The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-09-14

ferrous winds subside to gentle
zephyrs, and the tumultuous ocean, seem
ingly entranccd rests from its labors and
lovely laps the shore.
In one of the broad channels between the
thousand rocky isles which grid the main
a large brig lay becalmed. The sails hung
idly from the yellow yards, and the helms
man no longer maintained pretence of
directing her.
In the vessels waist the captain, a bach
clor of 40 years, promcnadcd back and
forth with II young woman who lightly
rested Il gloved hand ON his arm.
So you have never seen his photo
glaph?" he asked
NO; not even that" she answered
absently.
You know no more of him than merely
this: That he is yet in his novitiate, act
ing as keeper of the mission store; that he
is ~ aud wants q wife and is willing to
accept the bishops choice, Vet you come
across the sea to share lot; to sacrifice your
inclnations and desires; to bury yourself
for life in this wild land"
a. sacrifice it may he, SIR she said.
elbow great 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.
ut is too great sacrifice, he said, with
warmth. "The pity of it, and there is one
would give
She looked at him strangely and with
drew her hand
"YOu forget, sir" 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 duty
and my work in life
"The sense of such duty is absurd
"No, no' she broke in hurriedly. "You
are valued servant of our church. Your
Christian duty is to help me-"
"NIy duty as man
But she disappeared within the COM
panion way, and vexed, he turned impa-
tiently to the lounging helmsman, severely
recalling him to his neglected post.
In the solitude of her cabin she flung
herself upon the cushioned rocker, the cap
tain's words still running in her ears. He
loved her! OF that she felt assured. And
She But, no. She must not, dare not
think of that.
Could it be mistaken sense of duty ?
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 compared
that life with what her own had been, seek
ing to find some jot Of difference.
She knew the harmony of her parents
lives, each kind and thoughtful of the
others veal, their only sorrow the parting
from their child and this they both agreed
was wise and best. How else could chill
dren Of the wilderness be fitted for useful
lives? 1t was rule dictated by the
church, to which they owed obedience at
salvation's price.
These mission born children were educa-
ted by the church in the belief that duty to
it 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 wo-