Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18
A VICTORIOUS DEFEAT:
Author Of "a Potent Phuter," "a Fair De-
vice" etc.

A ROMANCE.

Watcbtul OF guests at DR.. Van Cleef'
breakfast-table that some unusual fore
stirred the the air. Miss Cynthia. to b,
sure, did uOtIOrget her usual exact greet
ings; but there was a touch of haste il
her Invariably deliberate gait as shl
entered the diniUg-TOOm. and she ate he
breakfast with something more than he
usual air of severe importance. 1t wal
noticeable that she failed 10 behead he
egg, setting its china stand with an ac
curacy which would have borne mathe
NAUTICAL tests, and this was uncommon
She was clearly depressing an inclination
TO haste. During the morning YaTiOu!
irregular sounds and OdOrs issued iron
the kitchen, and Constance presently in
formed March that her father had sent in
vitations TO a chosen few to drink tea
with him that evening in his guests
honor.
Miss Cynthia's repeated journeys &
the store-rOOm. and jangling OF keys, anC
rigorous oversight Of the elaborate Gull
nary operations, accompanied by reading;
from certain OilciOth-bOurd volumes {,
her eXquisitely stupid assistants, wer,
not without their result. The tea, from
the kitchen point of view, was a notable
success. Never were such tongues anC
hams, such flasky biscuits. such COLDER
honey, such luscious cakesi These
dalutIes covered not too prOfGgelC 2
damazk cloth, upon which the fruits OF
the earth were figured at large. The
spOney pat or cottage cheese did not en-
tlrelg hide the impossible apple on whose
plump cheek il was set, and one soon
saw that the centipede, on the back OF
Wnira rode the giItering tea-making
eQuip4eut from which Constance minis
Tered 80 - merely luxuriant vine. me
capaci0us pitcher Of buttermilk, which
Miss Cynthia had cOnsiderately provided
Tor The unpampcred tastes of the brethren,
hauked tue trembling mould of jelly; and
above all lowered in great glass dish,
whose bowl bore the relation TO its sup
port that the foliage Of the palm bears to
the trans Miss Cynthia's famous pre-
served pears. The thick facets Of the
glass gave back the light Of the Candida
bra with an iridescence which riValied
that of the finishing pendentS OF those
splendid structures themselves. Mr..
heat0r, the minister Of the settlement,
ga....n- absenuy at its glitter, found q
~fnuis.ure gathering IT lensth il IS not
too strong eyes. Inc smooth, creamy
half-cones. swimming in their rich syrup,
looking forth through the shining glass
as If challenging the modest eldresses
who sat facing them TO reproduce them.
The spacious dining-rOOm was cPlled and
Wainscotted in OAK. and some excellent
paintings of fish and birds. in the we'll
established style. bri-htened the long
panels. The usual monster open nre
burned on the andIrOns, and its glowing
shadows danced over the oaken walls, and
ilicA-r-d in tee faces Of those about the
table.
Constance sat with her back to the fire
fronting Her father. and comm2 nding the
brief line Of guests on eilHer side. The
women were upon her lett, the men on ner
rizht. Their inexpensive c0Untenances
io1A. WWunSiy toward the clergy man.
Mr. heat0r, Who had been placed next
D. Van Cleef. The minister was looking
absut mUsingly, apparently absorbed IN
THOUGHTS not directly RELAXED 10 the pres
ent scene but at COnstance's word he
returned TO himself, and giving her a
grea teful look, glanced about from naOIt,
as l. awaiting deeper silence, and saId
feryent blessing, followed by the verse
appointed for the day in the horayidn
calendar. Then Constance inquired OF
the Elder next her his preferences as 10
miiK and sugar and the meal was begun
by all with frank hunger. The company
gathered about this abundant table was
not large. but IL lacked the easy freedom
which is supposed TO characterize small
parties Ii Is compensate that kettle
drums were not quite usual things with
these good people. and the presence OF a
stranger may also have had It's effect. 81
least upon the eldresses. They dld not
often meet Young men, and though TINS
Young man was certainly agreeable-as
one Of them said she seemed 10 nave Inc
gilt of talking Unc0mmCn'-they had not
the facility which could teach them 10
adapt themselves 10 his foreign air They
~accepted March a little Jess formally as
the meal wore on, but no hOspitahle
effort o. DR.. Van CicefS induced the SIS
ters TO take a more decided initiative IN
the conversation than was implied IN
making a timid inquiry or two oil the
stranger touching the CONDITIONS Of lie
IN England One. little holder, began a
SERIOUS conversation with Mr. heatOI
unOp the state Of Moraviau missions IN
Greenland. but happening to feel suddenly
that this might be thought impoNte as mol
including the guest Of the evening, quick
" paused. This sister was at the mead OF
the Young wOmen's choir, and she was
aecompanied by the eldress who admins
tered the like Office among the widows
There were besides four other sisters
wives of the elders. March wondered
what age these quiet women might nave
attained. The eye, as IN the case Oh nuns
of the ROmish Church. refused 20 INFORM
one. The countenances. gazing calmly
from the prim white colts, seemed SIN
gularlv fresh and full. Their owners
were probably over thirty, but how
much? Perhaps ten years, perheps forty
Who should says Their dress was, 4
possible, an eXaggeratiou OF the SHRINK
ing from display Characteristic OF all the
sisters: March noticed that the stuff o.
their gowns was cOaTser and darker thaI
others whom he had seen.
ssHave YOU visited Bristol, sir" in
Quired the elder next March.
u have passed through il. YES; are YOU
familiar with the place. Elder Weiss?"
s'No, no, on no! we have a strong con
gregation there, that is all. | though
YOU might have met some Of the breth
rem" said the elder, innOcently. But
suppose it is a large town."
eve have a good many congreg ations, >
said another brother, who had been made
known 10 March as Brother BeTg. 'Thel
are quite deal scattered; but, If w
could get them all together, II would be
gCOdly company. We are an old church
Won know. sir Most would not thini
that there was so many Of us. We hay
MISSION stations in the west indies. II
Greenland. among the native Indians
and elsewhere. We try 10 DO good dea
in missions. the church has strOnl
hold in YOUR country, as Elder Wels
saws. sir; but we began. We rank fairl.
with the other sects there"
sit is not for Us to boast Of on
strength, Brother Berg" reproved one 0
There was more spasmodic talk OF a no
less artificial sort, and the mea
proved sufficiently formal. DR.. Val
Cleef am.ably exhausted his strength il
the endeavOr 10 uphold pTetence OF con
Versation; and in this he was seconded b.
Constance. whose attacks upon IN
taciturnity Of the elders merited large
reward. March did more than his share
ana generously accepting the RESPONSE
bility not only of his own entertainment
but Of that Of the mute addresses, who sa
opposite him. talked vivaciOusly. Blu
even with the occasional laconic spur
which the falling conversation receives
frcm Miss Cynthia. il Jagged undeniably
and DR.. Van Cleef at length sOugh
refuge in giving the signal which an
nOunced the completion Of the meal. Tn
people rose with soft scTaping OF chairs
AMI moved slowly % toward the parlor.
.sIPs "A failure, daughter" sald tn
doctor, fin deprt ssed uudertone. as h
passed Constance, lingering by her seat
~ am afraid we can't deny 1t. 1t pain
me because Of Mr.. March. want linn &
see US at our BEST"
Constance laughed lightly. Don