The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-24

followed; but fear the major had little
share in it. He took advantage of tn,
moment when all heads were bowed to dc
a very uumannerly thing. He slyly pu
up his eyeglasses, and, opening auntie''
prayer-book, took rapid peep at the name
inside 1t was very quickly done anC
might have escaped notice; but was watch
ing him closely. | could even read the
name myself 1t was in bold, manly
handwriting. ''To Hester, June %, 18-.'
[ stared aghast at such an act of imperti
nence, and glanced at Aunt Hetty to SEE
whether she would resist it; but she hac
probably not noticed the offence, for she
made SO sign.
The congregation began to disperse, anc
we passed out in our turn, the Major close
behind us. We were scarcely fairly in tht
street when he spoke to auntie.
SMadam, [ am going to ask you a very
singular question, but let me assure yor
that I have deep personal interest in ask
ing it. Will you tell me how you came BY
that red prayer-book that you use 2"
II shall never forget aunties answer
given as quickly as if it was the most com
monplace matter, though | could tell by
the faint rosefush on her usually pale cheek
how deeply she was moved.
sYou gave it to me yourself, Majol
Blake, six-and-twenty years ago.
The majors face was study. Surprise
delight and incredulity seemed struggling
for the mastery. He took off his hat anc
stood bareheaded / hardly know why
but that one little gesture seemed to tel
me, better than the most passionate protes
tations would have done, that the old love
had been kept treasured and a sacred
thing. And 1 think, from the faint, sweet
smile that gathered round her mouth as
she looked up at him, that the same thought
came to auntie
"And you are Hetty!" !" he said. eyes, ]
know you now.
'sYou had forgotten the six and twenty
years, Major Blake. I knew you from the
first"
'sAnd would you really have let me g
without word or sign p he asked.
"Why not ?" she replied. GLOW could
I know you would wish to be reminded O.
old times n
"Reminded / have never forgotten
l tried my hardest to forget and couldn't
Although you preferred another"
''Anotherl What other2'
young Sandys. Did you not marry
him2n
"I have never seen him since"
At this stage of the conversation i
struck me that | was decidedly de trop
Major Blake had replaced his hat, and
side by side with auntie, was walking slow
ly homeward | had hitherto been follow
ing behind; but reaching convenient stree
corner, | let them proceed alone and wen
off, without beat of drum, for a stroll ii
an opposite direction. When [ reached
the boarding house, half an hour later,
found auntie and the Major sitting in th'
courtyard under the shade of the grea
tree. The Major courteously lifted hi
hat at my approach and said:
sFMiss Danvers, your aunt and | ar,
very old friends: indeed, many years ago w
were engaged to be married, but an unfor
tunate misunderstanding separated us
We have lost many happy years of life to
gethef, but [ hope some may still remain
to us. / trust we shall have your gooC
wishes"
| looked from one to the other.
''You dear, darling auntie, then yor
really are going to be married, after all
OF course wish you joy, and Major Blake
too, from the bottom of my heart.
II don't know said auntie, shaking he
head doubtfully. 'I'm a little afraid W.
are two old fools"
'Nay, dear" said the Major, raising he
hand gallantly to his lips. perhaps We
were young fools, but that is six-and-twent,
years ago. Let us hope we have Learned
true wisdom now
[ don't know how the secret oozed out
but before twenty-four hours were owe
every one in the boarding even t,
the white-capped Adele and her assistan
maidens, knew that the handsome Englisl
Major had met an old love in the gentl,
little lady with the sweet smile and sof
grey hair, and that after separation o
six-and-twenty years they were again en-
gagged to be married; and they were pro
NOTED to the rights and privileges of en-
gagged lovers accordingly. And lovers the.
unmistakably were, though in very quie
way. No lover of twenty could have beer
more devoted than this weather beatel
warrior to his faded bride; no girl Of seven
teen more proud and happy in her lover
devotion than dear old auntie. They ough
by every rule, to have been ridiculous, bu
somehow nobody seemed to think them SO
and really believe they had the hearties
sympathy of every one in the house.
| must pass over the homeward journey
and the astonishment of our friends a
Fairfield, when auntie returned engaged tt
be married Some few of them had know
Major Blake as a young man, but to mos
of them he was a stranger. Many wer
the questions, and long the explanations
before everything was accounted for t.
everybody's satisfaction; but it was done a
last. And then came the preparation o
the trousseau, and at last, this very morn
ing, the happy pair have been made one
and auntie is off to the Isle of Wight t.
spend her honeymoon. And last night, jus
before we went to bed, she called me int
her own room, and, taking out the little re'
prayer book, she said
truth, dear, l am going to give you thi
little book as parting remembrance Yol
know how l have treasured it, and yoV
won't value it the less, am sure, for hav
ing been so dear to me. And if, when MI
Right comes, Ruth, you are ever temples
to be wilful or wayward, or pain hear
that loves you truly, think of you old Aun
Hetty and don't forget the moral of th'
faded leaf"
1t is said that Chief Justice Coleridg
first obtained notice as lawyer by tn
following simple incident while he wa
pleading the cause of man on trial TO
murder In the course of his long argu
ment candle in the jury box hickered an
went out, leaving the court room in dark
ness He stopped speaking, and the 81
lence in the court for moment was op
pressive. The scene, with its dark shad
ows, its grim faces, the scarlet robes of tn
Judge, and the haggard face of the murder
er. was worthy of Rembrandt. The ushe