Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-02
HER FATE.
BY LILA II. CUSHMAN.

one said to her "May, you are going tC
meet your fate," she would simply have
answered, ri have met it already" ant
smiled incredulously.
AS May fitted into the vestibule, Lucy
Emerson looked up from box of ever
green's she was unpackin 10 and said
"May Randolph, the new minister is il
the church parlor: have you seen him yet?'
"No, but I'm going through the ordea
| in few moments Mother has met him,
and she says he is exceedingly plain in fea
lures and awkward in manner, but fine
conversationalist As he is over fifty years
of age, am sure Will Adams can find no
thing to be jealous Of" said May, and
opening the door, she walked plump into
the arms of the new minister.
81 beg pardon, Miss"
miss May Randolph said the now
crestfallen girl
81 beg pardon, Miss Randolph, for the
lack of ceremony on my part, but
heard voices, and fancied the tones were
| those of some of my old friends.-Ah Miss
Lucy, am glad to see you. Will you
present me in proper manner to Miss
Randolph ?''
But May had fed, and the Rev. Monroe
| Desplaines, looking after her retreating
cordial manner with a fine looking man
presumably near her own age.
"Miss Lucy, am very glad to see you
very glad to know that l have one Of my
old time flock in the new parish to which I
have been called by the death Of its former
| incumbent. Can I help you ?''-seeing
Lucy vainly endeavoring to lift a mass of
evergreens which she had taken from the
box, ready for tying.
"Oh, yes l shall be glad to have the as
sistance of yourself and several more" said
Lucy, as she raised and placed upon Mr..
Desplaines' arm stack of green vines
ssYou may take them into the parlor."
Following closely after, Lucy entered
with her arms also full, and depositing her
burden upon the long table, said, turn
ing to May, who was seated near by busily at
work:
"This is my friend, Mr. Desplaines,
our new pastor, Miss Randolph. He
wishes to apologize for forcing his acquaint-
ance upon you so abruptly a short time
SINCE"
"No apology is needed" was Mays re-
ply. "This is the season when good will
ought to predominant, and if there was any
rudeness at all it certainly was more my
fault than Mr.. Desplaines'."
"You are very industrious, ladies'" said
the gentleman, as the circle kept increasing;
''can not help your
A dozen voices protested against the
help thus offered; they were only preparing
work for the young gentlemen who were
coming in the evening to put up the ever
green's. Oh, no but they would like to
have him look in tomorrow. This
was the same as virtually telling him they
could dispense with his company, and he
soon after wisely bid them all "good after
noon" and took his leave.
"Where does our new minister board,
Mrs. Madison" injured Lily Halsted.
''He will make his home with us until
Mrs. Desplaines comes," answered the
lady.
Wondering eyes greeted this announce
ment, and May nudged her friend Lucy at
this stage Of affairs.
'tOnly his brothers widow" whispered
Lucy.
Work now went on briskly, the room
Mays lover, Will Adams, whom she set to
work hanging evergreens.
The many deft fingers engaged soon
filled the table with wreaths, crosses, stars,
and other pretty emblems, and May was
obliged to turn her attention to the placing
and arranging of the finished work.
"Have you seen the new minister p ask
ed VIII, as May handed him large star to
be hung in proper position.
eyes, he was here this afternoon for a
short time. Mrs. Desplaines will not arrive
until Christmas morning."
''What does he look like?' queried
Will.
ooh, couldn't say. He's rather old,
tall, and not particularly good-looking.
"Thank you," said pleasant voice be-
hind May as she uttered the last words; and
turning, to her amazement, she beheld Mr..
Desplaines, who had come back with a
message for Mrs. Madison, and who had at
her request brought in some more wreaths
the ladies had finished.
sit is evidently my fate to make dis
agreeable impression upon you," said the
blushing May.
'Don't apologize, Miss Randolph; you
have spoken nothing but the truth, and
truth ought not to hurt
'tBut believe there is an adage that
truth should not be spoken at all times"
continued May, who felt herself placed in
most unfortunate position.
True" said the minister; 'but after all
truth will bear its weight"
May now introduced Will and Mr. Des-
PLANES, and as gracefully as possible with
drew to the parlor, where the cornered
Lucy and related her second .faurpas.
On her return with an armfll of vines,
which was in about ten minutes, she was
pleased to find the minister had departed
"Why did you say that Mrs. Desplaines
wasn't coming until Christmas ?'' asked
Will, as May entered.
swell, she isn't l heard Mrs. Madison
say So"
s'But Mr.. Desplaines said he had no
wife, when [ asked him about her," per-
sisted Will.
81 didn't say it was his wife," said May.
sit might be his mother, or daughter or
granddaughter, for that matter. / wish
had never heard of him. I have headache
and l am going home. You needn't 60,
for one of the girls is going my way Good
night, and before Will could recover from
May was gone.
Soon after Lucy, came in to speak to May
and finding Will working alone, asked the
cause OF it. Feeling there was tangle
she wisely said nothing further.
The next day May did not appear at the
Church; ''a severe headache detained her
at home," said Lucy to various inquiries
To Mr.. Desplaines, who was an old-time
friend, Lucy simply said:
ssMay felt she had been so rude that it
had given her nervous headache. Please
do not remind her of it in any way, and she
will, in time, forget it."
81 am exceedingly sorry to have caused
SO much unpleasantness to your friend I
ought to have retired, instead of listening
to her remark, but it only justifies the old
proverb."
Lily Halstead entered at this moment,
with Will Adams, who was pleased with her
pretty face and little batteries, and withal,
pi qued at Mays manner the day previous,
therefore more susceptible OF the formers
little arts. The conversation changed at
their entrance, and Mr.. Desplaines took
leave shortly after.
On Lucy's way home she ran in to see
May relating to her the scene in which
Will and Lilly were concerned
81 am glad of it," said May. 81 will
write him a note tomorrow, requesting him
not to call again, :" which she accordingly did
the result being that Will sought sympa-
thy of Lily, and she, nothing 10th to usurp