Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-16

own path, 1 left myself to it's will and
hearkened for it's whispered orders.
1T was the same" observed my mother,
sadly. with a certain cook maid of my
sisters. 1t was foretold that she should
marry her master.
And did she not?" cried the vicar, with
ears all pricked up.
'She changed her service every year.,
said my mother, seeking the likeliest man.
until at last none would hire her."
she should have stayed in her first
service" said the vicar, shaking his head
But her first master had wife," re-
torted my mother triumphantly.
Il had one once myself said the vicar.
The argument, with which his widow hood
supplied the vicar, was sound and unan-
swerable, and it suited we'll with my hui
NOR to learn from my mothers cook maid.
and wait patiently fate. But what
avails an argument. be it ever so sound.
against an empty purse? 1t was declared
that l must seek my fortune; yet on the
method of my search some difference arose.
You must work. Simon.'' said my sister
Lucy, who was betrothed to Justice Bar
nard. young squire CT good family and
high repute, but mighty hard on idle va
grants, and free with the stocks for revel-
ers.
You must pray for guidance said my
sister Mary, who was welded to a sanity
clergyman. prebend, too. of the cathedral
There is said / stoutly. nothing of
such matters in Betty Nasroth's prophecy"
They are taken for granted, dear boy"
said my mother gently.
The vicar rubbed his nose.
Yet not these excellent and Jealous coun-
sellers proved right. but the vicar and l.
For had | gone to London as they urged
Instead of abiding where 1 was, agreeab,y
to the Wears argument and MY own incii
ration. IT Is great question whether the
plague would not have proved too strong
Tor Betty Nasroth. and her prediction gone
20 lie with me in a death pit
AS things befell lived, hearing only dim
ly. and. as it were, from afar off of that
great calamity, and of the horrors that be-
set the city. For the disease did not come
our way, and we moralized on the sins of
the townsfolk with sound bodies and con-
tented minds. We were happy in our health
and in our virtue and not disinclined to ap-
plaud Gods judgment that smote our err
ing brethren. fer too often the chastisement
of one sinner feeds another's pride Yet
the plague mad a hand, and no small one
IN that destiny of mine. although it came
not near me: for 1t brought fresh tenants
10 those same rooms in the gardeners cot
tage where the vicar had dwelt till the low
a. pariiaments act proved too hard for the
conscience of our independent minister and
the vicar, nothing 10th, moved back to his
parsonage.
Now, l was walking one day, as / had
iuii incense and leave to walk, in the ave-
nue. OF Qninton manor, when l saw, first,
what 1 had df am to tell the TRUTH come
10 see. to wit, the figure of young mistress
Barbara, daintily arrayed in white sum-
!her gown barbara was pleased to hold
herseii haughtily toward me. for she was
an heiress. and of a house that had not
fallen in the world as mine had Yet we
were friends. for We spared and rallied
she giving offense and 1 taking 1t. she par
a lf, my rudeness and accepting for
slveness. while my lord and my lady. per
maps thinking me too low fer fear ana vet
high enough for favor. showed me much
KlndnesS My lord. indeed, would often
jest with me on the great fate foretold me
In Betty Nasroth's prophecy.
Yet" he would say, with a twinkle I'm
his eye. the king has strange secrets. and
there Is some strange wine in his Gun and
to love what he loves but at this noint
The vicar, who CHANGED to be by twinkled
aiso but shifted the conversation to some
theme which did not touch the king, his
secrets. his wine. what he loved
Thus then I saw as I say, the slim. tail
figure. the dark hair and the proud eyes
of Barbara Quinton; and the eyes were
nashing in anger as their owner turned
away from-what i had not looked to see
in Barbara's company. This was another
damsel. of lower stature and plumper fig
ure. dressed full as prettily as Barbara
herself, and laughing with most merry
lips and under eyes that half hid them
selves in an eclipse of mirth. When Bar
bara saw me she did not as her custom
was. feign not to see till / thrust my
presence on her. but ran TO me at once, cry
ing very Indignantly. Simon, who is this
girl? She has dared to tell me that my
gown Is of country make, and hangs like
an old smock on beanpole."
mistress barbara, L answered, who
heeds the make OF the gown when the
wearer is Of divine make?" l was young
then and did not know that to compliment
herself at the expense of her apparel is
not the best way to please a woman.
You are silly" said Barbara. who Is
she?"'
The GIRL" 1 said. crestfallen. 'is. they
tell me. from London, and she lodges with
her mother in your gardeners cottage
But l didn't look to find her here in the
avenue"
You shall not again, il have my way
said Barbara. Then she added abruptly
and sharply. why do you look at herr"
Now 1t was true that was looking at the
stranger. and on Barbara's question
looked the harder.
She is mighty pretty" said I. Does she
not seem so to you. Mistress Barbara
And, simple though was. 1 spoke not al
together in simplicity.
'Pretty?" achoed Barbara. And pray
what do you know OF prettiness. Master
Simon?'