, 1880-08-02

over-dones and under-dones. She had
such Lady Superior way that. though
really loved your minister's wife.
always felt q sense of guilt, and never
at home with her.
But it seemed it was not that I had
been late at church or absent from the
sewing society this time. Neither had
q bow too many or bow too few on
my Sunday bonnet. Worse, though
Mr.. Brodhead had been 10 her.
My DEAR" she began. as sweet and
as cold and as stiff rs dish of fro
gen custard, want to have serious
talk with you on serious subject, and
perhaps may as we'll say at once, Mr..
Brodhead has solicited the good o6aces
Of Mr.. Corliss and myself between you
and himself. He seems to be very
earnest admirer, but = very dif6dent
one. What should you say to the idea
IF entertaining proposal of marriage
ON him ?"
81 couldn't think OF such q thing
for q moment. Mr.. Corliss. have no
expectation or wish ever to marry any
one" said l, feeling very much an
noyed.
Mrs. Corliss sighed severely. "Mar
riage is divinely appointed institu,
ton" said she, and rot to be lightly
set aside without due consideration ard
praye You are not now prepared to
give a 6nai answer to 80 important a
matter. 1t comes upon you suddenly.
Take time. my dear friend, to think it
over carefully, prayerfully and with a
view to what Is your duty"
Mre. Corliss shut her lips tight, as
though to keep her teeth in. and then
kissed me good nIght-a soft, ciammy
kiss, which made me feel as though
wanted q lump of sugar. Accordingly,
went to the house and ate one, and
thought no more about Mr.. Brodhead
for . month and q day.
At the end of that time Aunt Kent
asked mo to 60 down and do up her
caps. Aunt Kent was dear. good old
lady, who lived in = little yellow and
white cottage at the end of the grave.
yard, where her husband and seven chill
dren were lying in one pathetic row,
under the beds of heart ease and for
get-me-nots. But when they went she
adopted all the world into her warm,
motherly heart. So. though she. lived
alone, with little cream oolored grey
hound, she had large family, and who
ever was sick. or sorry, or needy, went
to her, a. we'll as whoever wished for
sympathy in health and glsdness.
Dear Aunt Kent! when I went in
there she was knitting checked sock
eD~ N.hI,su h,6v, l.
such look of peaceful repose on her
face that one would be willing to GO
over the same weary path Of suffering,
if it should lead at last into such land
of rest.
"I don't know when I've felt sorri-
er," said she, when was settled at my
work by her side, ethan 1 did for some
body Who came to me last week in a
love affair. He is a man of whose love
any wemaa might be proud, but he is
so full of humility and self distrust
hat he doesn't even dare opeu the sub
ject to the young woman herself. Aud
| don't know but it will cost him his
life. He says he is sure it would if she
should refuse him, and I guess he is
sure about it,"
In an instant Mr.. Brodhead flashed
into my mind. ami my heart grew hard
er than the meeting-house steps.
Why. Aunt Kent, said ], t" it is too
absurd! He hus already been to the min
lister and to the minister's vile, and
then to the deacon and to the deacon S
wife, to ask them to intercede for him.
| wouldn't have man anyhow after he
had made such goose Of himself"
Aunt Kent opened her eyes in mild
asiOnishment. and then [ remembered
she named somebody. Then l stopped
suddenly and felt my cheeks begin to
burn.
"Dear child" said she, tenderly,
when you have seen few more Of
the ups and downs of life, you will
think more of good mans love than
vou will of these outside manners.
M. Brodhead told me he had been in
his strait to some of our m mutual friends,
but he supposed they had not spoken
with you. And we must not Judge
him by the standard we would apply to
some people. He is shrinking, to timo-
rousness, especially with ladies'. And
he says he is conscious that he always
appears his worst before you. Poor
mani I've seen him sit at church with
bis eyes fixed on the ribbon Of your
hat, as it duttered little in the wind,
and looked so hungry and so hopeless,
my heart just ached for him."
This time my face flushed with anger
as we'll as shame.
" feel humiliated, Aunt Kent" said
I. 81 hope nobody else has seen him
make such silly spectacle of himself. '
Bella. my dear. you are wrong
interposed Aunt Kent, gently. :" We
must take people as they are, not as we
would have made them. The man is
Cast in delicate, sensitive mould, and
this is nearly or quite matter of life
or death with him. doubt if you ere