New-York tribune., 1881-10-02


was immensely proud of this tall, hne hand,
some happy SON. such fine scholar and such line
gentleman, and yet so cOmpanionaDle.
His pride Notwithstanding, the old man said:
Eh, lad thourt pleasant to me as harvest TO q
hay-suck' Ia hedge-sparrowl: ,but don't ee go
for to, vex your mother HtrL III be 0t IKE dry
What a self-willed old boy II is, sald Gus
smiling. No; am coming with you. and with
nobody else, for have something very particular
Well lad, well 1t makes bright day to me to
have thee; but thee mustn't vex thee mother.
That's Just what Pm afraid | shall have to DO,
replied Gus gravely, and that is what wanted
to tell you. You know mother has always IN
tended me 10 be rector OF Elmholtf
We'll / never shall be- am not going into the
Church 80
The old man stopped abruptly. and looked with
awe-sruck dismdy in his sons face as he CALCULATED
Scissors There was a whole world OF wonder
ment aud horror in the exclamation,
No. SAID the young man. | cannot do IL. nave
never thought seriously about the matter TIL quite
lately but, as the time came near wheh l snouLu L
have to take orders, obliged to look It III the
face and am sure | am not fitted Tor such posi-
ton. | could not take uD that work as traue, OF
a mere profession. | don't feel called upon TO cen
sure those who do but such course wonla Do
utterly hateful to me could never respect ecrs my
self nor could / look for respect from others
shall be very sorry TO veX mother. ii IL were
matter of inclination only, knowing how her heart
is set on it, ] think-but one never knows thlnk
should have given way and said nothing ABOUT
my feelings; but, as a clergyman, 1 should pc
humbug and hypocrte, AMI | won't be
that for anybody. | wouldn't try to be IL even LOT
you :, ,,
What you say is RIGHT good, lad said the old
man with unwonted decision. It's cruObln loodl
to me- to hear tnfe say yin II I've bu Known sbc eT
be wild about IT. Don't thee tell 1t right out ouI
break il to she bit ty bit like.
The conversation was earnest and prolonged, Dnt
il travelled as is the wont of familiar talk, very
much in circle, and did not go beyond what mas
been indicated, though father and son varicd & the
form ct expression from time TO time McahWhhe
Mrs Penny had been engaged in a most interesting
tete-a-tete. An old schooiGellow of herS-now "A
widow IN comfortable circumstances With a mar
red son and two unmarried daughterS-had MAGE
call at EImhoit Farm and Mrs Penny, who had
lately meditated much on her sons settlement III
lite, with characteristic frankness and dTectmeS
had proposed a match between him and MIS- bur
rOwes daughter The proposal met with gracious
for Gus was q decidedly eligible young
man The living of Elmholt was more than com
Portable and Mrs Penny, though not stiugy, was
frugal and had always lived below her income so
that he would inherit from her no inconsidrraDic
He "a healthy. good-lookins, almost
handsome young fellow frank ana modest, hieh-
spirited and without particle oi wee any
mother might be well pleased TO ma sucu Soh-lh-
law and Mrs. Burrowes who could almost answer
for her daughter. no obstacle IN the way o INC
match, unless it lay in the young mans lnclnauohS'
As to that said Mrs. Penny, we are quIIe safe
Augustus she never condeScended 10 the apDIcEld-
tom has really seen one, and ne has no ioOish
romantic notions more charming RlIl tnaa M
Marion | know he could not find, and know we
have only to bring the young iolks togelheI, as
you and will manage it, to have everything settled
Mrs. Penny and Mrs. Burrowes went TO work with
guStO, and when Farmer Penny ana ms son tc-
turned from their walk they were still atI. 80
But there was an obstacle 10 the iulnlment oi the
scheme even more serious than the antl-cleric1l
determination of the young man. anu Oh lhlS cNcH
Farmer Penny knew nothing.
