The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-10-16


Miss McGregor. after last evenings ex.
hibition; do you not expect to be ostra'
cised?"
Miss McGregor's eyes flashed as she
answered.:
'I am responsible 10 no human be-
ing for my course OF action. owe
allegiance 10 One, who though he be
King OF kings is yet as tender and pitt
| ful as a father. seek you because /
am selfish enough 10 be glad 10 know
you, and have you all TO myself few
days, which impertinent resolve l trnst
you will not endeavor 10 thwart.
al am only too glad 10 give myself
up to You, Miss McDregor. for j am
desolate enough; but You must have
some deeper motive than you have con.
fossed in seeking me-"
81 met friend Of youvs while in
Europe, Miss Grey" answered Miss
McGregor. hesitatingly, "and through
his mention of You became interest
ed. and now having seen you the inter
est is not dispelled. After a converse.
tion with lady last night IL suddenly
flashed upon me that you were the one
.aase praises had been sung 20 :2e all
up and down the Rhine, and had been
whispered to the breezes that famed
the brow OF the Alps, for am free to
confess that much OF the charm Of my
/ travels grew out Of the rare compan-
/ ionship ~ this same friend"
Miss Grey looked 30 wistfully into
/ the kind eyes that we're bent upon her,
that their owner without word Of
/ apology took her close to the warm
womanly heart. bending her ear to
catch the whispered words, WAS it
Mr. DcDowellgr
Yes; Robert Mcdowell; though 80
changed you would scarcely know him;
/ hopeless, almost despairing, and vast
/ to a mere shadow OF himself"
/ Miss Grey's face grew white.
docs he not deserve 10 suffer-" she
cried. 'In his mention Of me did he
I tell you all? / was motherless girl,
gay and thoughtless, but innocent, and
when you attach the word motherless
TO one OF my temperament you cast a
| pebble into the sea Of Sorrow, that
sends It's wave to the furthermost shore
Of life. But | have no right to weary
you with my complaints. though | feel
strongly inclined to tell you my story. +"
Tell me, dear, il your heart prompts
you 10 do so; although l had no
thought Of seeking your confidence,
yet think you can trust me-"
81 am sure ! can. responded Miss
Grey, drawing her 10 a seat. ITO re-
turn TO my past life; my uncle, who
was, and still is my guardian, was too
tender aud indulgent TO thwart me in
any OF my Pleasures, and i grew up 10
girlhood without proper discipline. -
My school-days were marked by fire.
quent evasions OF authority in regard
to rules, and while in the matter OF
study i was willing 10 conform TO the
regulations imposed, yet in everything
else / felt il my duty 10 offer deter
mined resistance TO what / insisted was
unnecessary discipline. Certain tenn
peraments can accept rules and condi-
tiOns meekly, but 10 me they savored
OF tyranny. and / sought every oppor-
tunity to elude the vigilance of those
whom il pleased me TO call my captors.
On one Of my escapades, in company
with some others. met Mr. Mellow.
ell. 1t was at the house of a mutual
friend. had heard OF him the year
previous, at which time be graduated
at Havard University. Genius and cul-
ture and certain high-bred grace Of
movement and manner m lde him pecu-
liarly fascinating 90 me. We met
again and sgain during that summer,
and before l was willing 10 acknowl-
edge il 10 myself my heart went out Of
my keeping. An impassioned profess
sion OF love on his part opened my
eyes at last, and gave myself TO him,
believing in him as ] did in the truth
OF the Eternal. A boat ride and pic
nic was one day planned, To which /
was invited out OF compliment TO Mr..
Mcdowell, the prime movers being n
number Of college students who were
his former classmates. Several young
ladies who were visiting friends in the
vicinity OF my uncle's country-seat,
with whom my acquaintance was very
slight, were also TO be Of the party
Mr.. Mcdowell called for me at an early
hour and We joined the rest of the
party at the landing. From the very
first there was free and easy air about
the rest Of the party that annoyed us.
DO not believe that good. d.breeding
can be laid aside like n garment 10 be
resumed at pleasure. They were not
long in discovering that we did not en-
ter into their hilarity and we became
at once the objects OF their sport, but
their attempted witticisms were met by
MS with unfeigned indifference. say
by us, when perhaps | ought only 20
speak Of myself, yet detected n Sc
cret annoyance in Mr.. McDowell's man
ner, and he endeavored by the most
delicate attentions TO atone for the
lack OF courtesy on the part OF the
rest. IL was perfect morning and
the river was grandly beautiful and
drank in the beauties Of nature a. new
er before. A dash OF crimson and a
CLINT OF gold far up the slopes gave to-
ken that the summer was waning, but
her emerald rooes swept down TO the
waters edge as fresh and lovely as in
the spring time.
Before we reached the landing /
saw q number OF the party ia laughing
consultation, and by the glances direct
ed toward US, we expected some new
bit of pleasantly would be the result,
but which proved to be anything but
agreeable in its elimination.
"A grove near by the landing was
the place selected for the picnic, and
thither we repaired escorted by band
OF music. Then followed dancing aud
finally lunch. The most delicious re-
freshments had been provided, but
prominent among them flashed aud
glowed the blood red wine. How
loathe the sight Of il to this day. and
believe that / would die sooner than
allow n drop Of il TO pass my lips.
"You are right, Miss Grey; there
have been more glad young lives dark
ened and finally destroyed; there have
been more mad-houses and penitentia-
ries peopled by the power Of the wine
cup, than by any other means In exist
ence, and We can never expect people
/ TO attain to n very high moral standard
until il - banished from our tables and
social gatherings"
MAY the glad day dawn upon us
soon. But, 20 resume my sad story, i
hesitated to partake OF the wine, being
quite unaccustomed to it, but when
Mr.. Mcdowell whispered to me that ]
might save myself some annoyance by
complying, L suffered them 10 all my
glass. srhe wine had singularly
agreeable taste. aud slipped IL quite
cOmposedly. Very soon the stimulant
began its work. Ny tongue was un-
loosed, my reticence vanished, and /
met their attempted witticism with the
! keenest sarcasm. Then my mood
changed; heard strange, sweet music;
/ had wings and could fly. l have no
definite idea OF what occurred after
that. but / a faint remembrance Of q
i ~ ~