News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-12-18

pect of an hour with Miss Mary Ann.
Some talk followed about the last
prayer-meeting, in which Mr.. Bliss
had taken quite a conspicuous part !;
the condition of the seminary; the
weather, which had been rather fall
ing of late; and other topics of like
Importance. Finally a pause of I'M
comfortable length ensued. There
seemed to be nothing left to talk
about. Mr.. Bliss picked up his silk
hat, which had been carefully placed
on the floor beside his chair. and
quite as carefully smOothed it the
wrong way with his finest handker-
chief, drawn from the pocket of his
coat-tails. The tatting became re-
fractory, and at her wits end for
something to say, Miss Mary Ann
broke the pause usually filled by her
sisters conversation with the ques-
tion: "Mr. Bliss why, Mr.
Bliss, can you tell me how far it is be-
ION the nilo-nosts ?" Immediato
~ seeTng her own stupidity, the poor
little lady blushed most becomingly,
a thing unheard of since her school
girl days.
Mr. Bliss expressed his surprise only
by a cessation of the hat polishing,
though he looked at her and replied
in a heavy jocular way: 81 had al
ways supposed about a mile, Miss
Mary Ann" This benedict was not
above the fattery of a woman's
blush and generally fiustered condi-
tion at finding herself alone with him.
After clearing his throat with a
meaning ahem he sat very straight
in his chair, and in his eXhorting tone
of voice, most impressive in weekly
meeting, he began: 1.-THE scriptures
teach us, Miss Mary Ann, that man
was not made to live alone" Here
he paused to note the effect of his
words upon the lady opposite, who
was recovering from her embarrass-
ment under the influence of his solemn
manner, then proceeded: "FOr some
time have thought seriously about
this advice, and it has been borne in
upon me that am black sheep in
the Masters fold in my present lonely
condition. For many years your ad-
mirable qualities have been before
my eyes, Miss Mary Ann. Ny respect
for them and you has grown every
day, until | feel called upon to tell
you of the state of my feelings, and
ask you if you are willing to be my
companion down the hill of life?'' In
the depth of the heart thus appealed
to had long been hidden that mex
plicable emotion without which no
woman's life is fully rounded out,
and this emotion had been generated
by the attractions of Elisha Bliss.
This was the crisis of an unselfish
life. 1t meant protection and affec-
tion or entire remuneration for anoth-
er, owing to a curious family custom
which | will allow the victim to ex-
plain. She was so long silent that
Mr.. Bliss was on the point of renew
ing the unexpected attack when she
said, with a quivering smile around
the patient mouth:
GO I am too surprised for words, Mr.
Bliss I-I-s-supposed it was Sis
teri" and she had anintuitive feeling
that Sister thought so too and was
pleased at the idea.
"NO," he replied; "Miss McFar-
land is a lady greatly to be admired,
but | have chosen you to be my wife,
provided you will consent"
"But l cannot consent" she an
swered.
Looking blank and displeased, he
asked:
''Is it because you cannot reciprO-
cate my feelings, Miss Mary Ann?"
oh 10 thnn
with honest dignity explained:
"No; it is not that; but | can never
marry until Sister is provided for in
that way. 1t has been a rule of our
family from time immemorial that
the eldest daughter must be married
before her younger sister can accept
any such offers
"But do you consider such a con-
dition of things to be reasonable,
Miss Mary ANN" came from the dis
comfited suitor.
She drew herself up, and with a
glance of pride at an Old-fashioned
portrait hanging on the wall, replied: /:
"My fathers Judgment in all things
was and is supreme, Mr.. Bliss. In
his last moments he bade me remem-
ber the precedent of generations, to
be ever constant to the interests of
my elder sister" Then with a gentle
sigh, and in a lower tone she con-
tinued: eff you wish to make me
happy, ask Sister to be your wife.
Did ever man before listen to such
a proposition, and, what is even
more remarkable, accept it?
Was it pique, or resignation to the
inevitable-to a Ruling Providence
which enabled him to reply: Very
well, if this is your final decision, |
will speak to Miss Mcfarland on the
subject at the first opportunity; you
are my choice, but no doubt your
sister will make a good wife, if she is
willing" With a composed GOOD
afternoon he left Miss Mary Ann to
the burial of her one hope of marital
happiness.
She entered the sick-room an hour
later with a bright face; related the
fact that Mr.. Bliss had called. and
her own failure to be entertained
when left to herself No reference was
made to the rejected offer A month
later Elisha Bliss had become the
prospective partner for life of Miss
Mcfarland upon the one condition
that Mary Ann was always to make
her home with them. No allusion
was ever made by word or action,
between the participants, to the try
ING scene enacted behind the Nene-
tian blinds on certain Saturday af-
uernoon. One night at the weekly
meeting Miss Mary Ann looked up in
the midst of the familiar hymn:
| s'BIest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love,
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above"
surprising a reproachful glance from
q pair of gray eyes, belonging tC
Elisha Bliss, fixed upon her persist
emily. This was all; and it never
happened again.
In the autumn the young ladies
seminary did not reopen. Miss Nc
Farland and Miss Mary Ann became
respectively, wife and sister-in-law tC
Elisha Bliss. For twenty years th'
three formed a harmonious domestic
household. 1t was always "Sistel
and | think 50 and So" or "Elisht
thinks with us that certain changes
would be an Improvement" A few
years after the domestic partnership
was formed "Elisha" showed signs
of weakness in the chest, which grew
upon him, developing into the old
fashioned slow consumption. Tht
sisters divided the necessary feminine
attention between them, sharing sOr
row and JOY alike through man,