THE TRANSFIGURATION OF MISS PHILURA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7506, 13 September 1902, Page 2

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF MISS PHILURA.

(By FLORENCE M. KINGSLEY.) cbUpter L Miss Philura Rice tied her faded bonnet Wrings under her faded chin with hands tha* trfipbUd a Uttsle : then .shejfianed forward and gazed anxiously at tbe reflection which confronted Ker. * A somewhat pinched and *%rtfnl face it was, with large, lightlashed blue eyes -arched <Jver with a me-p pretence -at eyehrtf«s6. Mote than once in £er tirentles Mi^PhSura had ventured to eke out "this scanty provision of nature with h modicum of bufca&d in_tch stealthily applied in the privacy of her virgin chamber, feut the tirentJes; with the attendant flreanui and follies, were definitely past; jjust ibw long past 09 one knew exactly— Miss Philura never infCrto'ed the curious on )fchi« point. Aa Sot the inspffcienfc ey_brotvs, they wymbollsed, as it were ? ' a "meagre and reBtri^ed life, vagary .'gwcfeoqwledged as the __^ensatioh of an obscurely hostile but _on*lsteht Proy^jlfehcei a Providence far koto awful -and e^ted— :aa well as hosfeley to inteiwt itself benignantly in so small land neutral a pj^so^ality as stared ba£k at tier Jrom the la^r^ dim mirror of Cousin Mqria Vmi Hfiwefs thitd-story back >edVoojn, Not that *lH?s Philura. ever admitIted imehi thbu^ghts to the select, tcirole pf her conscious reflections; more" •yews jago th*U she cared' to count she hadi "grappled with, her disConteht, had thtusfc it Tesojutely out of sight, iand on the top of it Ehe' hid planted a big stone marked ißesignation. Nevertheless, at times the stone ieaved and trembled ominously. - At fpqnd of a brisk tap at her chamber the lady turned with a guilty start to Ifin^ ihe fpasn-coloured, impertinent face of the French maid obtruding itself into the v - " Zee madame waits,!' announced this in* Ijflmdual, aad .with a ooldly comprehensive »eye «wept the small figure from head to V Ybb, yea, my dear, I am quite Teady— l jfcti» coming at ouw T feltered iMiss Phjjiira, With a propitiatory smile, and more than <ev«r painfully Mfajm that the skirt of her i>est black gown was irremediably short imd scant, that her waist was too flat, her chovldera too sloping, her complexion Yaged* her forehead wrinkled, and her bontiet unbecoming. Aa she stepped uncertainly down the (Baxkr njUKOW et»irw_y she rebuked herself Tsevendy for these vain and worldly thoughts. "To be a churchr member, in and regular standing, and a useful tnevfber of society," she assured herself ttrwuously, "shpuldbe and is sufficient for Tan minutes later, iMiss Philura, looking and more insignificant than usual, wa* touted in the carriage opposite Mrs J. Mortimer Van (Deiußr, » large, heavily tbmcisttted lady <^ aiajestic deportment, "ttaying. diligent heed to the words of wisfiotn fell from lips of her hostess fend Ipnwroman. • , " During yonr short stay in Boston," thai lady wm'- remariting.impreßSivdy, "you Srffli of cowee, with U> avail ywirself of Sbvoaa _ae__» of culture and advancement so ftadly Ifufjpwg in your own environment. &Mm, my dear Philura., is pre-eminently the - jcx* ol progressive -thought. We can have ■Mt bsst, I iear, but a faint conception of |bhe degree to which mankind will be able Mn the yeart of the coming century to wake off the gross and material limitations yattse." ■ • <- - . . \ Mrs Van Deuser paused to settle her tables preliminary te< recognising* with an 'expansive smile an acquaintance who flash--ed by them in 4 victoria ; after which she 4Rdjusted the diamonds in her large, pink «ars, and proceeded with unctuous tran-■q-aiUity, "On this occasion, my dejr thilura, yon will have the pleasure of listening to an address by Mrs B. Isabelle one of our most advanced thinkers "along this line. You will, ,Jl trust, be able :Ho derive from her words aliment which Will influence the entire trend of your individual experience." "Where — in what place will the lady Vfrpeak— _ mean, will it lie in the church?" 1 Matured Miss Philura in a depressed) whis|per. She sighed apprehensively as sSh& glanced down at the tips of her shabby; ijgtore*. 