Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-01

u ROOu, Cnrlhllan luOtnef, huu ntteu nlulbeH
for the ministry and taken this charge ON the
hills of Pennsylvania. Nobody in Kerr's
Ford knew the history of his family. Why
should theyy He had washed his hands clean
of the accursed stain Now and then he had
received begging letters from his brother
John, and always sent him money. But the
gulf was like that between Dives and Laza-
rus, and Mr. Harbour had little doubt as to
which brother was secure for all eternity.
There were many minor causes to-day to
contribute to his comfortable complacency.
just below Bryce's store he met committee
of ladies from the church fair there were
two or three portly matrons in black alpacas
and blacker fronts; Miss Ann Hyde, thin,
watchful and aggressive as a colley driving
stupid, fnt ewes and, little behind, group
of pert, pretty girls. They surrounded him,
eager, vehement all talking at once. The
Rev. Nicholas listened with an anxiety which
he strove to subdue into n benign attention
1t hardly suited the dignity of his calling to
be concerned about the rafiled cake, or grab
bag, and yet il was all important that the
church should have a stained rose window
pierce has agreed to charge nothing for
the dishes, and what do you think, Mr. Har-
bour, ice am should be plate We don't
want to be exorbtant, You know But peo-
pie ought to be generous, considering the
cause is the Lords"
Certainly, certainly. Very good in
Pierce. I'm sure" calculated the bewidered
pastor.
And Miss Sarah Clevedon has consented
to assist The pastors wandering eye grew
steady at this Not" pursued Miss Hyde.
that the girl will be of any real use. The
most eccentric. unreliable person But it
will give tone to the affair to have her name.
The social status of the Clevedons will induce
many to take interest in our efforts, who care
nothing for n well cooked supper, or even for
our noble purpose" Miss Hyde was Core
spending Secretary of the Female Missionary
Society. Her language was noted in Kerr's
Ford. for its scope and dignity of expression.
I'VE ought not to reckon on such things.
said Mr.. Harbour gently. The Master you
know, is no respecter of persons
And yet, as he walked on with them to the
hall where the fair was TO be held he knew
that he did reckon on these things. The So
cal status of the Clevedons" weighed not n
a little with him, even in his feeling for Sa-
rah. 1t illuminated all his thoughts of that
beautiful young person as the gold back
ground does the pictures of the medieval
Madonnas. He was angry at himself. Could
he not keep even his love pure and high
above the paltry level Of caste considerations:
The young man knew his own weakness. He
remembered that once in London. when his
cab was stopped ut the entrance to certain
! street belonging to noble Duke. because
none but livered equipages were allowed to
/ pass, how he stood for an hour. looking at
these privileged conveyanccs and their occu-
pants with homage nearly akin to awe. 1t
was absurd to pay this same homage to this
! village aristocacy-to Sarahs family, with
their ancestry of II circuit Judge. a country
| squire, and far-of signer of the Declaration
But, with the whole population of the county
he did it.
| Miss Hyde drew him aside when they were
! within the hall. For twenty years Miss Hyde
had been manager of village etiquette. indis-
| pensable at wedding. fair or funeral. She
had claim to speak with authority in church
matters different from that of pastor or dca-
| cons but quite rs distinctly recognized by the
| people.
''rhe Holts and Burwells are talking of ap-
| plying for pews," she said triumphantly.
The good cause moves"
Mr.. Harbour bowed The blood mounted
to his cheek with pleasure.
with the Clevedons we shall then have
all Of the best people in Kerrs Ford" >" she con-
tinued. Its quite right. With such a
church and such preaching We ought to fill
our pews with certain class.
Mr.. Harbour skilfully separated himself
from Miss Hyde. Her vulgarity and snobbish-
ness annoyed him Yet he was Just us pleased
of "a certain class"
Mrs Wilcox next seized his arm. See
the post office Mr. Harbour. An arch Of ev-
| ergreen, paper flowers. colored lamps-you
| understand the design Lille Bassett inside
in white muslin and blue wreath-oh, it will
be charming You have done so much to el-
cyate our aesthetic tastes and love of the
beautiful. l sit in the church now on Sun.
| day, and look up at the carved aTc ches and the
stained glass and crimson cushions and re.
member the days of poor, dear Mr.. Stone
when we worshipped over the market-house
The old gentleman was always so busy with
those wretched miners of COalport that he
had no time to think of cushions or carvings
They used to crowd in and fill up some OF
the best seats in the church. Dear knows,
beautiful church would have been thrown
away on them :"
Mr.. Harbour glanced at her sharply. Die
she intend covert sarcasm But no hel
fat. good-natured face was smiling and placid
as ever. 1t was natural that she should wisl
to see the best seats filled with people of posi-
ton rather than grimy coal-heavers. But he
He told himself that they We're all alike - soul
for whom Christ died.
There was sudden movement near the
door. IA hush of the clamor TO decOrous silence
even Miss HYDE lowered her student tones t.
n well-bred murmur the Holts and Burwell
were coming in and with them Sarah Cleve
don. She was an erect young girl with brown
earnest eyes, dressed more simply than any
woman in the room. But people rarely re
membered Sarah's dress or anything abou
her but her eyes, the meaning of which al
ways strangely remained with you after sh,
was gone. Mr.. Harbour watched her as sh,
passed through the room. detained by one ca
ger group after another Was il possible tina
she did not know that since she was chilC
she had been regarded as a princess by thes
tradesmen's wives and daughters, simply be
cause she was born an heiress Could it b.
possible that she did not see how vulgar an,
coarse grained they were She did not seen
to see il. They We're her friends whom sh
had known and loved since she was baby
it did not occur to her to criticse their mind
or manners, any more than to quarrel will
the beeches on the village street because the,
were not oaks. When she sat down besid
little Miss Maddox. the tailoress there was
Difference, almost approaching humility, il
her manner. True, the poor little deforme
woman was almost a saint, thought the cler
gyman, but what fine instinct taught that rev
erence TO the girl. He never had felt it him
, self. How delicate and rare she was, this Ia
dy of his love With all her cordial sweet
ness, no one could be familiar with her. Sh
would have held prince MS far apart from he
as she did poor little Sam the cobbler.
Presently, he went up and joined her, GO
ing from stall to stall The effect upon hiI
was curious. Grab-bag and post Office slowl
sank to their proper place in the universe
even the rose-windOw, for which all thi
mighty pother was made, no longer appeare
to be the end of human life and action it wa
: in its place a useful thing. But its place was
after all, a small one. Yet Sarah had not sal
a word concerning grab-bag or rose-window
Was it because she was so simple and tT1i
r that this hurly-burly appeared to him paltr
and foolish
He left the hall walking beside her dow
through the low-lying meadows towards ClevC
don Place. He remembered the furry an
fever of the last few days as a man might VIII
had ended long race and found a mean tin
sci crown in his hands. If he could win thi
= woman he could leave all vulgar fever foreve
below him and rise to the height on which sh