Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-25

IL AL AeA-AiiJ "SA-A1P ~ lhC QudllIU par
lor where antique china vases stood upon
the tall mantel shelf, and rosy-faced. very
healthy looking ladies in shining mahogany
frames adorned the walls. which were also
ornamented by piece Of hair work done by
Miss Hannah years agone, and the red. white
and blue sampler worked by her fingers in
childhood.
The young guest tuI ned with look of glad
surprise to the piano. I" Oh, am so relieved;
feared to ask and yet would have been
really lonely without piano. Do you have
music at prayers?" looking eagerly at Mr..
Wexford.
" There has been no one to make it."
May Ir' And he could not refuse her,
though he saw Hannah's lips drop at the cor
ners with an unmistakable expression OF dis
approval.
The girl seemed wholly unconscious, went
over to the instrument, opened it herself and
he handed an open hymn book with his fin
gers resting upon 'eSweet Hour of Prayer
81 am not SO familiar with sacred music
as with other kinds" she admitted, but
quickly low, sweet air was adapted to the
words, and she sang in a rich, melodious
voice, the tender lines that touched at least
one listener with new power. When the
exercises were over she said, with gentler
| tone perceptible in her voice and ten
derer light in the liquid gray eyes, pleasant
slumbers, happy dreams. I bid you good
night"
With rustic gallantry, of which he felt
little shy, Mr.. Wexford arose and attended
her to the door, saying simply Good night"
They heard the door of her room closed Sc
curely, and Hannah tured to him as if to be
WI y
"You wish my opinionr'
eyes, of course; how are you pleased2n
Pleased, net at all; frivolous chatterbox
of a girl, well named Louise Chatterton;
takes everything for granted, singing and
playing as if we were dying to hear her,"
''You wish her TO be happy, do you not,
Hannah; wish her to be at home? Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares."
angels, yes, but they don't generally
come decked off, like some figure from show
window, or like theatre girl A stylish
angel I'd call her. Harm will come of it,
Joseph. 1 wish the year were done with; it
makes me fidgety to think of having that but
terfy about all the while"
He rose with slight and unusual frown
upon the grave, placid face, but instead of
turning, as was his wont, to the study, passed
out into the moonlit garden, pacing to and
fro, restlessly thinking: 'It is unfortunate;
perhaps it could be changed now, but the
bright young thing seems harmless enough
there would be no trouble except for Hannah's
odd fancies; I'm sure she will not be in nv
way"
From that first night Miss Hannah held to
her opinion. There was no good in the girl;
she wa all chow all aToptireSc and with O
secret resentment she endured to have the
piano used every day, the vases in the parlor
filed with flowers. When the flowers ceased
to bloom their places were filed by beautiful
grasses and stately cats tails from the fields;
vines were twined about the pictures, some
what obscuring the healthy looking ladies, but
proving, nevertheless, very becoming to their
beaming countenances There appeared g
hand-painted PLAGUE scarf table cover, a
dainty easel with copy Of some rare piece
of statuary. A canary sang on the sunny
porch and later in the cosy dining-room, and
! new books and magazines, sent by thoughtful
friends, found their way to the rector's study.
The strangers presence became more and
more marked in the priIn, quiet home.
The school was fourishing, and though
there had several times been small matters
of complaint, the trustees took them to Mr.
Wexford, as the young teacher was mem
Der of his family and he had explained and
made it smooth and easy for her.
The most pleasant relations had been estab-
hshed between these two, she turning to him
in all perplexities and anxieties, and he find
ing new and complex pleasure in the sense
Of protection, the recognition of her depend
, ence. And Hannah continued so hard and
ungracious, SO uncompromising and unap-
preciative that he felt constrained to take the
girls part and it was quite due to him that
the place was home for her at all.
He had lived peculiarly solitary life. At
his return from college there was an invalid
mother to engross his thoughts-his own,
Hannah's stepmother-and the remaining
years of her life were made beautiful by his
constant care and devotion. Then Hannah
came to share his home, and he had drifted
into habits Of studious seclusion, quite uncon-
scious of the sweet and willing maidens on
all sides.
! One day he CHANGED to meet Louise
returning from school, and paused to give
her some directions regarding one of her
pupils.
/ Thank you very MUCH" she answered,
warmly, and with grateful look into his
grave face. ''You are very kind to me. I
fear the work would prove very hard were it
not for your watchful interference" then,
more lightly, "Old gentlemen are always
kind and good, aren't they. Papa is a
SAINT
! He was conscious of a mysterious thrill.
sold gentlemen-am 1 so oldg'
''Well, about 40, should think, giving him
a critical look under which he WINGED y am
only IS, you see, and 40 seems quite the other
side of the HILL"
! 'But are you quite sure 1 am 4O!'
i "Why, you are gray"
! 81 have been that for number of wears -
! 'Why, how very old you must be-" with a
little accent of pity.
81 am almost 3d."
"Mr Wexford! I'm glad you are not man
to mind my foolish opinion upon the subject,
but, really, I thought you were near papa's
age"
That night he did most unusual thing; he
stood fully ten minutes before the small mir
ror in his bed-chamber. In this time he noted
every wrinkle, the frosting that had fallen
over the once glossy brown locks; he saw the
rusty old collar. and took cognizance of the
j Anticipated black tie
| lit is not strange she thinks me old; am
so; old in appearance, old in manner, old
7 fashioned altogether With a prolonged
( sigh he turned to the study table, where a
new and attractive magazine lay upon stack