Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-07-15
A BROTHERS. SACRIFICE.

From RcigraUa.
Many years ago had a friend
Kenneth Lambert. He was younger
than myself, at that time FIVE or six
and twenty, full of aspirations for a
better, purer existence than the life
we lead.
His day dream, cherished for long
time. was to leave society, and choos
ing some retired spot. live there alone
with nature, in study and contempla.
tion.
Talk" his friends called it when
they heard of it. But Kenneth
through all his work-and he was no
idler-retained the notion of this
plan. AT last an unexpected legacy
enabled him to leave the bar and pur.
chase the chosen site for his new
home.
1t was a ruined chapel on the side
Of moor, a place he had known all
of his life. OF the wayside chapel
nothing was left but an archway.
Behind this he had new walls built
dividing the house into two rooms,
one above the other. When all was
completed, he went there. Some peo.
pie, knew, thought him mad; his
sisters laughed. saying he would soon
be tired of bis scheme. believed in
him. wonld gladly have joined
him, but a man with a wife and child
is not free agent. He cannot re-
tire into life OF contemplation, how.
ever much he may wish it.
went to see Kenneth in his new
home. The place was almost inacces-
sible; had not Kenneth met me on
the hilltop and shown me the way
over moor and moss | should never
have found 1t. The chapel was in a
copse, a wild stream brawled by it.
The oak, alder, and holly were re-
strained by fence from encroaching
on the chapel. and marsh plants thrust
their stems through the bars. The
nearest house was a farm half a mile
away. kenneth's bedroom was sim
pie, his sitting-room furnished in per-
feet taste. On the walls some fine
etchings. a plaster relief whence
smiled the homely face of Socrates,
on bracket an image of Buddha.
Between these was an engraving Of
Dores Vale of Tears. Books, too,
there were in plenty, and the fox ter
rier-such were Kenneth's compan.
ions.
"And nature" he sail when made
this remark.
And here it is that you will stay
in peace and quiet" l said, until
yonr mission sends you forth
Peace and quiet," he answered,
smiling; mo, these are not for me.
have a presentiment that this ideal
life will not last long. | shall mar.
ry."
l looked incredulously at him. He
showed me his hand. at is written
here" he said; II see it only too plain
ly. Far as it is from my desire it is
fated."
For more than six months | heard
nothing of Kenneth. We went for
the winter TO Torremouth, aud my
wife, and to oul surprise and pleasure
found that the Lamberts had the
house next our own. We had a fiat,
and on the fat below us lived Mrs
Vernsy. Mrs. Vsrnay was the belle
Of Torremouth, and Justly. l never
saw any woman 50 beautiful, neve,
shall again see such q face. She wa:
tall and slight, with fair skin, blue
eyes shaded with dark lashes, and
her shapely head crowned with real.
ly golden hair. No art was there, il
was all nature, nature in her utmost
perfection. She was young. a widow
said to be enormously rich. but had
she been beggar maid we all should
have worshipped her. Young, old
single. married, there was none but
paid homage a. her shrine.