The daily gazette., 1877-06-20
The sioIylsf' a Wasted Lie,
BY PAUL PLUME.

see It's glorious vane rising above the tree
tops, and get glimpses OF its rusty old ex-
lterior through the foliage. A road, kept
in such excellent repair that you might
travel it in all seasons, led straight into
the village, and over this highway the
Rev Michael Dangerfield, the rector of
the parish, was wont to pursue his way on
| foot to attend to his duties among his
flock. He was tall, pale man, who
rarely ever smiled, yet his manners were
not austere, and he could at times be-
come very genial. But he was a medita-
tive person, and somewhat distracted,
for deep aud constant study seemed to
keep his mind in an active state of in
Iquiry. l1'
| The death of his wife, which occurred
some years before, had impaired to his
| life tinge of sadness which was percep-
table in all his utterances. BY some law
of his moral nature, the days that were
gone seemed brighter to him than the
present, aye, more so than those which
were yet to come.
| In the flood of sunshine. when thou
sand birds are singing about us, we go on
our way with a sense that there is melody
around, but singing, perchance, no one
note to take home to the heart and
make worship of it. But the one bird
that sings to us in the dim and silent
night, oh! none can know how dear its
song becomes filling with its music all
the deserted mansions Of the lonely soul
Mr.. Dangerfield realized all this in
its fullest extent, but his bird was dead,
its song was hushed and the house of
his spirit was empty, silent and des-
| olate.
He had two daughters, the oldest, Effie,
was, at the time of her mothers decease,
seventeen years old, the youngest was
barely nine. Effie Dangerfield could not
| strictly be called pretty. She was tall,
| and had great lustrous, loving brown
| eyes, and sweet and trusting disposition
1t was fortunate for the rector that she
was able to manage his household affairs,
| for without her he could scarcely have
been able to have held his establishment
together, for he knew nothing Of domestic
economy.
Ellie managed everything so admirably
| that her father never had a care OF house
| hold affairs. Even the farm hands look
ed more to her than the silent and alb
stracted man who walked with his hands
behind him, and never seemed to realize
that it was his business to give direc-
| tions. a~ ar4 .a... lsf..t 4...
Effie Dangerfield reached her twenty
| fifth year without experiencing, or, per-
perhaps, thinking of any other love than
sister. When, therefore, she one Sunday
morning saw young and handsome
stranger seated in the church, and noted
that his eyes frequently wandered to her
pew during the service, she went home
for the first time with new sensation in
her heart. At the evening service he
was again present and seated with the
Ellisons, the most pretentious family in
Huntingdon. Effie was conscious that
his eyes were frequently upon her, as in
the morning, and his look betokened re-
spectful admiration. 1t is always pleas
ant to the female heart to receive hom-
age, and Effie Dangertield was woman,
albeit she had never known the voice of
a tender suitor.
"Did you observe that strange gentle-
man in church today" inquired her ia
| ther as they walked home.
| There was no reason for Effie blushing
but still she could not avoid IL as she re-
piled: "You mean the stranger with the
Ellisons?"
"Yes, he was with the Ellisons," re-
piled Mr.. Dangerfield.
"He must be stopping with them, ,"con-
tinued Effie. 81 wonder who he can
| be?"
| 81 don't know" replied her father"
"but shall call at the Ellisons to-mor-
row and probably meet the gentleman. "
| Effie felt vexed with herself when she
laid her head upon the pillow that night
She could not Danish the handsome eyes
of the stranger from her mind. Which
ever way she turned those great black
eyes would seem to follow her with a
pleading look. Poor foolish Elite, why
seek to shun your destiny? She went to
sleep and dreamed the stranger was
walking by her side, telling the tale of
love in her willing ear.
| When she awakened the thoughts of
the previous night were present again,
nor was her mind quieted until her father
informed her that he had met the stran-
ger, that his name was Somerville, and
that he had extended an invitation for
HIM to visit the glebe farm. Effie's
heart did not palpitate at this announce
ment, nor did her color highten, but
| sort OF CONSCIOUSNESS (Whlcn, IL sne nau
spoken, would have compelled her to ex-
claim, 81 knew it") took possession of
her, and made anticipation very pleasur-
able.
Julian Somerville duly appeared at the
glebe farm, accompanied by one of the
Misses Ellison. Effie Dangertield had
never come under the influence of So
ciety man before, and Somerville COM
pletely fascinated her before he had been
in her presence an hour. He was a
wonderful man in some respects. His
memory was astonishing. There was
scarcely part of the globe that he had
not visited, and the recital of incidents of
travel interested the good rector equally
with his daughter.
Somerville was a perfect man of the
world easy of manner, excellent as a
conyersationalist. faultlessly polite and
30 attentive and devoted to ladies that
you had only to mention his name where
he was known to understand his popu-
larity. His visits to the glebe farm be-
came more and more frequent, until at
| last he became n daily visitor. In all