The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-04
MIZPAH.


being not alone; his aunt, fashionable
New York lady, and his Cousin Elaine, a
belle and heiress in her own right, were
his guests; Miss Elaine was his vis-avis in
a rose-colored cashmere morning robe,
with vatican plat, a costume that ex-
actly harmOnized with her dark, statu
esque beauty and regal style. She was
trifling with the amber coffee in her deli
cate and costly cup and looking at her
cousin--by marriage-from under dark,
dropping lashes. Their eyes met, but
Elaine was an adept at Irritation and the
Rev. Leonard did not understand it at
all, so neither was the least embarrassed.
And vet she was critically examining and
weighing him, noticing his elegant vel
vet dressing-gown, his soft white hands,
the air habitual of luxury about him, and
saying to herself, Ellis Master had not
where to lay His headr'
The Rev. Mr.. Austin had approved of
his cousin in one comprehensive glance,
and was asking himself: ~
'.Shall l marry her? She is hand
some, well educated and an heiress-has
been well brought up, and would do me
credit as wife, but" 8
..And how do you like the place, Leon
ard?'' Mrs. Remicke broke the silence
by asking. s
The Rev. Mr.. Austin shrugged his
shoulders. The people are poor and
stupid. True, / have time for study and
there are few good families here with
whom / find congenial association. 9th
erwise it would be very dull.'
d. Il 49, III l. q.
cousin, "You must take much pleasure
in thatpn $50 49A
.Ya-a-s,'' smothering yawn, ''of
course 1 try to do my duty, but all flow
ers of rhetoric are wasted on these peo-
pie, and as only plain talk is understood
by them. have not much scope for my
intellect" et' "t
why did you bring your talents
here?" asked Elaine, with just touch
of sarcasm in her voice. m
ssThe place is merely stepping-stone
to something BETTER" replied her cousin
Ms he rose from the table, fine, stately
man, with the ease and grace of centuries
of culture in his manner. ~
He passed out to the small study in the
back Of the little Gothic stone church,
where he held out the bread of life to a
handful of people, and Elaine went up
stairs to shake out the folds of her rich
dresses, and find some flannel costume
which was suitable to this village life
which she had entered upon as a change
from Saratoga and Long Branch. She
was not exactly tired of life, this bright,
vivacious, interesting young woman, but
she was tired of her life among fashions
and in the train of folly. She felt ca
pacity within her of doing some great
work, but feared to offend her friends
and make herself ridiculous. The cousin
had been her pet companion in days long
past, and when he wrote asking her
mother to come and bring her for the
summer, she was pleased to renew their
neutrality-suspicious. she thought it
might prove to be more than friendship.
She was disappointed; she found him
living in luxury, surrounded by just such
beautiful things as she had always-seen,
and with the soft effeminate manner of
one who expected to :. si.isg.,s. 81
''be carried TO the skies ,if
on dowery beds of ease -
not soldier of the cross as she had hoped
to find. She never thought of the incon-
gruity between her wishes and herself
she knew she wanted leader, and had
not found one. !h
Mrs. Remicke plunged at once into do
nestle details, and left Elaine to go
where she pleased; SO late in the morn
ing, clad in a single short dress of navy
blue cloth, with plumed sun hat to
match, she strolled out and soon found
her way to the church.
Before she reached it she heard the low
roll of the organ and snatch of sweet
sacred music filled the air and sank deep
into her soul. 1t was wave of sweetest
melody embodying tender communion
with the Unseen. 1t was a burden roll
ing from the heart, and dying away in
an inspired sigh, the tears came into
Elaine's eyes. ana go
.'And thought him cold, selfish, fond
Of pleasure. When he can give such ex-
preston to his soul as that will never
touch the organ when he is near.''
She entered the open side door, and
climed noiselessly into the organ loft.
Yes, in the gloom of the Swallowed light
she could just discern him. The last
notes were reverberating through the
hushed and vaulted space as she laid her
hand softly on his shoulder.
=" You have given me a real pleasure,
cousin. can never listen to ordinary
music again. beg your pardonr'
For it was the face of stranger that
was turned toward her; pale, intellec-
tual face, as unlike the forid counten-
ance of Leonard Austin as could possibly
be imagined.
IL am the organist,n he said, hes
itatingly, land Mr.. Austin is good
enough to let me play whenever wish.
It's" he added, with a mournful smile,
"my only recreation" a,a~ IA
Elaine was too much a woman of the
world to be embarrassed, and she gra-
ciously put the organist at his ease by
an animated dissertation upon ancient
music, in which subject she was thor
oughly ut home. Then she left him as
his pale cheek was flushed with excite
ment and pleasure, and dropped in upon
the Rev. Leonard, who was lying on a
rV..~t<.~l y1.,- saoxt,<l -.