1 . "^Phie lecture will take place in the draw-* \ng-room of the Woman's Ontological Olub,"Responded Mrs Van, Deuser, adding withj Jtuustere sweetness' of tone : " The Cki'b deals Exclusively with those conceptions or principles which ii» at the base of all pbenioknem) indboding being, reality, substance, time, apace, motion, change, identity, difference and cause— in a word, my dear Philura/ with ultimate metaphysical philpsophy." A majestks and inolusiv« sweep; bf a perfeotly gloved hand) suggested inIfinity and rednced Miss PhdJura into shrinking silence. When Mrs B. Isabelle Smart began to she became almost directly aware of _■ smaSl, wistful face, with faded blue eyes - land m iflnabby, unbecoming bonnet, which, , teurr^unded as it was on all sides by tossing _>lnmee, rich velvets atnd sp-rM-Ug genia, "with their accompiaaiim'ents of full-fleshed,, to_tiiiian countenances, took to itself a look) bf positive distinction. •Mxs\Smart's theme,, as aanoonoed by the president of the Onfeoiogical Olub, traA -Trought, Forces and the Infinite, a somewhat fwnridable-sound-Ing subject, bnt ome whdeh the pale, slight, "pWnJy-dreased but singularly bright-eyed) **dy, pot forward as the speaker of the aft ]^etooa_| showed no hesitancy in attacking. Before three minutes had passed, Miss [Philura Rioe bad forgotten that suoh things hs ; shabby gloves, ill-Atting gowns, unbecoming bonnets end superfluous birthdays >*isted. In ten minutes moro she w«bs j leaning forward in breathless attention, the faded eyes aglow, the unbecoming bonnet {pushed back from a face more wistful tibanj lever, but flushed with a joyful excitement., ' "This unseen Good hems us about on) fevery side," the speaker was saying, with { m potnprehensive sweep of her capable-look- j Ing hands. "It presses upon us, mora fimctiaes, mote inexhaustible, more : free* than the air that we breathe ! Out of itt tevery needy every wantj every yearning ofl ' femmanity can be, must be, supplied. To: . ta>u, wiho have hitherto led starved lives, wjngering, longinjg for. the good things Whioh yoa believe a distant and indifferent Bod has denied you— to you I declare thaU • _n this encircling, ever^eeent, invisible, ttxhaustless Beneficence is already provided 4h lavish abundance of everything which you tea© possibly want or think I Nay, desire Jtsejf is but God— Goodr-Love knocking* at Mia door of your consciousness. It is im;"possible for you to desire anything that is toot already your own ! It only remains ibt pom to bring the invisible into visibility i*-to take of the everlasting substance what frau will! " Apd how must you do this? Ask, andi jbelleve that you havel You have asked fcnany thnes, perhaps, and you have failed to receive. Why? " You have failed to JieOeve. Ask, then, for what you will! ULslq, and at once return thanks for wmiat yen have asked! in the asking and be-* {taring is the thing itself made manifest., .{Declare that it is yours! Expect it! BeHers itt Hold to it without waivermg — no taatter hew empty your hands may scent ! {t is yours, and God's infinite creation ehal_ lapse ipto nothingness ; His^stars shall fall from high Heaven like withered leaves gooner -Attn you shall fail to obtain all that) ty-ott have asked 1" When, at the close of the lecture, Mrs 18. Isab&&e Smart became the centre of at ' folate yet insisteskt crush of satins, velvets tad permeated by an aroma of violets and a gentle hum of delicate flatftery, she was aware of a timid hand) upon fear arm, and turned' to look into the small, -Sjger face under the unfashionable bonIfcet. yr i* you— you meant religibus gifts, did you

not?" faltered the faiit, discouraged voice ; *"faith, hope and — and — tho— the being resigned to. God's *vtaU^ and — and endeavouring' to "bear We cross with patience." " I meant feveryth^ig that you want," answered '-'tfee'w bright-eyed one with deliberate emphasis, the bright eyes softening as they took in more-com-pletely the pinched outlines and- the eager child's 'signing jfy-om out the worn and faded, woman's face. * : *' Bufc-Mwit there is so much ! I — l never had anything I really -wanted^^thingS^yOU; kn*W, that' one could hardly, mention in one's prayers." .. . "Have them now. Have them all. God is ___""' Afl is God. You are Ood's. God is yours!" Then the billowing surge® of -silk and vel- . vet swept the sana4l« inmiiring face into the background -<viii the accustomed ease and relentlessness of billowing surges. Having partaken- copiously of certain ! "material beliefs', "consisting of salads and! sandwiches, aoconipkhiedi by "divers cups of [ . strong coffee, Mrs JT. "Mortimer Van Deuser had become pleasaintry flushed and expansive. . "A inost Junique, comprehensive and uplifii'ng'^ vre'^ oi'iot^ EpiriWal environ- . ment," she remaned" to' MSss philura when ] the two ladies ic^nd^ themselves on their hoiftewaid wayt - Bfer'hefefe' Society srilile stilll lingered^blandly ■jibp'ut t*ie '-fchl'Ves and creases of bet *t^idj higfrcoloflted^ tis&ge ; j the 1 dyihg Tioteis "on; het mtwsive satito bosom gave 'forth their sweetest 1 parting breath.' ' . ■-'*.