The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-28

you of this, but in seasons of trouble
we say things-and Ihave often thought,
when we were singing in the choir to-
gether- that-we might be very happy
that it was our destiny. I have been
in New York and seen the great world,
but you are the wife would choose
from among them all" He had smooth,
round, fresh colored, innocent face, that
seemed made for dimpling smiles, but
which never indslged in them.
Beatrix felt sensation of absurd
alarm, like the princess in the fairy tale,
under spell Of enchantment to mismate
herself in the most grotesque man
ner conceivable. Mr.. Starcher was
so much in earnest, and so ludicrously
sure, apparently, that the success of his
suit was among the eternal certainties,
that a vision of a long welded life with
him, amid an atmosphere of meal tubs,
salt cod and pickles, interspersed with
psalm tunes and solemn walks to and
from church on Sundays-this desperate
panorama of inanimate existence rose up
before her in such vivid imaginative
vraisemblance that she was impelled to
protest against it with more than ade-
quate vehemence. She gasped for breath,
rose from her chair and said: "Mr.
Starcher, it is terrible; I would
rather die!' Then, perceiving, COM
passionately, that he would feel
cruelty wounded as soon as his
astonished senses enabled him to
comprehend the significance of her
words, she added, cit would be wicked
for me ever to think of being married;
you must see that p Here she paused,
partly from emotion, and partly because
she was unable at the moment to be-
think herself of any conclusive argu-
ment in support of her assertion that,
for her, marriage would ever be crime
One certainly would not have drawn
| that inference from the superficial indi-
cations. A silence ensued, prickly with
| spiritual discomfort. Mr.. Starcher was
the first to find his tongue, and he car
| ried off the honors of the encounter by
observing with fearful gentleness that
he should claim the privilege, just the
same, of not presenting the little ac-
count for settlement. This magnanim-
ity was none the less genuine because
the materials for it were slender, and
Beatrix long afterward found comfort
! in recalling it to mind.
! But there was yet another adversary
for her to engage, and he was in some
respects more formidable than Mr..
Starcher, because his position and edu-
cation rendered his pretensions less mon
strous-nay, there even seemed to be a
sneaking disposition ON Mr.. Randolph's
part to accord him at least a negative
support. Mr.. Vinal, the Unitarian cler-
gyman, was in fact, from an unworthy
point of view, a tolerably inoffensive
match. He was studious, decorous and
endowed with grave and unobtrusive
manners. He was not handsome, but
there was certain masculine concentra-
ton in his close set gray eyes and long
narrow chin which was not in itself I'M
pleasing.
Hi4 voice, if somewhat harsh, was
resonant and assured and, coming as it
did from a chest apparently so incapa-
cious, produced a sensation Of agreeable
surprise. 1t would have been unreason-
able not to respect the man, and churl-
ish not to feel amiably disposed toward
him; but for Beatrix it was impossible
to love him. He lived III little white
wooden house with green blinds, close
to the white, green blinded church. He
possessed an imposing library, in which
was not single book that Beatrix could
have brought herself to read, and the
main object of his endeavors was, appar
emily, to make all the rest of the world
think and live like himself. Moreover
though he approved of music, he neither
knew nor cared anything about it.
Mr.. Vinal began his operations by &
private interview with Mr.. Randolph
from which he came forth with coun
tenance whose serenity made Beatrix:
heart sink. The dialogue which followed
was of extreme interest to both of them
''Have you made any plans regarding
your immediate future?" the minister
began, in an unembarrassed and bust
nesslike tone. "We cannot doubt, yor
know, that providence, in bringing thi
affection upon you, has had some wis,
and merciful end in view. You hav,
talents; perhaps but for this you nigh
have kept them folded in the napkin
Adversely forces us out OF our natura
idleness, and stimulates us to use wha
means we have to win our own way il
the world. Have you thought of any
thing to do?"
Beatrix's spirits rose again; he was no
thinking of marrying her after all. ''Fv
been thinking I might give lessons o.
the piano." she said. She happened t
be seated at that instrument, and as sh
spoke she let her white fingers drift dow
the keyboard from bass to treble, fro1
depression to hope, from gloom to light
winding up with sort of interrogativ
accent, as much as to say" Why shouldn
: be good for something's"
VERY right" said Mr.. Vinal; 'sI hav
nothing to object to in that; indeed
.. had intended to propose it. You coul
also, unless the instructions of the lat
Professor Dorimar were wholly value
:. less"-
"What?" interrupted Beatrix, in
, voice which, supported as it was by
chord sharply struck, made the ministe
start in his chair. After moment
pause she said, her eyes still bright wit
indignation: Professor DorimaY, who
= now in heaven, taught me more an
= better things than you have ever dreame
: of! He showed me that have soul
> "Surely have done as much as that
faltered Mr.. Vinal, who was confuse
:. by this sudden outburst.
''No, for you know nothing about it
, said Beatrix loftily. "You have onl