Year: 1863

"Out west. How far out west Miss Win
slow? Out west is very large coun
try"


"Somewhcrc in Iowa, near Prairie dr
Chion--on the opposite side of the Missis
sippi, of course"


$50 far az that !" said Raymond in dis
appointed voice.


Clarice left the room, looking as thougl
she were in a high fever, and Bertha very
adroitly changed the subject. She sale
many enchanting things but Raymond
seemed thoughtful and absent, and soon al
ter took his leave not, however, until Der
tha made him promise to call the next morn
Ing and walk to church with her.


"Ruth my child, don't feel well enough
to leave the hoUsc this morning. You will
have to go to church without me-"


IL had thought to go to our old church
this morning, dear mother, have not beer
there since we moved here, 50 far out Of the
way"


"Is it not too great distance for you to
walk my dear child ?"


81 think not, dear mother"


Ruth had dressed herself with uncommon
care that morning, although she would not
have acknowledged to herself the reason
AS she neared the church, she felt as
though she were almost guilty of some
wrong-as though she had deceived her
kind, good mother, in not coniessing her
real motive for not going to the place OF
worship they were of late attending. A
soft blush stole over her sweet face, rs she
confessed to herself there could be no harm
in seeing him once more, just once more
to see if the last year and u half had
changed his looks any.


The church was situated in the most fash
ionable part of the city and the most fash
ionablc people of the city attended it. For
in religion, or its outward manifestation
as in all things else, there is the same spirit
of eXclusiveness that strives to bar the
door against the vulgar mass" and admit
only those who possess the golden key to
its entrance. The many familiar faces
which she had not seen for nearly year
and half filled Ruth's heart with sadness
as she softly stole up the side aisle, and
quietly seated herself in one Of the wall
pcws.


There, in the broad aisles, near the pull
Pit, was her own wcll-rcmembered pew,
now occupied by strangers, and near it,
that of her Aunt WinSlows, vclvet-lincd
and velvet-cushioned. No one was in il
but Bertha and--how the hot blood poured
from her heart and burned upon her pale
checks, whom she saw once more his hand
some face She averted her own instantly,
and, for a few moments, she thought she was
going to faint; but tears came into her eyes,
and sho turned herself to the wall, and
poured out her heart in bitter, silent tears.


She thought of the difference that now
was between them, and magnifed the diff
ference until it seemed to her that he must
spurn her as the dust under his feet. She
had never felt until now her position 50 de-
graded and her employment SO mean. A
feeling Of independence, and the strong de
sire to make her. mother comfortable, had
hitherto supported her. But now she al.
most hated herself from having undertaken
anything that severed herself so utterly
from the life she had been accustomed to.
Then the strange, unnatural state OF society,
and its self.imposed laws rose to her mind,
panorama of her former numerous ac-
quaintances, who had been handling Glove
with her, hut who now, when she met them
in the street, either pretended not to see
her or unfeelingly cut her, until, TO her
dizzy mind, it seemed as though she were
really less worthy of esteem since she had
undertaken that hateful employment. She
thought Of her weary, tolllng days-days