Year: 1876

Slowly they dispersed, each wonder
ing at the e1oquence and piety of the
young devotee and the next day Henry
Wood went out from amongst them on
his Masters service.


In one of the largest houses in Fair
water, Minnie Stokes sat, reading love
letter. Her rich beauty was fully de-
veloped, and every decoration wealth
could give was at her command. From
the jeweled band that held her clustering
curls to the dainty slipper that covered
her tiny foot, her dress was exquisite
and costly. She had been dressing for a
large party when the letter was brought
to her. With it was bouquet, which
she was implored to carry, if the answer
to the suit was q favorable one.
She was offered all that had constitut-
ed her world. Her suitor had wealth,
talent and manly beauty he adored her,
could match her in worldly position, and
give her home as luxurious as the one
she had lived in from childhood.
I wonder if I care for him." she
said, letting the letter lie open before
her. CT have not thought much of
love. My life has been useless and aim
less and now when I was thinking I
might be better-when Henry had made
me think-here is q new life of ease and.
luxury offered me. I wonder if I care
enough for Sir Rudolph Haines to be
bis wife He is very handsome, very
devoted and every winter, when I have
been at Aunt JAMES, he has made the
time pass very pleasantly. did not
think he would follow me here to my
quiet country home. I am very happy !;
Il 10 fr-xy 70 Ia
somehow this letter perplexes me-"


You will see that she was not very
much in love with the writer, yet he had
been a pleasant companion in her gay
London winters.


"I am to carry this bouquet, if love
him |" she mused.


For nearly an hour she sat over the
letter thinking deeply; then she rose,
took the bouquet in her hand, and de-
iberately thrust the flowers into the fire,
much to her maids consternstion.


Sir Rudolph Haines felt keen pang
when he saw Minnie saunter into the
brilliant drawing room, leaning on her
fathers arm, empty handed; but he was
not man to drop after firing one shot;
and to Minnie's surprise, he was as de-
voted as ever.


It was an odd life the young girl led
after this evening. She was in constant
correspondence with Henry, and held
fast to her resolve to be good; but while
every letter spurred her on to higher
aims and new efforts, every interview
with Sir Rudolph drew her back to the
gay world again.


Mr.. Godfrey Wood died, and his son
was appointed to Fairwater. For one
year he had been absent, and there was
not heart in his congregation but felt
pang, as he appeared on the first Sun
day after his return. The pallid face,
hollow eyes, and weary droop of the
mouth told tale of illness and suffering
that went to every heart there. AS he
proceeded, the color came slowly back
to his hollow cheeks, and the fire to his
eyes; while his stirring words of exhor-
tation told of spirit unquenched by
physical suffering, mind devoted to
one cause and one work.


With pitying eyes the congregation
watched the dropping figure of their be-
loved pastor as it daily grew weaker
while over Minnie's bright life a pail
seemed suddenly to fall.


Die! Everybody spoke of his death
as q certain and not far-distant event.
Die Her friend, her counselor, her
guide to every pure and holy aspiration
of her ifei She turned sick over the
possibility; and then, sparing herself no
maiden pang, she read her own heart
truly. He had never spoken to her of
love, never given her more than q
friends interest; and she knew that, un-
asked and unsought, she had given the
deformed minister the love Sir Rudolph
Haines vainly sought to win.


Poor, deformed and sickly, he had
won what her handsome suitor would
have given all his wealth to gain.


It was late one summer afternoon, and
Minnie was dreaming away the twilight
in her own room when she say q figure
in deep mourning coming slowly up the
garden walk. It was no new sight; for
the old minister's widow, Henry's moth
or, was frequent and welcome visitor
at MIR. Stokes house. Everybody was
out, and Minnie escorted the old lady to
her own room, took off her bonnet,
found her the easiest chair and then sat
down on a stool at her feet for long
chat. Motherless herself, the young
girl was very fond OF Henry's only sur
viving parent.


Minnie" said the old lady, stroking
back the clustering curls, and looking
into the fair face raised to hers, "I
have come to make strange request to-
day. want you to go away to your
Aunt James until after you are mar
ried."


"Go awayl Married - cried the as
tonished girl.


"You are engaged to Sir Rudolph
Haines, are You nota You will be his
wife soon :"


"Never!"


"I was mistaken, then. Still, i'm
plore you, take your lovely face, for