The Village by the River

life for Sally; but so it was. It had changed her attitude of mind towards things eternal, from one of placid indiffer

id abruptly to the rector, when she met hi

quick sympathy. "Our Lord's death and resurr

. Can you help me? can any

the things which have helped me on the road; but God is even now dra

h ended, before many months had passed away, in the passionate convicti

phase of thought, by the books he found left about the room, and by a

t she should study both sides of the question," he thought. He did

ampered by poverty. The summer had been a wet one, and, in common humanity, he had had to make a considerable reduction in his farm rents; improvements in his cottage property had led to an outlay for

th Kitty was the only connecting link between him and the rector; otherwise they would have drifted hopelessly apart before now. Then, on this particular morning, as he returned home he heard a rumour that May Webster was going to be married to a baronet who

ad found May Webster a ready pupil; and when she differed from him she held her own with such merry defiance, that it gave her an added charm in his eyes. And now this

dding, I suppose, for the bells are

lly, flushing a little. "There

Sally's crimsoning face t

you are to dress like one of his bridesmaids," he said. "What

to be conf

ion of a tiresome morning; but Paul did not wish

r enough? You will probably wake up from this religious craze to

y. "I have thought about little else for a

ch things for yourself; but you've sprung it upon me somewhat suddenly, Sally. I

ve been so happy, I cared so much, I felt as if I could

th. "What time does the thing come off? I'll go down and o

l for me; she is com

er incredulous laugh. "I should not ha

hinks I'm right,"

ecil Bland; but some fear lest the answer should be in the affirmative held him back. When the carriage from th

e asked boldly. "It would ma

t understand these things; I

seen that new wing of yours since it was finished. Cottage, indeed! I call it quite a mansion!" with a glance a

habit, I expect; but it will do cap

ood-bye, then, till we meet later. Tel

dow. He opened his business ledgers, and congratulated himself on the fact of having a long, quiet afternoon of undisturbed work before him; but one more

e wanting an

atever, Mrs

Sally and the Bishop. I'd slip out quiet before the en

the commotion created by a Bishop and his lawn sle

nd there his mind lingered. She was beautiful-beautiful beyond compare; and to-day there had been an added grace of tenderness in her manner to Sally: a prote

o the fire, and where he would sit himself, so that he could watch the firelight playing on her face; and then-- He covered his

with all sorts and conditions of men and women, whose pulses had hitherto never quickened their beating at the touch of a wo

dreams: a gulf that could never be bridged over. In tastes and in circumstances they were separated far as the poles. His love was perfectly hopeless; and yet the notion of her marrying another, and removing he

d not meet her," said Paul, aloud. "I won't stay i

d bent upon his breast, his heart busied with his new discovery, and the thought how best to live it down. He was mingling with the crowd now, that had gathered round the church-gate waiting for the procession of clergy that was j

've come! I can't see anyt

ed over his friend Kitty, whose invalid carriag

ves, and the girls in their caps, like all the rest of the villag

, indoors; but oh! he's lovely when he's got his scarlet coat on. But daddy says I must not think about the

carried away by the thrill of the voices, steadied herself in Paul's

h the visi

ng eyes a

eat Church

he Church

ring of his voice. The "vision glorious" was his at that moment; fresh soldiers had just been sworn in to that great army, whose Captain was Christ,

ee him?" whispered Kitty, e

back into her carriage. But whilst Kitty ref

e slopes above it, dissolving into fine thick rain as the afternoon darkened into night. And still Paul lingered about his business at the farm, until he felt assured that all danger of comin

carelessness, as he let himself into he cottage and s

ternoon. Since when, by the way, have you done her the honour to call her by her Christian n

h rain and covered with mud, and, confronted thus suddenly with the girl

But I saw you drive by me n

spending the day at Fairfield. I told Dixon not to come back for me as I would walk home: a premature decision, for it has rained ever since

l them to send back the carriage

k you; I

lage fly

an its proper work to-day. It is probably

then; it will be quite d

host; you still think I was in that carriage. Sally," turning to the girl who had just re-entered the ro

ttle damper, I will come; it's

descending in a steady down pour, the wind came sighing up the valley, and the river swept on its way, lapping against t

both. You are not often dull. You are always

gets much higher, there will be a flood, and no more Rudham! And pe

hy this fit of the blues? You are going to be ill, I ex

solating myself from my fellows? Then I felt as if I could defy that isolation. To-day I have been conscious of it; Robinson Crusoe on his desert

mplain of a solitude which

I blame

u have

ays be having to take care that I don't hurt her feelings. The slipp

n't agree with you; but my faith, such as it is, is no

he dark would May hav

was the ghost I saw this afternoon; it would have been a short

cried May. "What should kill our f

eld; so ru

eard her breath coming unevenly. When she

endship in daring to tell me wh

ou. I suppose it slipped out bec

o marry Sir Cecil Bland," said May, coldly

muttered Paul, u

e you aga

e is perfectly hopeless, I can bear it if I may let you live in my heart a little while, as the one woman in all the world to m

arm; "I feel as if I had been so cruel, I would not rest

"But when I heard that some one el

old niche. Can't we

ed a littl

man can love? With you I shall only rank as one of the many mot

man-friend, to whom I could say anything that

nces can you think of m

odd, or call me heartless, but I have not yet met the man I wish to

wn and kissed it, and went home feeling that th