herself, being neither,
naturally set greater value upon these
things than they deserved, and devoutly
believed that Flora would carry all before
her at her own sweet will She re-
membered when they had been at Nine.
Bulbs finishing school together before
adversely had visited the Ravmonds'
rool-that Flora had been the cynosure
of all the neighhoring eyes at DIR. Creed's $
theological seminary, that she had been
deluged with valentines, surfeited with
bonbons, and embalmed in sonnet and
song in the poets corner Of the local
daily. But apparently these things had
not availed. Miss Flora had already sur
vived several seasons, and was yet Mis-
Flora and untrammeled Whether she
had flirted too hard, her heart had re-
mained untouched, or she had never
inspired her lovers with anything stronger
than a passing fancy, nobody but Flora
knew. Miss RaymOnd's family consisted
merel y of herself and a widowed aunt
and as her income was small, she usually
fl led the rOomy old homestead with
summer boarders. But since the new
rector Of the parish had taken up his
abode under her roottrec, and aunt Nilly
was in somewhat failing health, she had
decided no: 20 add to her cares, but to
her pleasures, in begging Flora to spend
the season at Haphazard. Aud Flora
wasnothing 10th. Size stepped from the
numbering old stage late on one summer
afternoon, in the jaunticst Of travelling
toilets, with the most killing Of hats
perchcd upon her shapely head--a very
bewitching picture of II girl of the period
the soft, fluffy curls upon her white fore
head the dark eyes shining with mis-
chief, the wild rose bIushing upon cheek
and chin, and ready smile about the
mobile lips. Bell felt suddenly old and
faded and dowdy beside her, and upbraid-
ed herself smartly for the sensation. She
went up to her guests room with her,
threw open tho blinds, pointed out the
views, and helped her to unpack
81 do hope you won't find it stupid
here, Flora" she said; "that time will
not hang heavy upon your hands. Soci.
ETY. here is rather chaotic, to be, sure,
but"
a suppose there,.isn't such an article
as gentlemen within ten miles" yawned
Flora.
"Wcll, they are not as plenty as
could wish, for your sake, | confess. We
all live in hopes that the master of Pine
Hill will return and cndanger our mo
notony-yOu can see the towers of the
mansiol 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.
ooh, spare us, | had theology enough,
thank you, at Nine. Bulbs. If there's
anything | detest, it's a--Say, Bell,
who is that spendid apparition coming in
at the gate"
That? laughed Bell -" that is the
aforesaid rector"
Is he coming to give you ghostly
counsel? shall be getting a change of
heart, depend ont"
He's coming home to tea. II. boards
here"
There is Il divinity" quoted Flora.
8" thought, to be sure, it was no lesa
than the master Of Pine Hill coming to
his estates just in the nick OF time. How
long has his reverence been here, may |
ask ?"
"Only three months
"Well, | wonder you haven't fallen in
love"
"l? Where would be the good ?"
"Who ever stops TO think OF that %
/" At least one must have little en-
enlargement to begin with"
"And hasen't he given you particle?
You just hand him over to my tender
mercies." "
"'You sha'n't' is in the imperative
mood. believe. Are you the guardian
of his young affections ,"
And then they descended to the tea
table, and Flora and Clarence Gascogne
shook hands and chatted familiarly with
Flora after the first half minute-absut
his cousins, the Gascoignes, of Newport,
and a dozen people, OF whom Miss Ray
mond lad never heard, and of whom
never to have heard seemed suddenly to
prove her a person Of the least consa-
quence. After tea the trio strolled in
the garden, Flora leading the converaa-
tion, and waking the echoes with her
quick laughter; and they sat awhile on
the rustic bench beside the syriuga
bushes, and Flora sang snatches from the
operas and spirital hymns; and Bell
marked that when she dropped out of