Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-12-22
hand was kindly clasped by her, and
from every lip there fell blessing.

But one among them did not greet
her, though his gaze followed her inteDtly
from tie moment she entered till she
left. 1t was stranger, tourist, who,
charmed by the rural beauty of the glen,
had resolved as the stage left him there
OH Saturday evening, to spend few
lays in rambling about in sunny spots
and skctching its picturesque rivers; a
highly gifted, noble young man, dow
-red with a princely fortune. who. hav-
ing completed his collegiate course, had
nought to do but while away his time in
the most agreeable way. But, now,
surititcd with the pleasures of fashiona-
bic lie, he had turned away to seek in
communion with Nature and her true
hearted children that congeniality for
which his spirit had longed but had not
found, either in his aristocratic home or
his wealthy friends.
His mother had been one Of those spirit
ually organized beings to whom holiness
of hfe and devotion to duty are as neccssi-
tons as breath, and though spared to
nirn but seven brief years, she SO in
wrought her nature into his that all the
unfortunate circumstances Of later years
could not eradicate 1.-THE angel sung
so sweetly in the far depths of his bosom
that the syren voices Of temptation
sounded to him ever like hideous dis
cords
The proud lady who, ere two years
had left their greenness on his mothers
grave, was installed as mistress of her
home, gave no affection to the dining
boy, while his father, stern, grave,
taciturn man, though deep in his heart
there welled strong waves of passionate
feeling, manifested them only by seeing
that his temporal condition was we'll
cared for, and so he grew to manhood
filled with affectionate yearnings, but
with none to breathe them upon, and
only uttering them upon the low grassy
mound where slept the gentle being
who had given him life.
Once indeed his spirit thought it had
found its mate. There fitted into the
brilliant saloons of fashion radiant
young creature, who seemed the incar-
nation of a poets dream, and whose
spell soon bound the youthful Reuben.
But ere many months the charm was
broken. She proved but gay coquette,
and after toying with many hearts, final
Is surrendered to wrinkled age, barter
ing herself for gold. Reuben had be-
licved he loved her, but when the dream
Was so rudely broken, he found his heart
was fetterless-he had lovednot her, bnt
| The creation of his own soul who he had
! fancied was embodied there. For time
indeed he scorned the other sex, but ere
ong the vision Of his own sweet mother
came to him in such vivid light, that he
felt he stained himself with sin to think
even harshly Of those to whom she was
bound hv the ties of sisterhood, and he
said within himself, Il will seek he,
counterpart, and finding it, be happy.
So Lord Burleigh-like he went about as
travelling artist, and in the wild o'
beautiful Of nature, as chanced tn
scene, his spirit drank in peace, and thu
angel in his heart sang dearer and more
thri!lingly.
Such was he who, in the little churcl
of Glen, had watched SO closely its frau
Lily Her loveliness, ever bewitchingl.,
delicate, was enhanced by the palenes
of convalescence, and she seemed to tL'
Young man like one of those saintet
ones of whom he used to dream whel
in his boyish sorrow he nestled on tn
couch where his mothers spirit had de
parted There was no guile, he felt, IL
those heavenly eyes, no mockmg taun
would ever sing from lips like hers-nay
there was purity of soul visible in he
very mien.
"Who is she o. asked be, as he walked
home with the inn keeper; "who is tha
fair young creature who seems th
adopted child Of the church? She walk
>efore us with the old pastor"
"She has another name, but we onl.
call her Lily orythe Lily of the Glen,
homeless girl now, without relative o.
, earth and vet she will never want fo
anything, for, humble as We are, we Wi
, ! ever make room for her by our hearth
! ! and in our hearts, for she is an ange
, whom We cannot entertain without
] hessing.'
The Young man shut himself in hi
room and mused upon her. In his wild
: est dreams he had fancied nothing earth
: " so ethereal, and he fel. that could h
but clasp that fragile Lily to his hea,
is low murmuring means would b
hushed forever.
/ The sunset flooded the Glen with bri
liancy as he stole forth again, and Ions
! ing for silent communion with the huna
, tloveret who had entranced his soul,
turned from the pleasant village stres
ana followed the banks of little strea,
that went singing along as though eac
9 wave WAS a meln1y. Whittier il led 1