Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-24
Gales AND Skftfbes.
WHAT WAS II.

ger ever saw her without expressing adj
miration, and one did not weary of the
face after years of familiarity withit. She
was well-bred. accomplished. and q great
heiress. had reason 10 believe she was
very fond of me. No man could be more
entirely content than / was as leaned
back In the first-class carriage which took
me from Glasgow into the country. 10
the Vale Of Cruix, where ! was TO preach
few Sabbaths.
The pulpit was vacant, and was going
70 try my wings. With my pecuniary
prospects scarcely thought should care
10 accept call to the Vale OF Cruix, but
had no objections to filling its pulpit for
few weeks. especially as Angelina had
gone to the West coast, and Glasgow was
warm and stuffy and stupid.
Casual remembrances Of elegant par
sonages built in Queen Anne's style; Of a
study where the footballs were sOfened BY
Persian rugs and the doors draped in
portieres Of velvet; chairs and desk,
carved richly as some old confessional,
fitted through my mind. And | thought
also Of table set with silver and rare
china with lady at its head, who resem-
bIed a aneen. And breathed luxurious
sigh as I awakened from my day dream 10
a knowledge that the words ''Vale OF
Cruix' were being sh )uted on the plat
form, and that the train was coming To a
standstil.
seized my travelling-bag from the
rack overhead and hurried out Of the car
riage. The porters had just pulled four
or five trunks on the platform. Two old
wagons stood in the road, one driven by
old woman in a sun bonnet. the other by
a red-haired boy with bare feet; and a
queer, knock -kneed horse, attached to a
queerer old gig, was standing at little
distance. A young man in a light summer
suit. and a city family bent on rural happi-
ness, were my companions on the plat
form.
The former put his trunk in the first
wagon, kissed the old woman in the sun
bonnet, took the reins and drove away.
He was evidently the son OF the family,
come horne to spend his vacation. The
rest of the trunks and city iamily-mother,
father, little boy. nursemaid and baby
were put in the wagon and driven by the
boy.
When the train moved away, l was left
alone on the Ilatform-alone, but for the
statiOn-master who sat upon a bench
smoking clay pipe.
In a moment more the official without
looking at me. made the remark: deacon
Stevenson has come for the new minister.
He's over in the hotel and will be back in
q minute"
Thank YOU" said I.
The station-maste took no notice of me,
but, having climbed upon a stool and
made some changes in time register on
the wall of the station, locked the door.
put the key in his pocket, and sauntered
away down the railroad.
! took his place upon the bench and
waited. In few minutes prim little old
gentleman appeared upon the top of the
hill. carryin. in one hand a tin can, in the
other tin pail, and under either arm a
brown paper parcel. | knew at a glance
that il was Stevenson.
"Are you Mr.. Mactaggert ?" he inquired
mildly, rs he approached. Il want to
know hadn't any expectation of being
kept so long. but, YOU see, it saves the
women folks trouble to fetch things when
/ drive down. Step in, won't you? I'll
jest hang this can of parailine lie on be-
hind. Some dislike the smell-maybe You
do. The sugar loaf. tea and coffee can go
under the seat as well as not IIow's YOUR
health. sir. and how do you like the Vale
Of Cruix ?"
l answered that my health was good
and that had not. as yet, seen much of
Vale of Cruix.
mo, You haven't" said the old gentle
man. well. you'll drive through it
now" And he shook the reins and the
horse began to stumble along. AMI on
we drove past certain rows of brick
houses very much like each other, and
with the same flowers in their front gar
dens, until. having passed the church, we
came TO one happily set about by old oak
trees, before the gate of which we drew
up.
A girl stood at the gate-a fair girl in a
blue muslin dress and white apron.
take the sugar. Mary, before it gets
upset." said the Deacon. This is Mr.
Mactaggert, that's to preach for us. Mt
Mactaggcrt, this Is my daughter Mary"
We bowed, and she vanished with the
parcels.
..What lovely little creature :" said !
to myself. Nothing like Angelina. but
30 prettvr' And found myself thinking
of her as washed my hands and brushed
my hair in the blue-waled bedroom on
the second floor with white fringed coun-
terpanes and curtains, and two black
silhoueties over the mantel-piece on either
side of the China vases of roses.
There were only four of us ut the table
the Deacon. his wife. stout lady who
never said more than she could help, and
Mary. She had spent the last winter at
Glasgow. and we talked about all she had
seen. She was self-possessed without be-
ing forward, and oh. so pretty. Now
Angelina was splendid and queenly. so
this was mild praise that she could not
have objected to. only said it very often.
l preached on the next Sunday. 1t was
settled that should spend the summer
there. wrote this to Angelina:
''Since you cannot be with me it does
not matter where am--,his stupid place
IS well as anv other. Address to the care
of Deacon Stevenson. shall remain
with him while preach here
1t was pleasant summer. despite the
dizziness OF the place. How good the
old Deacon was when one really knew
him How motherly was Mrs. Stevenson
As for Mary, she grew sweeter every
day! have often wondered what Ange
lima would have said could she have
seen me helping her TO pick blackberries
to find the runaway COW. 10 carry home
the milk pail, driving her over to the