Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-27

compeISatlons-l'I lie privilege OF minister
ing to the aged and sorrowful, of sharing
their Joys an i consoling their griefs, and,
sweetest of III, the close relation which l
bear to my flock"
Elsie murmured an assent. She felt a
little as though she were in church Still,
1t wa6 undeniably gratifying.
Yes," continued the low, fervent voice,
IT is world of contrasts. This evening
am here, sharing in this scene Of gaiety,
amid all that makes life enjoyable. This
afternoon / spent by the bedside of dying
woman, glad to fold her tired hands and
rest after the burden of life, even though
she left her children to struggle on alone.
l hope l was able to support and
strength
"Oh," interrupted Elsie, shat must
have been poor Mrs. McCraw! Is she
really dying? How sorry l am! Mamma
took me there the other day Mamma is
going to take one of the children to keep
as house maid and she hopes to get little
Jennie into the Home. Oh, l am sorry
Mrs. McCraw is dying on the very day of
my party"
'''Yes, dear Miss Baird, it is world of
contrasts, as / said. Death and life, sick
ness and health, poverty there, luxury
here, and heaven over all"
81 am so sorry" cried Elsie, bewildered.
II can't help it. am young and happy;
or was before you talked so" she added,
with little pout. But l don't forget
that there are sick and poor people, and
mamma never does. She is as good as
she can be to them, really she is, Mr..
Forsythe.
Indeed, dear child" in a tender tone,
81 know it well. Your mother is one of
my most precious helpers and friends; and
| would stake my life that you, in your
maiden bloom and happiness-which
Heaven forbid | should in my way seek to
shadow-will also give yourself to every
good and holy work. have watched you
grow up under my eye polished stone Of
the temple, and no fairer vision has ever
been granted to cheer my lonely life. And,
Elsie" he added, still more softly, there
is no hope so dear to me as this-forgive
me that ! speak of it; | cannot refrain
the wish is too near my heart-that in the
future, which seems at this moment so
near and so fair, you may forever lean, as
now, on my arm. Suffer me to lead and
support you Come and brighten my
home with your lovely presence, and be to
me the best gift that God ever bestowed on
man."
Elsie drew her hand away and stared at
the young divine with frightened eyes.
AN oilerr' she cried breathlessly.
care you making me an offer?''
"What else, dear child" he responded.
with some heat. "And in return will you
tell me"
ooh, please don't-pIease," she cried,
in horror. 81 don't know anything about
such things. I'm so little-so young |
mean. Mamma wouldn't like it. | know
she never allows me to talk about offers"
angelic difidence," replied her tor
mentor. you are right. 1t is to your
mother that l should have appealed. You
permit, then, dearest, that | should make
| her the judge between us, and come at an
other time for my answer? You can
whisper it in mothers ear, in the shelter
Of mothers arms, can you not, little
startled bird? Shall it be so, then?"
ooh, yes, yesp cried Elsie, frantic TO
escape. mamma will tell you all about
it. Don't say any more to me-"
g Of she dashed out of the star-lit, rose
scented evening, into the protection of the
glare, the crowd, little reeking of the long,
black, tightly buttoned figure, with clasped
hands and eyes raised to "heaven's arch :"
which she left behind. She was prettier
than ever, with her flushed cheeks and
shy, dazzled eyes, and was seized on at
once by series Of expectant partners.
Dance succeeded dance. Young Harry
Blount, sulking in corner and watching
his rivals with pair of glowering, jealous
eyes, suddenly gave a great start. He saw
Elsie lay down the white bouquet, which
had affected him as scarlet affects bull,
take up his fiowers-yes, his.-and. carry
ing them in her hand, approach his Turk
| ing-place. She made saucy little cour-
tesy and said: Mr.. Blount, l believe this
is our dance"
Elsie, what fool l ann cried the
boy, ready to kiss her white-slippered feet
in his Revision of feeling. "Have l
really been hanging about here like
tramp, and forgotten that?"
You really have, Harry" replied the
little belle of the evening. "You have
neglected me shamefully, and | feel dread
fully about it. Now, to atone, don't let US
dance at all, but just sit down and rest"
Then, noticing look of blank disappoint-
ment she quickly added: "Or, rather, let
us have short walk and then go and hide
somewhere and have some cofee-if
mamma isn't looking, that Is"
So we WILL" said the delighted Harry
4" know of a capital seat-on the south
piazza"
Anywhere else" cried Elsie. 81 hate
that piazza. never want to see it again."
THAT'S good one when you've been
there half the evening with that parson
Did he bore you so dreadfully, poor little
| Elsie? l always knew he was prig."
Mamma likes him." responded Elsie,
demurely. "And so do lin the pulpit"
The two children-for they were little
more-enjoyed their walk, and then sought
refuge behind the curtain of the deep
bay window in the hall. Elsie sank back
on the cushioned seat with sigh of IA
tigue, too weary for more than half at
tention to Harry's talk. He was paying
her outrageous compliments, she vaguely
thought, but she was used to Harry's non
sense, and she idly picked his bouquet to
pieces while meditating Cyril Foresythe
Suddenly she came to herself. Harry had
taken her hand. When? She didn't re-
member. Had she been half asleep? He
was saying in strangely agitated voice:
81 know they will all say we are too young,
but l think that's the best of it. 1t is
lovely to begin young, to spend our whole
lives together; and l am almost ready for
college, and after that | shall step right
into the business, and very soon there will
be plenty for both of us to live on"
Elsie started "Why, Harry, 1 don't
understand you. What are you confding
to me? 1t sounds like love affair. Who
is the devoted damsel who is to wait till
you get through college. and have some
thing TO live on ?'
elsie" cried the mortified Harry, ''you
are perfectly unfeeling"
"Fm not unteeling bit. But, really
and Truly, who is it You haven't told
me her name"
q thought you understood me, said the
boy, humbly and bitterly. "You looked
so pleasant, and never said word to stop
me. OF course, you know that 1 never
cared button for any girl in the world
except you. Eve been waiting ever SO
long for the right time to speak, and to-
night you looked so stunning, somehow,
and so kind-Now, Elsie" -pathetically-
"don't tease me any more, but tell me
that you will"
"Will what ~
"Wait for me, care about me, marry me
1