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Show I INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION CHAPTER VII. ?iT fi PON nB smooth n lll$ III clirrcnt wcro Con- SfflJKjR II stance WIthors' j. " liKall consc'onco and pru- fjsj--5i donco rocked to p:-" sleop during tho Jiifffl cnr'y mouths of Vm'miUi thnt winter. Win- 1 fcjf V bi terl Novcr ha1 Irj -njfc' summer been so re-'iri re-'iri Pleto with light "" " ' q and warmth. Thero is a divine delight In the slow sweep of the outer circles of the maelstrom; tho half consciousness of tho awakening awaken-ing heart, llko that of tho babo who, nroused from slumber by his mother's voice, smiles recognition of tho dear music beforo his eyes are unsealed by her kisses, or his head Is nestled upon her bosom. That to every human heart such awakening comes, sooner or later, I hold and bollovo for certain. Deserts of Bait nnd bitterness thero aro in tho spiritual as well as In the material world; but thero was a timo when (ho Creator, whoso name Ib Love, pronounced pro-nounced them "very good," when as yet the flood, and tho rain of fire and brimstone had not mado havoc of all tholr pleasant things, nor tho soft soil been hardened Into flint and gravel by dearth and hent. And, to that garden of the Lord's planting thoro came a day whon or of what duration Ho knows, and perchance Ho nlono when tho south wind blow softly, and all tho spices thereof flowed out spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of fraklncense, myrrh and nlocs. It may have been but for ono glad hour ono moment of bowll-dering bowll-dering bliss, that tho heart thuB visited was transformed Into a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters and streams from Lobanon. Tho next muy have witnessed tho rush of tho deluge or the bursting of tho pitchy cloud; and bohold! In plnce of Eden, a lair of wild beasts, a honso full of doloful creatures, meet for the dwelling of owls nnd tho danco of satyrs. Other visions than theso Images of woe and torror abodo with Constance; formless fancies, fair as vague; specious spe-cious reveries in which she lived through coming years as she was doing do-ing now, surrounded by tho same outward out-ward comforts; her steps guarded by the samo friend, whoso niere presence meant contentment: wfth whom tho interchange of thought and foiling left nothing to bo desired f ronifaurif Mr t m- I pathy. It wnB-a-'BdvereTBlioeU-that 1 "Btaowed her ttio precipice1 upon tho I flowery vergo'of which sho lay dream- lhg. Tho brothers wore, ono morning, discussing dis-cussing nt breakfast the merits of it pair of horses that had been offered for salo to the elder. For a wonder Edward Ed-ward displayed more caution in accepting accept-ing tho Jockey's declaration of tholr fitness for family uso than did his stnld relatives. Mr. Withers waB vtry obstinate in his adherence to what evor principle or prejudlco ho believed that he had seen cause to adopt, and his eye had been captivated by tho Bhowy team; his credulous hearing gained by the adroit tonguo of tho dealer. All that Edward's dissuasions could effect was acquiescence In his proposal that they should try the horses beforo tho sleigh that afternoon, before deciding upon tho purchase. Harriot clapped her hands vivaciously. vivacious-ly. "And then you'll drlvo by and give us a turn behind tho beauties. I am sure they must bo heavenly from what Cousin Elnathan says. I am wild to seo them!" "Thero Is a look in tho eye of ono that bespeaktl tho spirit of another legion," said Edward, apart to Con-Btanco. Con-Btanco. "Don't rido after them!" sho entreated, en-treated, quickly. "Your brother will yield if you tell him plainly how unsafe un-safe you consider them." "Not unsafe for him and myself, perhaps; but hardly tho creatures to bo entrusted with your llfo and limb," ho rejoined. "Rest assured that I Bhall make ti thorough test of thom beforo consenting to the vonturo. I shall drlvo them myself, and speak out frankly tho result of the trial. In whatever also wo may differ, Elnathan and I aro a unit In our care for your welfare. So, if wo show ourselves nnd tho heavenly heav-enly span of quadrupeds at tho door today, you need not fear to accept our Invitation." Tho gentlo and affectionate reassur-nnco reassur-nnco contrasted pleasantly with Mr, Wlthers'a authoritative mandate "Constance! you will hold yourself In readiness to drlvo out with us this afternoon. af-ternoon. Wo Bhall call for you at three o'clock. I wish you and Harriot to bo" entirely propared for tho rldo when wo como. Young horses do not liko to Btnnd in tho cold." An impulse she did not stay to do-flno do-flno drow Constanco to the window as tho two gentlemen descended tho front steps side by side. Mr. Withers vas i trlflo tho taller of tho two, but his fluro was angular nnd unbending; Edward's supplo and elegant, while Bcarcoly n traco of family likeness existed ex-isted between tho swarthy visage of tho elder, with Its deep-set eyes, long upper up-per lip, and high, narrow foreheall, and tho lively glance, clear complexion, and spirited mouth that made Edward's physiognomy a goodly sight to mojo oyes than thoso that met tho partlilg smile ho cast up at tho parlor window when ho gained tho pavement, whereas where-as Mr. Withers stalked solemnly on, apparently forgetful already that ho had a home and wife, now that his faco was set offlco-ward. "Shadow and sunshlno!" reflected tho gazer. "And they aro not moro un-liko un-liko in countenance than In dispositions, disposi-tions, alms and conduct as dissimilar as two upright men can bo." Harriet's shallow treblo sounded nt her elbow liko a repetition of tho just thought "No ono 'would over tako them to bo relatives," sho Bald. 'Jyot each is excellent In his way. Don't you think so7" "Yes," answered Constanco, moflng away. "Only their ways are so dlffordnt!" persisted tho cousin. "I llko Elnathan best, of course, but Edward Is tho moro popular man of tho two, I bellovo Isn't ho?" . "I really do not know!" Constanco left the room uttering tho falsbhood. HnrrlPt had a trick of making her intensely uncomfortablo whenovor tho talk botween them turned upon tho brothers. "I hato comparisons!" Bho said to herself, her-self, when she reached her room. "And it Is forward and indellcato in her to Institute them in my hearing." Convinced that tho sudden heat warming her heart and cheeks was excited ex-cited by Harriet's Impertinence, sho mado It her business to stop thinking of the conversation and its origin so soon as sho could dismiss It and turn her attention to pleasanter things. It was more innocent and agreeable work; for lnstanco, to write out Edward's 'part ofa now duet upon a fair shoet of paper which ho could hold In his hand as ho stood by her at tho piano, tho printed copy being so blurred as to try his eyes. Ho was very slightly nearsighted, near-sighted, although a casual acquaiutanco would not have suspected It. She copied music legibly nnd rapidly, and lately had hit upon this happy dovlco of making him somo poor return for JJip manifold services ho had rendered ncr. "All (hat K can do leaves me do-Sjorab.'y do-Sjorab.'y Jn Jb djW ".BltojreiiRouod. "I, qveriknjwUai,iwaotthoffuU"hoB TSul llBlntcrcstedriess of n brother's lovo until un-til I met him. But all brothers are not so considerate or dovoted as is he. I should understand that." TO mi iovriiusii.1 |