The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-09-03

lulT-Hhlreu mail Unity JHlo.
"Good-morning, Bessie. / callea to
accompany you to church."
remember il anything happens TO II,
Aunt Susan will never forgive You. She
will abominate you"
"Well, LET her." was the laconic reply
Of the girl, who, as the first stroke OF
the church.bell fell upon her ear, began
to tie on her hat.
Charity, who had stationed herself a.
the window, now hurried on hers and
left the house. A widower. in whom
"How did you know / was going ?"
she queried, mischieyously.
ooh n little bird told me. BY jove !
Bessie" as they walked down the street.
"That's gorgeous affair you've over
your head-a truly stunning affair !
What is it? A tropical bird--a--Bah
lack for word TO apply TO 1t. Your
face looks charming beneath ii, though,
whenever / can catch glimpse Of it
through that tantalizing fringe. Didn't
Charity dcnouncc it as being too gay for
church,"
"You would have thought so, If you
had heard her 20 on. And, indeed, if it
had been on the Sabbath, should never
have dared to carry it. wonder why
Elder Hopkins administers the right OF
baptism to-day, instead Of Sunday, as
was his original intention?'
"lIc was called unexpectedly TO Cali.
fornia, and his converts will DC baptized
| Ly DO one else. Gracious Bessie, how
the people stare at yon--your parasol |
mean" with curious twinkle in hin
frank blue eyes as he made the corrcc-
ton.
"Nonsense, Hrary r.
IS a humbug n regular nattererl I
heard him tell I'll Jones that she had
eyes like the forget me.not, and Ruth
White that her hair was the color of the
da0ydowndilly. ! wonder you would
listen 10 his nattcry r.
81 don't see why. You yourself,
have made fine speeches 10 me-"
"But that is different, he returned,
Indignantly. 81 proposed to You some
time since, and to-day you are to give
me decided answer, remember"
81 remember in tone Of veIation.
"You needn't speak quite 20 loud. A
squad OF girls and boys draw near, and
you don't want them TO oycrhcar. See
the people ahead Of us The church
will be crowded to-day. Do you be.
licve in immersion, Mr.. Gale? Or have
you no prediction Tor what John the
Baptist deemed indi3pcnsable?"
81 believe You to be n coquette Of the
! first water" lie mutlercd, wrathiully,
under his breath, as he saw her dispen.
sing her bows and smiles indiscrimi-
natcly right aud left.
The little church was filled to reple-
"Tho truth, Bessie ! How its m
! liant colors scintilIato in the sunlight !
1t really makes you look ten per cent
| better"
$50 Judge Milcrs son remarked, the
only time ever used it to ward off the
sun rays" she said demurely.
"Judge Milcr's son is ninny" he
rotortcd, sharply, biting his lips. "llc
ton, as Bessie had predicted. An excel
lent discourse, prepared carefully for the
converts, followed. Then the congrega-
ton filed out Of the building and re-
paired to tho banks Of cool, deep
stream that cleft in twain green, dan.
demonstrated meadow, on whose edge
grew willows, with the branches droop
ing so low that their silvcr.g green hair
almost touched the babbling water.
Bessie tripped daintily along with the
crowd, her amt's parasol over her head
Harry Gale keeping persistently at hel
side.
Tho calm OF the day was broken ~
Charity had foretold. A wind that wa
strong and raw had suddenly arisen, anC
Bessie drew insinctiycly toward one o
the bending, long-Ircssed willows.
Twas IN Impressive scene-the bank
lined with people of all ages. Below
where the water was cool and crystal
clear and there were no distractions, Tn,
stream had been damned up, making
quite deep pool. Into this the minis
ter stepped aud the converts were cacl
in turn immersed, appropriate passage
from the Bible falling now and thei
from the good mans lips lIe had JUS
released from the cool embrace OF III
waters young girl clad in snow whit,
garments, 10 mathematical Of purity
when the wind sighed through the tree
in the most dircIul manner conceivable
When it ceased its moaning voice TIN
minister began tho following sacrc,
words, in clear, solemn tones that thrilc,
through the crowd:
"rho wind bloweth where it listetl
and thou hcarcth the sound thereof, bu
knowest not whence it cometh MOI
whittier it"
"GOeth, ho had meant to say but Tn,
word died in stiffness on his lips There
came gust Of wind, far more powerful
than any that had preceded it, and swept
along and lashed the waters of the
stream. Hats were blown of, trees
writhed and creaked in the blast and
some OF the people were nearly thrown
to the ground.
Bessie cried ont, but only through
anxiety as to the fate Of her parasol,
which had escaped from her grasp, and,
asif it had been thing of life, taken I'M
" hoCh Wi'Ho Uhu hoWH uWNN,
Like the brilliant Bird of Paradise it
had been likcned unto, it ilew--carried
of by the strong breathed wind in the
direction of tho stream. Would it dir
its radiant plumage into the water and
he ruined forever? Or would it be torn
into shreds amongst the branches of tn,
willows ore it reached tho stream?
Bessie clutched hold of Harry's arm
in her trepidation, and shouted:
"Rm for your life after it, Harry
and if you bring it back to me intact
without blemish. I'll shy YES to the
question you asked mo ages ago. Oh
run run u
And down the bank Harry sped after
the flying thing. Az good luck would
have it, it did not go far; its flight was
interrupted by the swaying branches Of
n willow, which, as the wind died away
MS suddenly as it had sprung into action,
caught and held it in an unloving clasp
till Harry arrived upon the scene and
released it.
Anxiously he examined it. Not a