The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-08-24
BELLS MATCHMAKING.

"My dear Flora" wrote Miss Ray
mond, "it is a long time since we have
met. Why can't you pack your trunk
and make up your mind to spend the
summer with me in this green and quiet
corner of the earth? You shall diet upon
locusts and wild honey, ii such be your
pleasure; you shall put in appearance al
parish picnics, or sit in the arbor and EN-.
broider while somebody reads Tennyson
please, if you will come to your rural
friend BELL"
Miss Raymond regarded it as wise
and far-seeing policy that she had for
borne to mention the name of Rev.
Clarence GascOigne, poor but promising g
young clergyman recently settled over
the parish of HaphaZard, whose welfare
she had chiefly in view in issuing this
invitation to dear Flora," who was
nothing less than an heiress and a beauty.
Miss Raymond herself, being neither,
naturally set a 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.
BuhPs finishing school together before
adversely had visited the Ravmonds'
rOof-that Flora bad been the cynOsure
of all the neighboring eyes at DR.. Creed 8
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 Miss
Flora, and untrammeled. Whether she
had firted 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
merely 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 rooftree, and aunt Milly
was in somewhat failing health, she had
decided not 10 add to her cares, but to
her pleasures, in begging Flora to spend
the season at HaphaZard. And Flora
wasnOthing 10th. She stepped from the
numbering old stage late on one summer
in the jauntiest of travelling
toilets, with the most killing of hats
perched upon her shapely head-a very
bewitching picture of a girl of the period,
the soft, fluffy curls upon her white fore
head, the dark eyes shining with mis-
chief, the wild rose blushing upon cheek
and chin, and ready smile about the
mobile lips. Bell feltssuddenty ed and
faded and dowdy beside her, andTpbraia-
ed herself smartly for the sensation. She
went up to her guests room with her,
threw open the blinds, pointed out the
views, and helped her to unpack.
az do hope you won't find it stupid
here, Flora" she said; "that time viii
not hang heavy upon your hands. Soci-
ETY. here is rather chaotic, to beysure,
but"
% suppose there,isn't such an article
as gentlemen within ten miles," yawned
Flora.
Well, they are not as plenty as I
could wish, for your sake, confess. We
all live in hopes that the master of Pine
Hill will return and endanger our mo
can see the towers of the
mansion 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.
"Oh, spare usi had theology enough,
thank you, at Nine. Bulbs. If there's
anything 1 detest, it's a--Say, Bell,
who is that spendid apparition coming in
1T the gate?'
"That? laughed Bell" that is the
rector"
els he coming to give you phostlv
shall be getting a change of
leart. depend ont"
He's coming home to tea. He boards
lere."
"There is a divinity" quoted Flora.
thought, to be sure, it was no less |
han the master of Pine Hill coming to |
lis estates just in the nick of time. How |
Ong has his reverence been here, may l /
lsk ?"
"Only three months"
"Well, wonder you haven't fallen in
ove"
"I? Where would be the good ?"
"Who ever stops to think of that ?"
At least one must have little en-
to begin with"
. " And hasen't he given you particle?
You just hand him over to my tender
nercies."
"'You sha'n't' is in the imperative
mood, / believe, Are you the guardian
f his young affections 2"
And then they descended to the tea
able, and Flora and Clarence Gascoigne
hook hands and chatted familiarly with
flora after the first half minute-absnt
is cousins, the Gascoignes, of Newport.
nd dozen people, of whom Miss Ray
nond lad never heard, and of whom
ever to have heard seemed suddenly to
rove her a person of the least conse-
uence. After tea the trio strolled in
he garden, Flora leading the conversa-
ion, and waking the echoes with her
uick laughter and they sat awhile on
he rustic bench beside the syringa
ushes, and Flora sang snatches from the |
peras and spirital hymns; and Bell
iarked that when she dropped out of
atch or chorus nobody seemed to miss
er, and presently she stole away to look
fter her housekeeping, coDgratulating
erself that everything promised well for
er scheme. Flora was perhaps a trifle
iddy and girlish for ciergyman's wife,
ut she would outlive all that and what
n excellent thing it would be for Mrs.
iascogine, whose abilities would never
ave fair play if he married any poor
irl about Haphazard, and lived from
and to mouth, SO to speak, with none of
he opportunities which money could
fer and as for Flora, she might bless
e stars if he preferred her, if he had
o inconvenient scruples about marrying
rich woman.
The summer weather was fine ut Hap
azard, and if Mr.. Gascoigne begged the
aides to visit some poor or invalid par
,ioner in his company it usually ended
V Flora going with him alone, Bell hav-
ig found some urgent duty 70 detain
er at home at the last minute; and Flora
eveloped quite talent for cheering the
ck-room and dispensing Iuxuries to the
eedy; it was role ofwhich she Ielished
he novelty amazingly.
You were plainly intended for cler-
yman's wife," blundered Mr.. Gasceigne,
! a moment of grateful enthusiasm; and
hen he colored, and added, hastily:
''The lame, halt and blind are all sing
1g your praises"
{" What discord it must be T" returned
Il. L. 1