The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-05-06
CLEVELAND, TENN, MAY 6, 1881.

existed, until it made its untimely ap.
pearance, rattling and criticising within
the sacred inclosure of the new house
And Harry was so easily amused with
it, and fed ii with the light ofhis hand.
SOME smiles and gallant expressions,
and very poorly defended his betrothed
from its encroachments. Molly looked
out upon the lovely summer landscape
and evening heavens with moist eyes,
and with some despairing thoughts
upon the practical bearings of her cir
cumstances. She was as pretty as Miss
Clara any day, and could sing and talk
as well, but she was no match with her
in impertinence, nor a-lack-a. day, in
her wardrobe just then, for she had
been economizi 6 against tho welding,
aud in favor of coming household ag.
grandizement, aud who could have
foretold that she must needs enter the
lists again with the snowy cousin in
respect of ribbons and founces ?
Clara's new dress did look well, there
was no denying that, and Molly's last
years bonnet and lawn were most in.
disputably fimSy.
If Molly did not think all
this on that evening, she had
sufficient leisure to do SO on the
following days. Clara seemed totally
to ignore her cousins engagement, and
exhibited tact in monopolizing his at.
tentions which would have been very
entertaining had it not been SO cruel,
She must of necessity protract her
morning ride till after nine o'clock, so
that Molly was forced to remain behind;
and she contrived with marvellous in,
vention to find some reason for com.
mencing her evening walks half hom
too early for the teachers convenience.
Then if other arts failed, she could
easily manage by piece of ambiguous
politeness, just favored witha dash Of
insolence, to induce Molly to decline
invitations and questionable advances.
And Harry all this while? Clara
avered aloud and often that Molly, the
good soul, didn't mind, and Harry
echoed silently the comforting declar-
alton whenever it was necessary to hush
any little whisperings that conscience
might insinuate to the contrary. And
bewildered by Clara's increasing play of
wit and fascination, he had rapidly
drifted away from his old moorings, and
perhaps yielded to his inclinations
when he allowed himself to be guided
by her influence. And Molly, with the
customary bad policy of slighted beau
ties, dotfed the witchery of her smiles
and winning speeches, assuming a re-
pelling and an almost defiant air, and
thus unwittingly resigned the whole
field to her rival.
As all this happened in community
Of excellent persons, not behind any
other rural district in active, mutual
sympathy and neighborly sentiment,
there was plenty of speculation abroad
respecting it. A trio of individuals
being Immediately concerned, there
were at least three sides to the question,
and old grudges and whims and predi-
lections rapidly marshaled the good
people into their respective parties, and
the clamor of tongues soon grew &C fast
and furious" reaching all ears but those
with which it had most to do.
Molly was so certain that her woes
had been unobserved that she was com
pletely surprised one evening by an
event that gave new direction to her
contemplations. She had sent away
her scholars and was mournfully leaving
the schoolhouse, expecting one of those
dreary, solitary evenings at home, when
she came into collision upon the thresh-
old with no less parsonage than DR..
Stone.
"Iam not a shadow that you should
think to walk through me in this fash.
ion, Miss Brown"
Molly proilered hasty apology to the
smiling, substantial gentleman before
her, who, for bachelor of forty-fve,
possessed very portly and comfortable
aspect
"If you have leisure, Miss Brown" he
continued, "please walk up the street
with me. / wish to confer with you
concerning little business"
The doctor was the school committee.
"There," thought Molly, almost cry.
ing, ~ suppose that my. school has
been growing wrong with all the rest,
and now l must listen to certain ami.
madversions on my stupidity. He
might have chosen a more retired place
to read me lecture"
But there was not particle of re.
proof in the doctors countenance,
which withal was very handsome, as he
inquired if Miss Brown had been in.
vited to the picnic which was to be held
in famous grove six miles distant, on
the ensuing Saturday. Molly did not
reply at once, for she was ashamed to
confess that she had been neglected; /;
and yet Harry had not said a word to
her about it. The tears came into her
eyes, and she was much distressed.
az do not wish To trouble you." 81 d