Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-12-27
CHAPTER II.
NII- III i III II
THE OLD, OLD STORY.

Mr.. Durefoy walked in. The evening
sun cast its slanting rays across his brown
face He had thin lips half hidden by a
thick brown mustache and beard, and deep
gray ewes He looked much more than his
age, and he was not strikingly handsome.
Still there was a charm about him that
made June as she stepped along path
worn through the graves, wonder II he was
like Sir Galahad, or which OF her favorite
heroes. 1t was utterly unlike any one she
had ever seen before and the refinement of
manner. the low. modulated voice, the very
accent of pure English seemed to refresh
her when contrasted with the few men she
knew, rough farmers, whose ways, spite of
their undoubted excellence OF character,
Jared much upon her Her father was the
exception; he, in his own way, was gen.
tleman, and JuLe and he were alike in
many things.
Let me unlock the gate for you" said
Mr.. Durefoy as June pushed the key into
the lock of the porch-gate.
"Thank you, but | understand it, l
think, better than you can. 1t is not an
easy kew" said June. Then hey went into
the church. 1t was old, full of high horse
box pews the paving was of old grave
stones, ard the pillars were quantity carved.
But the chancel was lovely; and though
Mr.. Durefov had travelled much, and seen
all kinds of churches, he had to confess
that June was right
They stood at the low chapel-gate, and
looked up to the great window now In
shadow. Behind them, through the west
rose-windows, flood of light came pour
ing down, the setting sun lighting up the
old monuments, and casting on the old
gravestoneS many hues.
Up above the chancel was the Angel
Choir-angels carved by hands now lying
in the dust. unknown workers who had
spent their best in making that chancel
| beautiful Their names were unrecorded.
but their work remained: and on the
angels, some with outstretcned hands and
grave faces, they seemed to have put their
best work.
The bells are called the Angel Chimes, -
whispered June, softly, as Mr.. Durefoy
looked and admired.
"Why?"
Because the belIs-the chimes, I
earth-goodwill to men like the idea "
so do l, said Mr. Durefoy and just
then the clock began.
" Don't they chime now?n
ooh, no. the Angel Chimes are only
rung at Christmas" said June. But
come, you must see the old knights mon
ument here And June turned to the left.
As she did so, her foot slipped, and she fell.
"What is the matter?' said Mr.. Dure-
foy, seeing her fall, and bending over her.
June did not answer, and stopping
down, he saw she had tainted.
Here's predicament said Mr. Dure-
foy to himself What am to do"
In another moment June awoke, but the
pain in her foot was so severe-for she had
sprained it-that she seemed inclined to
faint again.
, Mr.. Durefoy was not one TO linger long
in hesitation, so he earned her back to the
White Goat and bandaged her foot for
her He had, as he informed the anxious
father, been studying medicine once, and
so knew enough about dOctoring to be of
some use.
He begged to stay at the "White Goat 3"
for some little time to sketch as he said.
lie did sketch, certainly, but not land
scapes When June was well enough 10
come into the parlor and lie on the sofa,
and ask to see his sketches, he had not
many to show her. only the Angel Choir
He had drawn that but he did not tell
her that up in his room were sheets on
which were the same face-sketched from
memory or when she was not looking
Junes face
1t was the old, old story; forever old,
forever new. He fell in love with her, she
fell in love with him; and those days in
the common little parlor with the frightful
pictures, and hideous china, were the hap
piest in Eric Durefoy's life.
He found out what pure lovely mind
she had how deeply religious she was
how all her heart was given TO God, and
how she tried to do His work, and serve
Him in all things. He found her tastes
esthetic, like his own. only she did not
know many technical terms about art, and
was simply an artist without knowing it.
She loved him-he was her knight, her
ideal of all that was good-and the happiest
moment, happier than all that had gone
before of June's young life, was when he
told her of his love for her. Perfect trust
:. on both sides; perfect faith in each other
Tastes sufficiently congenial to be harmo-
NOUS, while still not mOnotonous. Each
in love for the first time-it all seemed like
a too happy time TO come on this earth.
They were perfectly and entirely happy
and the old man, Master Linstice, was
happy, too. in seeing his June's lovely face
brighter than ever.
"You have never cared for any one be-
fore, darling, have you?'' said Eric one
day, as June, who was quite well now, was
stitching at some homely work for her
father
Never" said June; "why do you
ask?H
Because I want all your love, pet
don't want to think any has been given to
any one else.
lit never has" said June, quietly. " You
believe me- Eric, don't you? You are my
first and only love
Yes, do, said Eric AZ have perfect
faith in you. dearest, and
There's q talIygram come for We sir, y
said sam, coming in hastily, and there's
five shillings to pay.
June turned white, for she was unaccus-
toned to kilograms and the yellow en-
velope, so familiar now TO US, sent thrill
of terror through her heart.
Ny father is very i'll. | must 20 to
him" said Eric, hastily. And then he ex
planned that his father an old man. and
his only surviving relative, was very i'll,
and he was summoned to go to him al
once. He was now in Jersey, where he
had some friends.
June looked very pale, rs she helped him
to get ready, and then came the parting, so
| sweet and sad, and poor June felt that all
the sunshine had gone from her life.
The winter sunshine came in through the
latticed window as the TWO stood there
silently.
Eric's eyes had a world of love in them
as he stopped from his tall hight and held
his little June 10 him, looking into her
sweet face, and thinking now very lovely it
was, how dear she was to him. They had
! gone on day after day, never thinking that
the time so like an idyl might come to an
end. They had been busy. too, talking Of
Faster. when June and Eric were to be
married, and Of the pretty home they