Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-10-14


in less than an hour after his. rejection BY
Bessie Bell he had 80 far composed and en-
couraeed himself as to determine upon
visit to Nora, though whether he should OF
fer himself to her or not was point he ief'
to the development of circumstances.
He found Nora at home, and moreover
she seemed disposed to welcome him witt
extra cordially. In little while he mana
ged to make the conversation drift towarc
Bessie.
Would she be married when the profes
sor returned from Europe.
sOh, dear, no, not till she's twenty one.
rs it not a mesalliance?'
Nora's eyes grew dangerously bright.
Certainly not. Prof. Mark Tyler is
wonderful chemist and geologist-a man
worldwide fame. 1t is q great honor 1oi
Bessie to be loved by such great soul
will you be glad when she marries3
Very
yet you will lose your friend?
BY no means. She will rem sin at home
and the professor and are very old friends
he knew me when was q little GIRL
Tndeedl Perhaps you may marry before
Miss Bell.'
4 may do SO. have no specific agains
doing such thing eventually, but l an
quite sure shall not do so immediately
why not?'
Because cannot afford it. l am just
one of those women who would be likely te
make mesalliance-in money matters :
and repeat, / can not afford it just yet.
have another extravaganza before me, 9
great deal nicer than husband
Il should like to know what it is.'
"A long European tour, with perhaps q
peep at the Pyramids and ramble about
old Jerusalem
'Oh, dear!' said Julius, in tone half &C.
rious ar5 half mocking. 4 should have nc
chance, suppose, against such tempta-
tion?'
-.None at ALL she said, positively, and
though she kept up the bantering tone, il
was quite evident to Julius that if he asked
her in sober earnest she would answer just
the same with slightly different accent.
But Nora, with q woman's ready tact,
turned the conversation, and gradually led
it into q very unusual and practical chan
nel-the nobility and the necessity of labor.
The glowing thoughts, the plain yet hope
full truths that fair young woman uttered,
Julius heard for the first time in his life
that night. Never before had he realized
the profit and the deep delight which might
spring-and only sprlng-from an honest
career, no matter how humble or laborious,
if it was steadily pursued until success
crowned it. She hid none of her own early
mistakes and struggles, and then, alluding
to her assured position and comfort, asked
Julius how he supposed she had won it?'
by your genius he said, admiringly.
Not so, sir, but by simple psrsevering,
conscientious labor in the path had mark
ed out for myself. Therefore, she said,
with bright, imperative face, go home TO-
night, Mr.. May, choose what particular form
of law you will study, throw yourself with
all your capacities into that one subject,
and success is sure to come. Depend upon
it, the world is not far wrong in aking
success the test of merit
You have made a new man of me, Miss
St. Clair said Julius, enthusiastically.
When I have proved this, may l come in
to see you again?'
He had risen to 60 aud they stood with
clasped hands-sThen you may come again.
Nothing more was said but they qnite un-
derstood each other, and Julius went Out
into the clear star-lit night, determined to
make himself worthy of good woman's
acceptance before he offered himself again.
Next evening Bessie and Nora sat in the
firelight, slipping their after dinner coffee;
said rather sadly:
Poor Julius Maybe asked me to marry
him last night
Nora turned quickly, but said nothing.
That is, he wanted to marry my money,
every body knows that il he loves anybody
really, it is you
HE called on me, too, last night said
Nora, 'and I saw be was in trouble, so
gave him something to do. Nothing like
that old, old gospel of work when you're in
trouble. When be had done it, told him
he might come and zee me again.
''Surely you would never marry him!
You will just have him to dress and take
care of.
sAll men need women to care for them,
else why we're women made? But think
Julius will do verv we'll yet. These elegant
carpet knights sometimes don armor and
take the world by SURPRISE
Not muchly,' laughed Bessie.
Remember how England's curled dar-
lings' stormed the Malakoff and battered
down Sebastopol. I am going to trust
Julius May for year Or two, I think he'll
do
"We shall see.'
Yes, we shall see. Time proves all
things
Time proved in this case what has often
been asserted: That every woman ln1u-
ences every man she comes in contact with,
either for good or bad.' Julius went steadi-
ly to work, used with economy the remains
Of his patrimony, became known among
lawyers as hard-reading, clear headed,
steady young man, and in little more than
two years he ventured to call again on Nora
St. Clair AID ask her certain q question, to
which she answered, with pride and con-
fidence: Yes
Another evening Bessie and Nora sat
slipping their coffee together in the gloam-
ing of an early summer evening.
Bessie said Nora, Julius May asked
me last night to marry him.
Going te do SO, Nora?'
Yes, dear, I am going to take care of
him, and he is going to take care of me-
God grant that in the larger liberty to
which woman aspires, she may consider
how vast power is her influence and use
it only for gracious ends!
Beecher's First Sermon.