The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-28

ley, almost unOrOken by clVlllzat1On,
where kindred spirits who dare free
themselves from the iron bonds of So
ciety can live their lives away in love
and quiet. Many of what we call con-
victions of right are but prejudices OBJ
tained by us as a result of education,
and that education has been false"
He paused. Our little Faith was not
much of reasoner, because she had
not arrived at reasoning age; but her
womanly intuition of right and wrong,
aided by the strict discipline of Quall-
eress' education, assisted her simple re-
ply.
cit would be wrong" she said.
lie looked at her keenly, then replied,
-"Only when measured by the exact
ing standard of New England morality"
Both remained quiet for few mo-
ments; at last he said, 81 am sorry to
leave this lovely little spot, but have
stayed much longer than | intended,
and this morning | received a telegram
requiring my immediate presence else
where, so | leave tonight at six"
Faith was interested now, and turned
those lovely blue eyes upon him, say
ing,
$50 soon? am sorry"
(No need of telling him that he knew
she would bc.)
81 cannot tell how much | am indebt-
ed to you, Miss Faith, for making my
visit here so very pleasant" he said
with smile. She tried to smile IN re-
turn, but with poor success, for Faith
was not skilled in the art of concealing
her emotions.
"Will you not sing me one song be-
fore we part" he asked.
Faiths voice rose sweet and clear, as
at his request she sang the "Evening
Hymn to the Virgin" As the last
notes of her voice died away, Gray
said, "Faith, shall you forget me?'
"Ncver," she answered in tremu-
lous tone.
lie gazed down tenderly upon her
for moment, pressed her hand and
said, 81 must away. Give my adicus
WE'LL" and John Gray was gone.
Henceforth Faiths life was to be a
changed one, but she little knew it yet
That event, which always comes sooner
or later to every woman, had opened a
new era in the life of the pure little
Quakeress. Too modest, and too igno-
rant of loves holy passions, she did not
know that wealth of love that welled
up in her heart for John Gray. She
only knew that restless, underlined
feeling, heretofore unknown, had taken
possession of her, feeling she had no
disposition to analyze or question.
Faith cared but little for the society of
the other girls around her, and prefer
ring solitude to their small talk of beauX
and flirtations, fell into that sometimes
most fatal of errors in such cases, day
dreaming. John Gray was almost con-
stantly i'll her mind. She knew not
where he had gone, and he had given
her no promise of returning, vet she
felt sure he would sometime come.
Time passed slowly, and at last they
were to leave the cottage for their quiet
home in w. Faith spent the last half
hour of her stay in the spot where John
Gray had babe her good bye, and for
tl!e first time shadow Of doubt, which
ivIl iis uis.. "SuiiS iunuciIcc, crepU INTO
her mind, and tile buoyant hope that
had promised Gray's return was dim
med.
The society of Friends in the CITY of
w. was very large, and composed
mostly of the wealth and talent of the
place. Here Mrs. Clifford and her sis
ter had many warm friends, and for a
while Faith seemed her old self, but
after all calls had been received and re-
turned, and they once more settled
down to their quiet routine of life with
out any unusual demand for exercise
of mind or body, Faith Leslie took up
her day dreams again. Autumn deep
ened into winter, and still no tidings of
John Gray, while Faith watched and
prayed.
"Faith has not seemed herself for
MONTHS" said Mrs. Clifford; 81 don't
see what ails the child. hoped she
would be pleased TO see young Earle at
home once more. You know they
were quite devoted school friends, and
think he is very fond of her now.
Faith will probably marry sometime,
and am sure she cannot do better than
to have him; he belongs to one of the
first families in the city"
These remarks were made to her
husband late one afternoon, as he drew
on his slippers, preparatory to reading
| his paper, and had been called forth bv
the appearance of Richard Earle and
Faith Leslie, who were slowly walking
up the avenue towards the house.
Faith soon entered with bright glow
on her lovely cheek.
at seems to me that Mr.. Earle is
getting quite devoted in his attentions
to thee" said Mrs. Clifford, looking up.
Faith smiled.
"We were always excellent friends,
you know" she said, and seating her
self at the piano she commenced sing
ing 'The Cottage by the Sea-"
Mr.. Clifford watched her narrowly,
but the mention of Richard Earle's
name called not the faintest shadow OF
blush to the pure face of Faith Leslie.
lie turned TO his paper witha quiet smile.
"She is different from most women,
he thought, cor else she don't care q
straw for him. Faith is treasure, and
when disciplined by love will develop
into a noble woman" His memory
ran back many year, and he wonder
ed how life would have been with him,
if instead of the active, bustling wo-
man who had kept his house and ward
robe in such perfect order for the last
fifteen years, he had married a woman
of the rare moral and intellectual beau
ty that Faith Leslie possessed. Mrs.
Clifford was model business woman,
with little or no taste for the poetry OF
life. She superintended her property
with an accurate eye, and all her bust
ness dealings were marked with keen
ness that would do credit to skillful
financier. Mr.. Clifford seldom troub-
led himself about his wife's business
propensities unless she, as such women
are apt to, made the sorry work of try
ing to manage his business as well as
her own. Such undertakings on the
wife's part almost always result un-
pleasantly, for man possesses a great
deal of obstinacy, and does not care to
be managed.
A few weeks slipped by, and Faith
was surprised by a proposal of mar
riage from Richard Earle. He had
never mentioned love before, and in
his pleasing attentions she had only
seen friendship. What could she say
TO this noble young heart thus offered
A