The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-25
A MORAVIAN BRIDE.

v
In one of the broad channels between
the thousand rocky isles which grid the
main large brig lay becalmed. Her sails
hung idly from the yellow yards, and the
helmsman no longer maintained a pretense
Of directing her.
In the vessels waist the captain, a
bachelor of 40 years promenaded back and
forth with young woman, who lightly
rested gloved hand on his arm.
$50 you have never seen his photo
graphP he asked.
"No; not even that" she answered alb
sently.
"You know no more Of him than merely
this That he is yet in his novitiate, acting
as keeper of the mission store; that he is
"a and wants wife and is willing to ac-
cept the bishops choice. Yet you come
across the sea to share his lot; to sacrifice
your inclinations and desires; to bury
yourself for life in this wild land"
"a sacrifice it may be, sir, ;" she said.
How great l did not feel when we set
sail"
A wave Of hope and passionate longing
flooded the captains heart. 1t shone from
his clear brown eyes as he turned to face
her.
"It is too great sacrifice, " he said, with
warmth. 1.-THE pity Of it, and there is one
would give"-
She looked at him strangely and with
drew her hand.
"You forget STRIP she interrupted. at
is the bishops will. He holds my promise
made before the church. did not know
then all it meant to me, but / had time
for thought and was not urged. 1t is my
dutv and nv work in life -
"The sense Of such a duty is absurd
"No, mol" she broke in hurriedly.
"You are valued servant of our church
Your Christian duty is to help me-"
"My duty as a man
But she disappeared within the compan-
ion way, and, vexed, he turned impatient
ly to the lounging helmsman, severely re-
calling him to his neglected post.
In the solitude of her cabin she flung
herself upon the cushioned locker, the cap
tain's words still ringing in her cars. He
loved her OF that she felt assured. And
She But, mol She must not, dare not
think of that.
Could it be mistaken sense of duty7
She was the daughter Of missionaries, gen.
GRAFTON upon generation, and following in
the very footsteps her mother traced score
of years before. Although she had lived at
home but till the age of z, she remembered
as though it were but yesterday the story
of her mothers early life, as she herself
had told it, and narrowly the girl compar-
ed that life with what her own had been,
seeking to find some jot of difference.
She knew the harmony of her parents
lives, each kind and thoughtful of the 9TH
er's veal, their only sorrow the parting
from their child, and this thoy both agreed
was wise and best How else could chill
dren of the wilderness be fitted for useful
iiyesP 1t was rule dictated by the church,
to which they owed obedience as saliva
tion's price. Eisfiss.gss.-
These mission born children were edu-
Gated by the church in the belief that duty
to 1t was paramount. The wishes of Its
clergy were commands, the bishops will
an edict from ON high. The boys were
trained to fill their fathers places, the girls
to make the missionaries wives, the men
to take what wives the church bestowed,
the women to marry without choice such
husbands as the bishop might award.
And that the church had wisdom ON Its
side was proved by the universal happiness
to which those thus united testified.
Her innate modesty revolted at the gross
idea of surrendering to a perfect strangers
will. How could she fail to hate him, tc
despise this man, who, without one spark
| from the flaming altar of true love, woult
| willingly forfeit all noble sentiments o.
mind and heart and selfshly debase him
self and her pure young womanhoodp
And she herself would make this unioI
possiblel
An overpowering loathing of herself
possessed her with the thought, a terror sh,
strove vainly to control, and the pent VI
torrent of her dread burst forth, sweeping
| her away upon its turbulent waves ii
paroxysms of despairing tears.
An atmosphere of feverish expectanc.
pervaded the usually quiet surrounding
Of The Post. People were hastily gather
ing from all quarters upon the littl
mound beside the church. The oil Idepo
and factory were deserted, and the wolfisl
dogs might pass the unguarded door an,
drink their fill from the uncovered yats 0
OIL
The missionary's tidy children jostlea
with the crowd of natives unnoticed b
their nurse. The baker and brewer stoo
on the mission house porch, putting vigoi
ously at his long Dutch pipe, while his Iii
tie frau beside him conversed excited
with the gardener 8 wife, who leaned froI
an open lattice
A rising hum Of eager voices came fror
the hillock, where the throng of dusk
Eskimos was steadily increasing, and ever
eye was strained upon the entrance to tn
little bay.
The cause of this unusual agitation ha
been signal gunshot from the hill, fire
by the sentry stationed there to keep
lookout for the long expected ship. II wa
to bring them news from DER the sea, tn
history OF the great worlds. dofngs for
year-letters from relatives and friendl
presents and messages supplies an
stores, their first intelligence for lon
12 months. What wonder, then, that the
looked forward, anxiously counting til
months and weeks and days and hour
until the time the vessel might arrive.
And one there was to whom 1t brought
bride. He was the youngest white man 4
the post He had her picture, .brougf
through winter SHOWS and stormy wv
light by the native messenger, who joui
neyed over the frozen channels with h