Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-08-16

| seized him, floating carelessly down HE ;
stream doing no especial harm by the
way, but assuredly doing no good either
OF his personal responsibility IN the
scheme of creation, he had never thought
until the Rev. Harvey Stillman was ap-
pointed vicar Of the fine old church at
! Greyport, where Ned's fine tenor was
quite feature in the choir. It must be
confessed that, under the dull prosy
preaching of Harvey Stillman's prede-
cessor, the choir seats had been gather
ing place for much quiet filtration
among the bellies and beaux of the town;
and Ned's chief magnet was the certainty
of sitting near Matte, and hearing her
clear sweet soprano join his own voice.
/ But before Harvey Stillman had been
a month at Grayport, Ned was uneaslly
! conscious that many Of his words were
as dagger thrusts at his own aimless. use
/ less life, and waking to this conscious
ness, he also awakened to another dlsa-
greeabie fact-namely, that Matte was
also perceiving that life was more earn
| est, real thing, than she had before pic
| tured it to herself.
| She had never been a drone in the
| hive, but she had become more actively
useful outside OF her little house world,
visiting in quiet, un0stentatious way,
among the poorest of her fathers pa
tients, doing good in an humble spirit,
| but with sincere desire to help, as far as
possible, those who needed her gentle
ministratiOns.
Ned loved her more than ever for the
gentle self-denials she practiced so quiet
| ly that only those who were benefited
knew of them, but, to his great dismay,
there came little gulf between himself
and his love, widening so gradually he
could not tell where it had commenced
or would end.
For the first time since he was a mere
boy he saw that Matte gave him only the
warm friendship of years of brotherly
and sisterly intercourse, where he had
given the first and only love of his life.
She seemed 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 hel, and yet she kept
him from telling her either his hopes or
his fears.
'She thinks I am an idle, good-for-
nothing fellow" he thought, land [
never get any chance now to tell her I
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 com
fort to the afflicted and light to the
down-trodden. [ mean to be all even
Matte can wish me to be, but can't get
a word with her now. Last evening she
was with that poor dying child of Cross
mans, and to-day she is trying to COM
| fort his mother. The last time I called
she was at the National School, and when
| do see hershe is not the careless, merry
hearted Matte of old. She thinks [ am
the same, though, and despises me for an
idle good-fo nothing"
Some such bordering was in Ned's
mind, when, driving his phaeton up the
main street of the town, he overlook the
Rev. Harvey Stillman going in the same
direction. He reined in at once.
eff you are going my way, Mr.. Still
man." he said, "will you let ME drive
you to your destinations"
II am afraid [ am going too far fer
you, was CAAO ANPAy. OA IL way
to Hawson's place"
Chow fortunate [ met you! It is fully
three miles. Get in, and Black Prince
will soon carry you there"
''But you?'
'tMy time is yours. Do not refuse
me-"
The clergyman accepted the invitation,
and before he fully perceived what he
was saying. Ned was making him con-
fdant of all his perplexities and resolu-
lions, till even his love story came out in
earnest words. Led on by the quietly
expressed sympathy in all his resolves to
enter upon noble and more useful life, i'm
petuous Ned, by sudden inspiration said
eff only Matte could know how much it
would help me to feel sure of her love? [
cannot say if she ever cared for me as [
care for her; but if [ could believe she
would be my wife when [ deserved her,
it would stimulate me as no other hope on
earth coud do"
''You think she loves you?"
The Rev. Harvey Stillman's very lips
were white as he asked the question.
81 did think so once. Now, 1 would
give all l own to be sure of it."
There was much more to the same pur-
pose, till Ned, with a sudden CLEAN of
hope, asked the clergyman to plead his
| cause.
''No 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 comparison; and if
! you were to tell her how her love would