The Morning herald., 1877-05-30
The Story q 4 Wasted!
~ lHe. I

Huntingdon, scarcely half-mils distan
from the farm. You might zee its glori.
ons yane rising above the tres tops, ant
vst vat rlimpses Of its rusty old exterior
;hroneh the foliage. A road, kept in suct
sroellent repair that you might travel it il
al seasons, led straight into the village
and over this highway the Rev. Michae
Danrer6eld, the rector of the parish, wa
won't to pursue his way on foot to attend
to his duties among his flock. He was !
tall. pale man, who rarely ever smiled,
vet his manners were not austere, and he
could at times become very genial. But
he was meditative person, and somewhat
abstracted. for deep and constant study
seemed to keep his mind in an active state
The death of his wife, which occurred
some years before, had impaired to his life
tinge Of sadaesswhich was perceptible in
all his utterances. BY some law .of his
moral nature, the days that were gone
seemed brighter to him than the present.
ave, more 10 than those which were yet to
come.
In the Aosd Of fsun shine. when q thousand
birds are singing about us, we go on our
wsy with sense that there is melody
around, but singing, perchance, no one
note to take home to the heart aud make
Worship oft. But the one bird that sings
to us in the dim and silent night, oh none
can know how dear that song becomes, FL
ling with its music all the deserted man
sions of the lonely soul. Mr., Dangerield
realized all this in its fullest extent, but
bis mind was dead, its songs was hushed,
and the house OF his spirit was empty, o.
lent and dess,?a.e. .. ,+'
He had two daughters, the eldest, Efie,
was, at the time Of her mothers death,
seventeen years old the youngest, barely
nine. Efie Dangertield could not strictly
be called pretty. She was tall, had great
lustrous, loving brown eyes and sweet
and trusting disposition. II was fortunate
for the rector that she was able to manage
his household affairs, for without her he
could scarcely have been able to hold his
establishment together, for he knew moth.
ing Of domestic economy. a.g.t
Ellie managed everything 10 admirably
that her father never had care in house,
hold affairs. Even the farm hands looked
more to her than the silent and ab.
stracted man who walked with his hands
behind him, and never seemed to realize
that it was his business to give directions.
Efle Dangerfeld had reached her
twenty fifth year without experiencing, or,
perhaps, thinking Of any other love than
that she bestowed upon her father and sis
ter. When, therefore, she one Sunday
morning saw young and handsome stran.
ger seated in the church, and noted that
bis eyes frequently wandered to her pew
during the service, she went home for the
first time with new sensation in her heart
At the evenipg service he was again pres
ent and seated with the Eiisons, the most
preteutious faulty in Huntington. Efie
was conscious that his eyes were frequently
upon her, as in the morning, and his look
be'okened respectful admiration. 1t is al
ways pleasant to the female heart to receive
a homage, and. Effle Dangerfeld was
woman, albeit she had never known the
voice Of tender suitor ..f
"Did you observe that strange gentleman
in church to-day?" inquired her father "a
they walked home.
There was no reason for Efie blushipg
out still she could not avoid it as she re-
plIed: You mean the stranger with the
Ellsons7" 49,
YES he was with the Ellisons," replied
Mr: DangerislJ.
He must be stopping with them," con.
tlnaed Ellie. 81 wonder who he can be?',
don't know" replied her father. ''but
l shall call at the Ellisons Tomorrow and
probably meet the gent nan.
Ethe felt vexed with herself when she
Ia laid her head upon the pillow that night
She could not Danish the handsome eyes of
The stranger from her mind: whichever
way she turned those great black eyes
would seem to follow her with pleading
look. Poor foolish Efie, 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 Uniformed
her that he had met the stranger, that his
name was Somerville, and that he had ex-
tended an invitation for him to visit the
glebe farm. Effle's heart did not palpitate
a. this announcement, nor did her color
inaighten, but sort Of consciousness (which
II she had spoken, would have compelled
her to exclaim, II knew it") took possess
sion Of her, and made anticipation very
Julian Somerville duly appeared at the
giese farm, accompanied BY one Of the
Misses Ellison. Efie Dangerfeld had never
come under the influence Of a society man
oei're, and Bonneville completely fascina.
led n r. before lie had been in her presence
an hour. He was a wonderful man in some
1s 11espects. His memory was astonishing.
1hsre was scarcely a part Of the globe that
Al. Il