The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-24

great dismay, there came a little gulf
between himself and his love, widen.
ing so gradually he could not tell
where it had commenced or would
end.
For the first time since he was
mere boy he saw that Matte gave
him only the warm friendship Of
years of brotherly and sisterly inter-
course, where he had given the first
and only lOYe of his life. She SEEM
ed drifting from him. absorbed in
her new duties and leaving but little
margin of time for the reCreations
they had shared for years. He was
appalled, by the fear of losing her,
and yet she kept him from telling
her either his hopes or his fears.
"She thinks l am an idle. good
for-notning fellow" he thought, "and
/ never get any cnailce now 20 GeEf
her 1 mean to buckle on my armor,
too, and do my share of work. / am
studying hard, and father will give
me start in my profession, that can
be made comfort to the afflicted
and a light to the down trodden. |
mean to be all even Matte can wish
me to be, but | can't get word with
her now. Last evening she was with
fhaf mar 1Uinn nbi II Df NroSc ~ N NJ
and to-day she is trying to comfort
his mother. The last time | called
she was at the National School, and
when / do see her she is not the care
less. merry-hearted Matte of old.
She thinks l am the same, though,
and despises me for an idle good-fol-
| nothing"
Some such pondering was in Ned's
mind, when, driving his phaeton up
the main street of the town, he over
took the Rev. Harvey Stillman 60
ing in the same direction. He reined
in at once.
"If you are going my way, Mr..
Stillman," he said, Twill you let me
drive you to your destination ?"
II am afraid I am going too far for
you," was the reply. II am on my
way to Hawson's place."
How fortunate / met you! 1t is
fully three miles. Get in. and Black
Prince will soon carry you there"
"But you ?"
"My time is yours. Do not refuse
mel"
The clergyman accepted the invi-
tation, and before he fully perceived
what he was saving, Ned was max
ing him a conffdant of all his per-
plexities and resolutions, till even
his love story came out in earnest
words. Led on by the quietly ex-
pressed sympaty in all his resolves
to enter upon noble and more USE
full life. impetuous Ned, by sudden
inspiration, said: "If only Matte
could know how much it would help
me to feel sure of her love? l cam
not say if she ever cared for me as I
care for her: but if 1 could believe
she would be my wife when | de-
served her. it would stimulate me as
no other hope on earth could do"
"You think she loves you ?'
The Rev. Harvey StilIman's very
lips were white as he asked the ques.
ton.
"I did think so once. Now. I
would give all own to be sure of it.
There was much more to the same
purpose. till Ned, with sudden
CLEAN of hope, asked the clergyman
to plead his cause.
mo one has so much influence as
you have. She looks up to you as to
a father" said Ned. never seeing
how his listener WINGED at the COM
parison and if you were to tell her
how her love would aid me, she
might believe I do not always mean
to be the idler she has known"
Il will see her," was the grave re.
ply. eff she loves you. she shall
have the happiness of giving you the
encouragement you DESIRE"
But when the drive was oyer, and
the clergyman entered his study, the
quiet gravity of his face broke up
into au expression of keenest suffer.
ing. He had borne many sorrows in
his life. Death had taken his neares!
and dearest poverty had laid hel
heavy hand upon him temptation
had assailed him, only driven back
by prayerful struggles. He had
hoped to find in Greyport rest. after
a long battle in life. His living
promised him an easy competence
and some leisure for studies he loved
without neglect of his higher duties
But before he had been in his new
home many weeks Matte Wool
ston's sweet, earnest face, her gentle
goodness, her unobtrusive, sincere
piety had wakened in his heart an