The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-08-17

tci nv notle at tne last minute ana HIt
no, developed quite a talent for cheering {
sick.room and dispensing luxuries to t
nix needy it was a role of which she relish
the novelty amazingly.
You were plainly intended for a cl,
gyman's wife" Numbered Mr.. Gasc0igr
" in a moment ofgrateful enthusiasm; al
then he colored, and added, hastil,
The lame, halt and blind are all sin
ing your praises"
e, "Whata discord it must be " returnt
nd Flora. 81 think | should prefer a solo
The claims of the parish, howeve
were not so exacting but he could deyot
some leisure to the poets, sitting in ii
vine covered arbor, while Bell and Flol
worked and listened-except when Be-
remembered she had omitted to leave Oh
ders for the grocer, or had neglected som
important household affair, and excuse
herself fora long %halfhour, begging ther
to go on with the reading. And wher
she returned, she was always pleased t.
find that the book had been closed for tn
o nonce. If he had net been reading, thel
/ Of course he had been doing what he likeC
p better. And he would say We have
+ been waiting for you, Miss Bell III,
, had fallen into the habit of calling hel
, Miss Bell" during these familiar
seanccs.
81 sha'n't dare to run away if | am
going to spoil your pleasure So" she re-
piled.
"You certainly do spoil it when you
leave U.S." he would g%allantly retort.
If they went for an afternoons picnic
to the top Of Chrome cliff, with their
supper packed in a hamper, Bell fell to
~sketching a bend Of the river, with the
willows dipping above it and swallows
skimming low, and Flora aud Mr.. Gas
coigne were naturally left to their own
devices. If they went out for an even
lng's entertainment which even Hap
hazard afforded at times when summer
guests were plenty Bell remembered
the latch-key as soon as they were be.
You'd the gate, or she had left a window
open where burglars and showers might
enter, or she never failed of some valid
excuse for falling behind, for refusing
Mr.. Gascoigne's arm either both hands
were necessary to keep her skirts from
the mud, or the country sidewalk was
too narrow for three abreast. And vet
there was nothing obvious or awkward
IN Miss Raymond's scheming, 1t all
about as naturally as if foreor-
dained and if Mr.. Gascoigne was some
times a little vexed that he could not be
trusted to find the latch key, close the
or fetch the umbrella, Flora
would say Its Bells way She was
ust so at Nine. Buhls-alwavs would
wait upon herself"
1t had never been Bells wav, however
o linger IN the vestibule after church
now she found it convenient to ask
!d Mrs. koss about her rheumatism, and
lrs. Martha Meeks about her grandson
.shlng at the Labrador. And by that
the Reverend Clarence had put off
he gown and made his way to the church
DOR, where Flora welcomed him and
'ell nodded and begged they would walk
II and let her overtake them; she must
peak to the sexton about his sick child.
r see the treasurer of the Mite So.
ietV-only she never did overtake them,
he treasurer had proved g%arrulous, and
he sexton had set his heart upon show.
az her the head stone he had got up to
first wife. If she found them sitting
lone IN the embrasure of the open win.
oW, studying the constellation, she
softly away. Who could tell p
might be the decisive moment.
1t so happened that Just at this time
lrs. Raymond fell ill. Flora ropose t
ping home, but Bell s%toutly vetoed the t
ropositien. 1t will be so lonesome for {
II Gascoigne," she said. "And Aunt
lilly viii be up again soon. No: do |
stop and pour tea at table, and play |
housekeeping, and make it a little like
for the poor fellow" f
Seems to me you are verv anxious a
'out his welfare" said Flora, but STAYED |
she was hidden, and poured his tea, n
allied away his leisure hours, beat him r
chess, visited his sick, listened to his a
ews, filed the place of the absent 50. y
ano in his choir, and borrowed his old n
mons for private reading, while Bell 81
ant her time administering hourly n
ses, connecting gruels and dainties to Z
nlpt the appetite, and waiting in a q
rkened room by day, after broken ~,
5hts. Perhaps it was the effect of over CT
ted nerves and depressed spirits, or ~
Miss Raymond had misunder. la
cd her interest in Mr.. G~ascoigne, but re
She left her patient doing one night, I'll
1 paused a moment, leaning out the OF
window to commune with the even. NJ
star and the last tender effulgence m
the sight of Flora and Mr.. Gas. te
gne pelting each other with roses in the IN
den below smote her with a sense re-
'omething alien and cruel. Her alb OF
did not affect their enjoyment they oil
forgotten her in the delight of being lei
ether and for the first time a selfish an
stirred in her heart and filled her ally
with sudden tears. did she grudge on
m their happiness ?? she asked her. lig
Was not success enough for herr"
When Flora had gone to her room that an,
1t, Bell knocked at the door and al
t in. drl
Haven't you anything to tell me ?p day
asKed. Has nothing happened p" low
What should happen, you dear old wal
~ owl, you? o yes | broke vo1r ing
china bowl, A sin confessed il half sin;
'ssed. We meet, but we miss Won g
niger to caress you---at least / do bow
The way, I'm afraid the Reverend IA
nee Is getting horribly bored with &C
coig
What impossible nonsense. Flora ~ --at
love teaching Flora TO prevaricate? her
following night, as Bell was going 81
down to the kitchen for mustard ON,
DOR OF Mr.. Gasgoigne's study opened, :"
lie draught blew out her candle as "N
sed it and came forward. as W
keep late vigils, Mr.. G~ascoigne," M
reclaimed. cit has just struck Gale
:" "N
nd of what do you suppose Flora abou
i'd? That you are getting bored "E
er 2" "W
red with Flora ~ he repeated, "T
2 broadly. "Can't Won imaninn ON