, 1881-10-14

" so this was mild praise thnt sue
could not have obiecteH to, only sald
it very often. / preached on The next
Sunday. 1t was settled that L should
spend the summer there. L wrote TINS
to Angelina:
Since Won cannot be with me 1t does
not matter where l am-tms stupid
place as we'll as any other. Address to
the care of Deacon Stevenson. L snail
remain with him while | preach here.
1t was pleasant summer, despite the
dullness of the place. How good the
dnaint old deacon was when one really
knew him! How motherly was Mrs.
Stevenson! AS for Mary, she grew
sweeter every dav! | often wondered
what Angelina would have said could
she have seen me help her to pick black
berries. to find the runaway COW, to
carry home the milk pail, driving her
over to the country grocery, and return
ing with a freight of srocerles-An-
gelina, who knew nothing of domestic
details, and whose monOgrammed and
perfumed letters were often brought
over from the Office i'll company with the
paraffine can. | wrote my sermons AT
one end of the round table, while Mary
sat at the other, sewing. Between us
was lamp with green paper shade.
Now and then a big bug would fly INTO
the window, and go hummlng about our
heads, or a moth would try to singe its
wings over the chimney, and L
would drive it out. The old peo-
pie would go to bed after
while and then Mary and | would find
ourselves hungry, and she would go INTO
the kitchen to find something good. L
always held the light for her. When
something good was found, we ate 1t IN
the back porch, sitting side by side on
| the step, like children. $500
She was so like a child, that little
Mary, that it seemed no harm to ask her
to kiss me goodnight, or hold her hand
in mine, as it rested on my arm, IL our
long walks home from church on Sunday
evenings.
The summer passed; October came.
Angelina returned to the city and wrote
to me. 1t was while we were eating
peaches and cream on the back porch
that evening that said to Mary, Il will
tell you Il secret if you will keep 1t for
awhile, Mary"
"Oh, of course, will, Mr.. Mactag-
CERT"
II am going to be married this au-
tumn, Mary" l said. ''These pretty let
IcIS you iiOLl
sister are from the lady who is to marry
me. She is very beautiful, very rich,
very stylish, but very kind. You must
come and see us. Mary, when we are
married. l shall tell Angelina how good
you have been to me-what a sweet little
| sister found out here in Vale of CruiX.
| Why, Mary"
For, as 1 spoke felt the little hand L
held grow cold and heavy in mine.
saw her sink backward. The big china
bowl Of peaches and cream slipped with
a crash to the ground and shattered to
| pieces.
L caught the poor child in my arms.
In a moment she came to herself. she
thought. They had been baking all day.
and it was warm. And now she bade me
good night. But did not see her next
day, nor the next. She kept her room,
and was not well enough to bid me good
by.
Poor little Maryl 1 felt miserable
However, Angelina met me IN Glasgow.
She was more beautiful than ever-more
elegant in contrast to my simple country
friend-and very soon L laughed at my
self for the thought that had been in my
heart. OF course. L said. it was the bak-
ing that had overcome Mary-it was not
my news. I had only been to her as a
friend-as brother. l had not made
love to her. But thought of Mary a
great deal, and missed her every hour
exactly-oh, yes, exactly-as L might u
sister
wrote to Mrs. Stevenson and her an
swer was very brief.
81 haven't much time to write," she
said in her postscript. ''Mary is quite
aTa nyNl hna 1,.,x 4
anxious"
This letter was in my pocket on that
day when Angelina and l went together
to the bazaar for the benefit of the church
| of st. Matthew.
After we had roamed about the bazaar
| and bought all sorts of nick-nacks, 1 es-
| corted Angenlia to seat, and there sat
| down to wait while one of the ladies, who
''on this occasion only" was doing good
onerous work, brought US a tray of re-
freshment
As we sat there slipping our coffee, two
| women sat down at the next table, with
their backs toward us.
II am very tired; are you not, Mrs.
Russell ?" And the other answered
''Yes, 1 am tired. l don't think that
its worth the while to come all the way
from Vale de Cruix to Glasgow, sight
| seeing.
This was the voice of StevensOn's S
nearest neighbor, and L liked her and re-
spected her, yet did not feel quite sure
how Angelina would like an introd uction
and so refrained from looking around
and making myself known.
I'D think we'd better have tea" said
the first voice. Its more refreshing
than coffee. Oh, how is Mary to-day !?
Think of my never asking before r.
MARY is poorly" said Mrs. Russell.
sob, Mrs. Cullen, what pity it is that
flirting young minister came down to
Vale de Cruix. 1 don't know what Mrs.
Stevenson was about to let him do as he
did. We all thought he was courting
Mary. She did, poor child. She loved
him dearly, and the day he went away he
told her he was engaged to some girl
in Glasgow. I'm afraid it's broken her
heart. She told me all about it. .Oh,
Aunty RUSSELL she said, Il know ought
to be ashamed, but can't help it. He
seemed to like me so. hope shall die
of this fever, for life is nothing to me. ;
Ashamed Why it's he who ought to
be ashamed. OF all things, minister to
be a cold, cruel fiirt! And that is what
Hugh Mactaggert is?"
l listened, but l could not move or
sneak / felt as though nv heart vere