The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-11-05
A STORM MIRACLE.

Sunday after Sunday tho same dcmure
little creature sat in the last Few on tie
right hand side of the center aisle in st
Matthias church, and Sunday after sun
day the young minister III charge looked
down over his congregation and caught
the wistfUl look of pair of dark brown
eyes that was solemn and pathetic at once.
Before tho last amen of tho rCcCssiUnal had
ceased To vihrat2 on tho cars of the knCCl-
ing worshipcrs the little creature had each
time made her way out of the church un-
noticed. After awhile the Rev. John
Grimshaw, who WIS six and twenty and
impressiunahlc at that, began TO feel tie
influence of thar benign expression and Of
those solemn dark eyes and decided to
speak with the girl If an opportunity pre-
scented itself, ard the opportunity did come
one Friday night on II Snint'a day when
there was special service at the church
in the evening.
She md never been into the church hi
fore except on sunday, and what was his
surprise and pleasure when the young
minister lifted his eyes that night and saw
the Taco that was BEGINNING to interest
him sitting before him quite near the
front. During the singing Of II hymn he
approached her and asked her to remain
after the service, as :o wished to say IL few
words to her. She did not reply. except
with Il mute appeal with her splendid dark
eyes He Inistook her silence for embar
rassmCnt and returned to his place Mt the
lectErn. At the close of the service he
hurried to the side Of the girl, who was
just in the act of leaving her pew, and
spoke u few words to her. He was invit-
ing her in that calm, deliberate way that
characterized him To come to church Of
ten. to consult him, to become regular
wUrShipCr at ne church, but rs he talked
III low, persuasive tones and no response
came from the girl he began to wonder ut
her extreme hashfulncsS, and when she be
gan to shake her head, to make rapid signs
with her deft fingers, in an instant he real
lied that the appealing eyes that followed
him in his dreams and in his waking mo-
mcnts and the pretty but sad face were
those Of deaf mute, and so swift and sud
den was the surprise that swept over him
that he could have cried out in his an
EIish. \ chill came over his heart, hut
only for an instant, and in the next lie
communicated as best he could b% mods
and smiles and expression that he under
stood her ard was sorry for her. He tried
IL make her understand that ho would like
her to continue TO come to church and be
II good Christian, b3t whether she cUmE"e-
kcnded him or not be did not know. He
walked to tho door with her, and as she
went slowly down tho stone steps he nod
dcd pleasant good night as she looked
back
When he was alone that night, the
young preacher gave way 70 his emotion.
He realized that he was deeply i'll love
with tho little being who had never spoken
n word to him and whom he now knew
would never speak To him. He should
never know that sound of her voice, which
III his fancy WAS low and soft and musical.
And now-uh, God. it was too hard to
bear! And tlCn he would mover know her
name. All, it must no IL pretty name. so
he thought True, there wire other girls
in the parish who would gladly accept him
if he wnaid mako rhc offer, but no did not
love ono Of them as he now realized that
he loved this girl who had oCcUpird that
rear seat in tho church that sunday, al
ways attircd in Il neat black dress, bit of
soft white lace falling over her collar and
setting off her pretty throat. She might
lie IS or 20. he thought, and was just tail
enough. He had noticed that she came to
MS siN az NsElhttI NiI"ji lllS H4SlS
with her that night. Her hnsds were so
pretty, too, when she made u few hurried
signs and ho should never be able 10 hold
them between his two large palms.
At last sleep rt:lltd the cur.ain before
these precious yet bitter thoughts, ana the
Rev. Mr.. Grimshuw fell into II deep slum-
Der and dreamed that lie was sailing the
sea with this beautiful girl, that he held
her in his arms, that he called her Ruth.
When he awukc, it was with the bitterest
disappointment, for ne was alone, and The
bright sun was streaming full upon his
face. He remembered that the King $
Daughters Of the parish were to enjoy an
excursion down the hay that day, and us
he had many little affairs of Importance
To attend to before = u'cl@ck. the hour Of
suiling, he busted himself about them,
saying the name Ruth softly to himself in
the meanwhile and wondering ii her name
were really Ruth.
Tho excursion steamer was in waiting
at the dock, ard one by one the young
girls stepped aboard, each smiling Ler
sweetest as she notice.! the young minister
standing on the wharf. Eo returned their
sIlutatinns with Il serious COuntCnaHce and
| with dignity slightly lifted his hat, Lut his
| eyes We're strained TO the little narrow
street beyond, watching and waiting for
| her, hoping, yet not knowing, that she
would come. 1t wanted one minute Of the
hour md ,nvio,is on,s aboard TN, little
excursiop sirau,cr ,yrro calling IN Mr.
GrimShaw to come aboard and not get left.
| Ii he heard he needed not, and just Us he
was about to give UP hope of her coming,
| just as they were about top pull in the gang
| plank, IL slight figure in q neat fitting
| IJack dress. with white l;ycc mt the throat
ard a small black lat set uron !. sharclv
| little kcad crowned with 4 wealth of chest
nut brown hair. approached tie wharf
| Calling tn the sailors to wait moment.
| Jobn t;rin,slIaw sl,rang forward. and, tax.
| ,ro the Girl by the arm. forrctful that she
,opId not hear "A word he said, explained
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