There had lately come to the farm, as sort oi
upper servant, a niece of the good farmer, bright
eyed. neat handed. and really hewtchlng young
woman II Mrs Penny had made a love-match
with her steward, she might have suspected ms
chef here. But hers had benn merely a matter OF
OF the most prOSaic klnd, lhc posi-
bilty of 'Gus falling IN love with ms fathers helce
Alice had never flashed upon her, even rs q remote
contingency. Nor. in truth had II upon the honest
old farmer, though, living much IN the hllcheA
regions, he had them together lar more often
than the autocrat had done, and had listened TO-
and laughed at. their bright wIt-comb3ts when
she had never heard
And the dcnouemcnt was destined to come upon
them all very suddenly, Tor Gus, rightly arguing
that his mother would never give hti coiiStu, 10
such a match. and that his father from whom Ger
tainly he anticipated neither opposition nor uIsp,
prOval would unquestonabIy 6e severely handled
If he We're made prIyy 10 the scheme, kept Ms own
counsel tlll he should be able to say, We are one
til death do us part what use are reproaches
so Just before Alice took her holiday TO VISIT her
friends at Thornbury, Gus elected tn spend week
or two with an Old college friend at Bristol, anu one
morning quiet little wedding party stepped INTO
the quiet little Od-fashioned church 3l 81 J"hl the
Baptist and Augustus Penny. OF ElmhOlt, ahd AIIce
COvIngtOn, of IhOrnbury, glowing wlth radldht
happiness, stepped out Of II man anu VIE.
On his way TO church. Gus had posted long
e ter hIs mother, explaining Lls !nNiuclblc re-
pugnance 10 the career she had destined LOT mmi
his determination to be farmer, the rare qualities
Of the wife he had chosen, and her eminent hthSss
10 adorn that sphere of life; his warm affection Tor
his mother and father; and the hope which he ana
Alice indulged that II wonld bc their happiness 20
minister to the comfort of both IN thcr decl ining
years IL was good, honest, sensible letter. but IL
made Mrs. Penny furious
She tore her hair, stamped, screamed hung her1,
self on the floor. went into violent Mysteries, aud
then lay for half the day on the sofa. sobbng ana
Utterly unreas )nahle u was, as everyone
must zee; but not unnatural. The cherished puG-
pose OF iive-and-twenty years had been, Just as u
seemed OH the of accomplishment, Irrcvocably
dashed into ruins and the poor lady desoIation OF
soul was complete Her boy, her hope her one
love, passionatciy loved under that queer. ccccn-
trc, autocratic} half-cOmc exterior, WAS dead To
her. and the cloud which had taken him away
like David of DID, she arose from the earth, ana
washed. and anOinted herself, and changed her
apparel and caused bread To be set before her and
she did eat. There was nothing now TO weep iOr,
TO toll for, to JOY for any longer.
When her husband approached her. somewhat
lwc-struck. with hOmcly words OF comfort, she
forbade all reference to the subject IN the house
hold. No stranger had intermcddlcd with her JOY
her bitterness was all her own. She went about
her household and farm alairs as usual, but more
silently with pale face. compressed lips and fierce
ire in the clear gray eyes of hers.
Then, upon day. the old gates swung back, and
,hc saw the young man coming up To the house with
MS bride whose face was rather pale and anxious
III his arm. She went ont and stood the top step
If the doorway receive them, her tall form drawn
% its full height her gray hair blown hithcr aud
hther by the wind, and her face burning as with
white heat
Mother said Gus, as he stretched out bis arms to
ler.
No mother Of yours, ungratcful boy shricked
,he. 'All that is past aud buried lou have
,cOrned my love you havo tranpcd on my heart.
And now 20 and take yOu- beggar. bride, and work
,ut your Own low tastes, and ditch, and delyc !
md starve! Never shall you enter these
loors you are no child Of minep
Nay; but, mother he exclaimed, aghast at her
angry vehemence, hear me-.
1t IL too late will listen TO your voice
again 1t has no music for me now nor will have
ill | die You have made Of less than no
account and blot you like evil dream from my