The Penn's Grove record., 1886-10-16

gentle ways, had faded before his eyes.
So, after a little more persuasion, 1t
was decided, and when cousin Harriet
went back to town, Prudence went
with her; but not without many a silent
prayer in her fathers heart that she
might not lie led away by the pomps
and vanities of this wicked world.
At first the hustle OF city life con-
fused the quiet, shy maiden. Many a
time she wished herself back with her
silent father and precise Aunt Priscilla.
But as days wore away things altered
One afternoon her cousin Alice came
busting into the room, exclalming:
"Oh, Prue, Tom is waiting down stairs
with a friend of his, Owen Rainsford,
who IS going to try u new organ
ia TIE church; and Tom says he Will
take us, if we hurry"
In the confusion Prue hardly noticed
the dark-eyed stranger who was intro
duced to her; and in a few minutes,
under her cousin Toms quick escort,
the party reached the church.
LET me stay down here?" pleaded
Prudence, as they prepared to go up to
the organ loft. 81 will walt in one OF
the pews for you; indeed, l would
much rather"
"Wny. you baslful little Prue,"
laughed Alice. But they let her have
her wish.
With hands clasped tightly together,
Prudence Bassett looked with awe
around the beautiful church, so differ
eat from any to which she had been
accustomed. Down through the great
stained window the sun fell in a mel
low light at her feet, and glittered on
the chancel rails.
Suddenly there fell upon her ear such
a burst Of music that she fairly held
her breath. Louder and grander the
notes of the organ pealed forth, and
then sank to low sweet tones, and TN
ally died away into silence.
The pink on her cheeks deepened to
a carnation, as she listened, breath
leSsly.
Was it possible there could be sounds
like that on earthP
When the music ceased the merry
party came down stairs. But Prudence
still eat silent in the pew.
"Well, Prue," said Alice, shave
you fallen asleep? How did you like
Mr.. Rainsford's playing?n
Prudence did not answer, but there
was a culver about the sensitive mouth,
and the blue eyes had grown dark with
emotion.
With ready tact Owen Rainsford
SAID, Suppose we go and ask the sex
ton for a glass of water. The church
is too hot.n
Something in the look of those sweet
eyes raised to his and trimming with
tears made his heart beat as it eve
had done before.
That was the beginning of it.
From that time scarcely a day passed
but Owen Rainsford found his way to
the WentWorths. Cousin Harriet
noticed it. How could she help it?
But, then, he was her son Toms most
intimate friend, and a talented young
man OF spotless reputation, S % he was
perfectly welcome.
The days and weeks went by, and
Prue's visit grew to an end. With a
pang she acknowledged to herself that
she was not half so eager to return as
S g ought to be, when she recollected
how patiently her father and lonely
aunt Priscilla awaited her return.
81 am going away tomorrow" she
said to Owen Rainsford as they stood
before the open gate II morning.
"Going away" he repeated it
blankly. Then he turned suddenly to
her and said:
"Dear little Prue, day by day your
face has grown into my heart until
every note l play is for you. Only
promise some day to love me as dearly
as | love your"
A great wave of wonder and happi-
ness swept over the girl, as she listened
TO these words, so different from any
thing she had ever heard.
"Prue," he said, looking down into
the beautiful eyes, 81 am going TO ask
your father if he will some day let me
have you. If he says yes will you
say so toOP"
Such a low, faint cry came from
Prue. But it satisfied him. Deacon
Bassett was dumb with establishment
when Owen Rainsford asked to marry
his daughter. 1t could not be posslblel
| Why, Prue had scarcely been away
three months. In vain the young man
| pleaded that he was willing to wait for
years, If only he might be permitted to
see her In the meantime. The Deacon
bitterly ~reproached himself for having
permitted his daughter to fall into the
hands of the Phillstines. the latter being
represented by this scheming fortune
hunter. OF course it raj her money
the Young fellow wanted. The posi-
bility that Rainsford might really be
in love did not enter her fathers head.
| How could he in that short tlmep
Why, he himself had gone to see her
mother for five years before he had
asked her to marry him.
1t did not matter to him how much
his cousin Harriet thought OF the young
man. Sue was a woman and easily
deceived. Nothing she could say on
the subject would have any effect. In
the most decisive and sweeping terms,
therefore, he let owen Rainsford know
that never again, by word Oh deed, was
he to attempt to address his daughter.
But the young man was n not to
be so easily disposed of. Until he
heard his fate from Pfue's own lips he
would not consider it decided, he said.
Perhaps if Prue had told her father
that with all her heart she loved Rains
ford, things might have been different.
But she was too timId to acknowledge
it in the face of his stern indignation.
So with trembling lips she SAID good
bye" Her lover took her hand In his
for the last time and said: 81 will never
forget you, and though it should be to
the ends OF the earth.' Then he went
away.
Deacon Bassett congratulated him.
self that he had saved his daughter so
promptly, and inwardly resolved that
never again should she leave his sight.
The winter was a hard n that year
and it seemed to tell on Prue's delicate
constitution. When the spring would
come she would be better. sho said.
But the spring came and still she
seemed to droop.
Deacon Bassett's .desire, meantime,
had been granted. With a great sigh
of relief he closed the account book.
tilted back his chair and looked
around the room with gratiied pride.
At last he had achieved the great wish
- htc avfQfannp