Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-10-10
BfSSIE'S BETROTHED.

BEssIE's BETRoTHED.
y low, irregular line of houses strag-
gled somehow into the square. with
here and there jutting gable frownine
forward, as if resenting the attempt al
regularity.
Gothic, Tudor, and Saxon seemed to
have had an equal part in this strange
medley of buildings; while, as if to add
TO this chaos of construction, the Rec
tors house looked down upon the
group from the hill above, and brought
your minds at once TO the forward
frets of the great queen.
Strange how the mind of people
will stamp itself upon even sticks and
StOneSl
This square, which was mildly
frowned upon by the Rector's house,
was the abode of some fifty gentle
women-''the wives of clergymen,
1 eing of good repute, whom We Count
eSS of GlencOwer hath minded herself
to do Gods service, by affording them
shelter, and food, and raiment, until it
shall please the Almighty TO take them
unto himSelf.''
In the valley below, there stretched
from the hillside a waving mass of
larch and pine. and rustling sycamore,
folding in their emerald embrace the
dark fells and white-frothed coursing
of nimble rivulet.
As YOU turned this winding road to
the right, up the hill towards the rec
tory, the old church, with Its ruined
architecture, raised its spires before
you, calling TO mind the time when
Canute lifted the banner OF Christ
against the black Raven of the North.
1t was an ancient, sleepy village,
which had scarce changed i'll all the
rolling years; and one might even have
supposed the worm-eaten gate leading
to the chUTch-yard cOeval with the
times afore gone, since post and rail
seemed to have long gone past their
Office.
Leaning against the rail was a
maiden of some eighteen years of age,
her bright, plquant face half turned
against the setting sun. y light, dull
gray cashmere gown, fitting closely TO
her figure. was relieved only by faint
pale rosebud at her throat.
Most women are pretty in the eyes
of men, and all can captivate II they
but rely on that softneSS which Is their
nature, and not seek TO win tawdry
appearance by aping the masculine.
Man yields his admiration to this Tor
a moment, and resents it III his heart
much as a woman reSents 1t III the
stern sex any approach to effemlnacy.
Bessie Lee was a woman and a child,
she scarce knew her own heart, hardly
comprehended for what else the Su-
preme Being had formed her, save TO
lie dainty in all her ways, and drink III
each dav the sweet homage of man.
She loved. for Noman's nature Is TO
love. and the excess OF that divine pas
sion. as yet unfulfilled within her, out
poured itself upon every one with whom
She came in contact.
She could not help loving. 1t was
her instinct, and she obeyed IT. Ihe
aged gentlewOmen of the home, 1ull OF
bye-gone years, and bitterness 1or lhe
present, felt their gall turned to honey
as she ministered to their wants; ana
the laborer ceased to think of the deadly
toll which hungry mouths caused hlin,
if Bessie Lee came but near TO warm
him into better manhood.
This was her instinct, her better
nature. She could not help doing
GOOD: but books had taught her otheI
things. and beyond all that she had
conceived an idea of love from lhe
frothv dreams of romancers.
life is not made of romance, Bessie
patfrt nt .lllll
sunshine. uor
Thus much for her character. Her
form and face were perfect. she was
the daughter of one of the lnhaDltalIs
of the refuge.
Nv her side stood tall, grave man
of some seven or eight-and-twenty,
sneaking in a low, earnest voice upon
some theme to which the girl seeineu
to pay but petulant attention
Il. .ife has romace enough III IL lor
ALL of us. dear Bessie" he sad, ., III
we but gild each morning with Ihe
sunshine of an honest endeavor.
II Know know, dear" she re,
nlied. ..but life cannot be all bread anu
cheese, and solemn word ana soiesiiiI Il
mode. Oh, Ralph L should uie Il !,
couldn't have excitement, anu aou
have drawn such a gloomy picture. A.
as if gloomy, then, dear, to DE tne
associate and helpnIate oil one Wio,
God being his help, honestly enuea' ,;so Gto
IN do his duty. l cannot pant tne iine ,n
of a poor London doctor 10 you y,id ~
0iowin@ 81 colors. Bessie. III did wo'lu
I've untrue TO you myself ,r5
You are trying me very hSau: saoa
Ralph ), She said, turning ner iacv lac,
hastily. that he might not see '"e ''iei'
tear which rose to her eyes: ILL., ond
He looked at her wlSuuny "a aie ha
sadly. slightly releasing the p[esS'h' ~
Lad nIaced upon her tiny hand; a.;n
'''a after all he thought, was tins Dam 1
tv petuiant village maid .ne o,le 'nce,n n
Gnt7et the blllows of life's great ooJ'h 1'h;id
% Uould he ever make thedeilcate; cii.,n nii
,nderstand him, and be to nm ~ II .hn iu,
that second self, lacking WI MliSn ;s nerfect.
araat % business of life no man Is p1aar1 en- or
WAS it far, was it honest, osn ~ az and
20 him TO tear up this prilnroSe' 'n
LIN If with the deadly town an. vould
He could not say. Ills ne reason-
only moan back in answer 10 ie'
~ love ber-I love herr! ,he man.
Vet as stern stuff was III .o ane in his
',,S le., a. not show it TO her save I'LL ''''
earnestness and his manno1u, .d NO room
RaInb Braybrook's IS heart h'''' nv