Year: 1865

able to see that organ. The olive face
and dusky Spanish syes bent over the
music, and the golden sunshine falling
over the sweet picture through the narrow
window over head and Furnishing the
glimmering organ ard waves of Jet black
hair | shall always until earthly music
is drowned by that of heaven, hear An
drew Hudson playing as he played in those
happy hours


One Thursday went earlier than usual
to find only the clerk in the church mailing
down new carpets on the aisles. AS |
paused to look at them. he put his hand in
his pocket "a letter for YOU he said,
and stretching toward me 4 little missive
white and spotless, with one drop of green
wax in its midst


We girls had a sentimental habit Of
writing notes, and this was nothing new.
| took it carelessly in my hand, and slipped
IT in my pocket to read at home. / had
seen form | knew moving among the
grave stones in the churchyard, and could
think Of nothing else


just then the clerk, finging away n bit
of old carpet, called me.


"See, Miss Sophy, what crack They'll
be sorry they don't heed me about this
floor sometime.


There, just at the foot of the stairs
leading to the gallery where the singers
sat, was indeed n crack, wide and deep,
Leaving full four inches between the floor
and lower step at the corner.


The floor is settling, Miss, said he.
sThe church is getting old, you see;
reckon it'll last my time, though and he
hammered away furiously, making snch a
racket that neither of us heard any one
approaching until a voice cried


All new carpets. The church viii be
smart next Sunday"


II vas Andrew Hudson He stood
looking down upon us with his great eyes


Not before we reed en-, Sir said
Timothy q But what's the use O carpets
with floors like these wearing EN- out?
Beg pardon-want to pass, Sir p


Andrew gave me look 1t said
Come | felt my cheek flushing.
longed to bear him say that he loved me,
and yet the fancy that he might be going
to speak now frightened me


- have a note ] ought to read, | said,
taking it from my pocket.


" No tf}attet let the note alone; read
it at home Come, sit in the gallery with
me until the rest come.


lie said it in such pleading whisper,
under cover of the old erk's hammering,
that ! could not refuse. We went up to-
gether, not daring to look at him There
was pile of new music on the stand, and
in my confusion | sought refuge in that
As bent over the pages he bent over me
and all in a monent he had caught me
about the waist and kissed me. Such a
kiss, | feel it yet burning on my forehead


| was not angry. | viii lot tell IL false
hood, l was glad; bct just then Abby
Adair's laugh came ringing Up the gallery
stairs, and wrenched myself away from
hiGI. In a moment she was with ua, and
a half dozen more followed. and we were
not alone again that day How many mis-
takes | made in my music with the mem
ory Of that kiss driving away every other
thought from my mind, I am afraid to
tell.


That evening watched and waited for
Andrew at home. / felt sure he would
come-sure that he would speak at last;
but though | listened all the evening, did
not hear his step upon the path. At last
went to bed, feeling sad and disappoInt-
ed, aud forgetting all about the little note
until | was fairly undressed. Then
looked in the pocket of the dress | had
taken off for it, 1t was not there. 1t was
such n strange thing that it should be
gone that suddenly became interested.
| wrapped myself In a shawl and went all
over the house with q candle, but in vain
How | had lost this note | could not
guess, but it was lost undoubtedly And
somehow the loss began to trouble me,
unimportant as ] believed the epistle must
be.


Well, my trouble began that night. An
drew Hudson never came near the house,
and when Sunday afternoon came ! went
to the church to practice, feeling sure |
should hear he was very Ill but there he
sat at the organ, and never so much as
looked at mo when | came in When he
had occasion to speak to me it was in an
altered voice, and there were great rings
about his dark eyes which made them look
hollow


/ "What could it all mean, was he i'll OF
! angry with me?' | longed to ask him.


But he gave me no opportunity. As
soon as the hour was over he FASTENED
away, saying something about an engage
ment


looked over the bala5trade after him
and saw him descending the stair very
slowly, with spirtless look upon hi:
face, that brought hot tears to my eyes.


Why did he look so? He had beer
happy and bright-eyei aud eager wher
vra la :, mot WHY did he neither lool