Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-06-04
NEW SERIES--VOL. XXI. No 10

where at his beck and call, when I ex.
amned the gorgeous new billiard room
he was just building, and the electric
dynamo that he was just setting up for
the lighting Of his house-my heart
ached for him.
It was just at this time that Jack
Rendlesham asked me to become his
wife. Ii he had asked me a few weeks
sooner, before my mind had begun to
regard things in the light of larger
Christian spirit; before had begun to
speculate SO deeply upon the hidden
mysteries of life and the vast problems
OF Providence; before I had begun to
see that there are other and higher
claims imposed upon us than those OF
mere self f-satisfaction, I should unhes-
itatingly have replied in the afirma-
tive. But now paused. was justf-
fed? Was it right for me to accept
the bliss for which my soul yearned. in
that dear little jasmine oodbine-coy-
cred cottage with the dear, congenial
partner whom I so truly loved? AhI
how hard was it to resist the attrac-
tions of that rural Eden!
Then followed for me the most trying
week have ever spent.
1t resolved itself into a long, a hard,
bitter struggle between my own
selfish longings as woman, and the
higher, larger, wider claims imposed
upon me as a Christian.
1t was AS on Sunday afternoon.
How well I remember the fateful day
and hour! Mr.. Blobbsworth had called
and was drinking his second cup of tea.
Just then Jessie, our parlor maid, came
and summoned mamma from the draw
ing room on some domestic matter. I
know not to this day what it was
whether the kitchen boiler had burst,
whether the Goals had suddenly run
short; whether the cook had had a mis-
fortune and upset the afternoons sup
ply of milk, or what. 1t can have been
nothing very momentous, else should
have heard all about it afterwards.
which I never did. But the moment
mamma had left the room, Mr.. Blobbs-
worth put down his second cup Of tea.
half finished, and, coming across, sat
upon the sofa at my side. He said
something which surprised, startled,
amazed me.
"Indeedr' cried, astonished and con-
fused. II have never thought of you
in that-that-way, Mr.. Blobbsworth. >
Because you have not done so in the
past, there is no reason why you
should not in the future he insisted.
taking my hand and holding it SO fast
that it was impossible, without gross
rudenees, to withdraw it.@tsyFiH you 9,s
he added. gazing into my eyes with
earnest entreaty.
AS I saw that appealing look, light
in an instant broke upon me. The
eyes were mans eyes. But the call
| was the call Of Providence, who, see
| ing this poor fellow in distress-seeing,
moreover, that it was impossible for him
| to aspire to those attitudes alone-was
commanding me to help him.
I sighed as thought Of that sweet
little cottage, for which my heart
pined, with Jack-beloved, congeniaI
Jack-for my helpmeet; which now,
alas! was never to see.
| I shuddered as I thought of that
| luxurious mansion, with all it's perfect
| appointments, its lawns, gardens,
strawberries, greenhouses. stables.
with it's obsequious menials, butler.
footmen, gardeners, coachmen and
grooms; with that gorgeous billiard
room. and that electric dynamo-all
those material obstacles to the higher
life, against which it was to be my
lifelong task to contend and to help
my husband contend
But Providence had spoken with such
clearness-had indicated so plainly the
non-carboniferou district to which
was to carry my coals-that to Shut
my ears to her voice would have been
sheer impiety.
So when Mr., Blobbsworth. repeating
the question said again:
"Wnl you?"
"Yes,'' was my humble answer, and
I bowed my head-upon his shoulder
in meek acquiescence. = Philadelphia
Telegraph.