Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-08-20

Rs fairly startled the artist.
 The unconscious object of the shaft put up paper and pen, and addressed himself with deliberate dignity, upon the arrival of his raw oysters, to the lower task of filling the material part of him. He was discussing a juicy square of porterhouse steak, as March bowed respectfully on his way out, to the girl at the head of the board, smile in his pleasant eyes being es- pecially intended for the dwarfed cripple beside her.
 Homer had bolted the last fragment of a huge segment of custard pie, washed down the crust with a second jorum of coffee, and sat, ga+iste and sheepish, upon the tall stool, awaiting orders.
 '"The most extraordinary combinery, taken in all its parts, it was ever my luck to behold," declared March Gil- christ at his fathers dinper-table that evening. Intensely American, through out, though. I wish I knew whether or not the man who appropriated the, reserved seat was usurper. If he were, that spirited little economist of a cour- fer was quite capable of dispossessing him, or, at least, Of calling the waiter to account for neglect. of duty. And what relation did blind Homer bear to the party?''
 "Dear old Marchr' said his sister, af- fectionately: "Story-weavtng in the old fashioni How natural it soundsI What jolly times you and have had over our amateur romanoes and make-believesi Which reminds me of & remarkable ser mon preached Sunday before last by our new pastor. q told you we had one, didn't ID The text was: Six water pots of stone, containing two or three firkins apiecev"
 "Absurd!''
 "True; but listenl The text was only hook from which he hung an eloquent discourse upon the power of faith to make wine-'old and mellow and flavor ous,' he called tout of what to grosser souls seems insipid water. Itwas plea for the pleasures of imaginstion-dlfa faith-and elevated our favorite amuse-, ment into a fine art, and the fine art into religion. came home feeling like. a spiritual chameleon, fully convinced that rarified air is the rightful suste- nance of an immortal being. According to our Mir. Wayt what you haven't got is the only thing you ought to be sure 1 of. Life Is a sort of Now you see it and now you don't see it. business throughout Only when you don't see 1t you are richer and happier than when you do. Did you ever think to hear me babble metaphysical Now, where are those portfolos?"
 "Make-believe that you have over hauled them, and be blest, "retorted her brother. There's a chance to practice your metaphy ysical cant. With a new, deep meaning in 1t, too, which you will deteot when you inspect my daubs. did some fairish things in Norway, how ever, which may prove that your rule has an exception"
 The Gilohrists freely acknowledged themselves to be what the son and daughter styled "a mutual admiration square," March's portfolios were not the only expressing subjects that drew them together in the library where cof- fee and cigars were served.
 May and her father turned over sketches and examined finished pict- ures at the table, passing them after ward to the mother, who was fixture in her easy-chair by reason of 8 head, covered with crisp, chestnut curls, lying upon her lap. May was her companion and co-laborer, dutiful and beloved, despite the impetuosity of mood and temper that seemed tnharmonious with the calmer nature of the matron. The mothers idol was the long-limbed fel- low who, stretched upon the tiger-skin rug, oQe arm cast about her waist, sub mitted to her mute fondling with grace as cheerful as that with which she en dured the scent of the cigar she would not let him resign when he threw him self into his accustomed place. She wa. a good wife, but she had never pretend ed to like the odor of the Judges bes weed. March's cigars she confessed
 were really delightful" Perhaps sht recognized in his afduent, Joyous nature something hers lacked and had craveG all her life, the golden side of the iro1 shield. Assuredly, her children dreV
 the ideality in which they reveled from the father.
 The tall, dignif1ed woman who queenet it in the "best circles" of Fairhill so , ciety, and was the chiefest pillar in tn, parish which had just called Mir. Way
 to become its spiritual head, was the em bodiment of what is known as "hart sense." Mind and character were lait
 out and down in straight lines. Righ
 was right; duty was duty, and not to b
 shirked. Wrong was wrong, and tn
 shading-off of sin into foible was of tn, devil. She believed in personal devil comprehended the doctrines of the Trin
 ity, of election and reproduction and tn
 resurrection of the physical body. Twic
 each Sabbath, once during the week
 she repaired to the courts of the Lord
 with joys unknown to worldly souls
 'The ministry" she held in the old
 fashioned veneration we have cast be
 hind us with many worse and few bel
 ter things. Others might, and did crir
 icise the men who wore white necktie
 upon weekdays and had their hair GU
 straight behind. The hands of the Pre-:
 byterY had been laid in ordination upo
 them. That was sacred shield to hel
 In spirit, she approached the awful cil 2 ole of thn nhlrnh I,.ith hnH.nd fnnt O. n