The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-28
MIRIAM DOUGLASS.

lock on your satchel is broken, making the
thing unsafe, besides being "a very shabby
old bag, begging your pardon So quoth
Eliza. reiict of Josiah Minis, the sexton, to
her lodger, the Rev. Julius Byron
ssWhat bore r exclaimed this gentle
man, sswheD | really haven't She time to at
tend to anything except these letters
81 have an errand which takes me past
Piper & Tipson's; could buy you a new
satchel if you would trust me- Going
among all those fine people at the wedding
with your lock tied up with bit of string
wouldn't do at all, sir"
"Thank you, Mrs. Minis; / have great
trust in your judgement, and / should be
obliged II you would attend to this matter
for me, and save my going into town.
AS the door closed after his landlady the
Rev. Julius Byron resumed lis writing
with sigh of relief As he sat leaning his
head on his disengaged hand-a hand
beautiful enough to atone for plainness in
all features had nature willed him to be
plain-Julius Byron was an ideal picture
of a student brown eyes, with q fairy
dreamy look, hair long enough to show a
tendency to wave loosely back from the
forehead, and pale, clear complexion set
off by golden-brown yelveteen coal, which
he wore when in his study. Twenty-nine
years old, undeniably handsome, gifted
with winning manner. and shepherd of a
flock most willing to be guided, julius
Byron, as if by miracle, had escaped be-
ing spoiled and petted into effemiuacy. His
Safeguard lay, perhaps, in par Of soft
eyes, which had held him spell-bound for q
few rapturous weeks, and the witchery of
which had lasted over three years of almost
total separation.
Miriam Douglass, dispensing tea and GIN
gerbread to horde of charity children in
the park as Mount Edgecombe, was one of
the prettiest and daintiest of modern
Hebes, IN muslin dress matching forget
\ me-nots and her eyes equally well, and with
gpses at her waist and throat which stole
their delicate tint from her cheeks. Miriam
| was seventeen that day, and the blue mus
lin was her first long dress. To this the
little lassie paid far more attention than to
! the admirlng gaze of two dreamy brown
eyes. After the feast there were offerings
of flowers, good wishes and rather too many
kisses and embraces from the charity child
rem, and among her other trophies Miriam
Douglass carried away the heart of the Rev.
Julius Byron. Had she known that it
would have affected her less than the con-
seriousness that the Barclay girls, her for
mer playmates, were curiously admiring the
grown-up womanish arrangement of her
bright silky hair.
There were a few tennis parties and 5
o'clock teas after this, during which Mr..
Byron worshipped his divinity from afar.
She seemed little in awe of him. and
rarely spoke to him more than five minutes
at a time. What delightful task it would
be to chase away the timidity from the soft,
fawn-like eyes, and how pleasant to think
uf,ak the seasheu pink stole to her cheeks
: 10y at his approach.
Fate, however, cruelty interfered with
Gr. Byron's dream of awakening loving
2confdence in the bosom of this bashful
maiden of seventeen. In three short weeks
before he had made any perceptible head
~ Miriam was called away to the bed
Aof dying relative, and julius Byron
ummoned to parish in provincial
hree long years this idyl had been in
past, and through all this time the
emory Of Miriam Douglas excluded any
her love from the young clergyman's
keart, though many were the goddesses
ywilling to be therein ensbrined.
He wondered at himself; she had skipped
1 completely out of his mental existence; he
knew not were she was, or if she were dead
or worse married. Still, with oil this un-
certainty, he could not forget her, and a
voice within him seemed to whisper that
they should meet again.
The rapid Swimming Of his pen over the
white page was stayed for the second time
by heavy footstep at the door outside,
and Mrs Minis, painting and crimson from
the ascent of the steep stairs, exclaimed
There, sir; you could not have found d
hofkor or rboanor cofaha1 xro.1rooIf rre,..
had searched the town from end to end.
Piper and Tpson say on their oath that it
is a first rate one and that you needn't fear
exchanging with any one By mistake, for
they had only one of that Kind. This de-
cided Iae take 20, fer, being rather an alb
sent-minded gentleman, you might easily
pick up the wrong bag :
Thank you. Mrs Minis, thank you; each
time that you do anything for me you give
me fresh Gauss to admire your clever man
1HeaRent and forethought
= Ythe wedding to take place on the fol-
kng day, Mr.. Byron felt no particular
gerest. The contracting parties were al
host strangers to him, ais were slso the
quests, with the exception of Willis How
q school chum of days gone by, and a
friend ever since of the young clergyman.
Owing TO the illness of the brides mother
the ceremony was performed at home. It
twas pretty wedding, the bride graceful,
Sweet and pale as lily in her sheeny and
#6eecy drapery; and among the guests was
% subdued merriment which prevails
len the entertainers exhibit unreservedly
signs Of sorrow and joy the smile and
both coming from the heart.
after the ceremony Mr. Byron betook
himself to dressing room to fold his sur
.,1ioLi az, Il ra,,looa Il ~, Ar, cofl,a1 al,ooar,