>;:?•.■• --i The littite lady on - the. front seat bf the I carriage -sat very erect'; red spots glbwed ; upon her faded «heeks.r "I think,M she j said tremulously, "that it .*was jußt won- 1 derfull I— l am so very, hap pyytb. \iaxe heard it.> Thank you a thousand times, i dear Cousin Maria, for taJcmg ; me." <; _: , .. Mrs Van Deuser raised her gold-rimmed, glasses japA settled them under hpr arching j brows, while the society smile ; laded ; quite \ away. "Of .course,*' she said colony, ','bn.o .j should! make due and proper allowance for facts^as they exist. And also— -er—Consider »abbve all what interpretation;; is best suited to one's individual station in life. I^tlv my dear Philur A, adapts itself freely to the lieeds of the poor, ani the l^wly well as to the. detna-ndß of "those upojn whom devolve the higher responsibilities <j t wealth. and , position ; our dear Miaster. Himself V spoke of the poor as always with us, you will,; rejfieriiher. r A lowly but p.ious life, passetTitt n-hibie ; recogmtipn, of God's chasteiiuig providence, is' doubtless good aid proper for many tvorthy pe'Tsohs." ,i Miss Philura's blue eyes.fl^h^d:reb>lliotisly for pethajis the !*^t fc ttme in uhcouni-' e<3f yefis. " Shel'miide 'no' §ifower.y As ipic' theloiig kM. presumably ihstructi^e homily on the duties and prerogatives,, 6f th 6 .lowly, lasting quite'up to the mbin^t wheh , the cafiaiie fetojppei before tfc[e ! 'ot^Strs; ViS D^fer's tresideince, it fell' upon eats-| whiph hkrd not.. Indeed, her .ftext r|-j mirk wksVso Entirely ji-riiWaiifc thkp t h|r, au^st ' stared ih amazenaeiitV '"^osb, gbing to pi^chais© sfoffie, — some necessaries to j morro#, ; Cousin Maria; I should like Fifihe to go .with me,, » Miss PlMlurft acknoWlljjfeed t^hß^lf^ with a truthfulhcSs which she felt to oeMmost brazen, that her Uppermost yearnings w^ of. a wholly, m*undane character. | $ur?ng a _»usy and joyous evening, she j endeavourejl to ,, formicate those thronging desires ; .by bedtime she had even ventured ! — with the fiid of a stubbed lead pencilto indite Hhp,^oss imm^diite ajnd argpjit of those wants as tliey l^nbcked at the door v of her conscience. The list, hiddeni guiltily away in ti,e depths of* her shabby purse, read something as follows:-— . _, "I wish to be beautiful and; admired. I want two new dresses, a hat .with, plumes, and a silk petticoat that rustles. I want some neAV kid gloves and a feather boa (a ! long one made of ostrich feathers. I wish — ' ' The small blunt pencil had been lifted in the air for the space of three minutes before it again descended } then, with cheeks that burned, Miss Philura had written the fatefql worids: V "I wish to have alovef and to. be married-." *'. There, X have done it I" she saidv to ,her<self> her little fingers trembling with agitation. " He, must < already exist 'in- the encircling Grood. He is mine. lam engaged to be married afc this very moment !" To Jay .this singular memorandum before: her Maker appeared to Miss Philur&little; short of sacrilbgious,? tout the thought of the mysterious .Abundance of whichthe seeress ,had spoken, urging itself, as it were, \ upon, her acceptance,^ encouraged her. She rose from her evening Diismis with a glowing fece.' H I have asked," she said aloud, "and I believe 1 shall-ihave;." xr ■.;. ! Madefiioiselle Fifini pasted a very enjoy- ■< able morning with Miss Philura. To choose, to purchase, and above alLto trans-^i form the ugly into the beautiful filled the Frenchwoman's breast with enthusiasm.Her glance, as it rested upon ber companion's face and figure, wjaa no longer coldly critical, but cordially appreciative. "Ze madame," she declared, showing her white, teeth in. a pleasant smile, " hais very many advantage. Voila, ze hair— e'est admirable, as, atty one may perceive! Pardon, while' for-one little^minute I. arrange r Ah -imdh^Leu! Regard ze difference!" „;■■ The two Were at this moment in a cets: tain millinery shop conducted by a discreet and agreeable compatriot of Fifine'-. This individual -*b\v produced a 'modest hat of black, garnished with plumes, which, set lightly oh the loosened baiHs of 'goldehbro#_. hair, completed the effect* " delibi^use^ ment!" declared the Frenchwomen in cbewis. With a beating heJirt Mlbs Philura stared iritb the mirror at her changed reflection; "It is quite-^-quite true !" shte Sfcfid ialoud. "It is all true." : B^fine afed the milii_er exchanged de^lighted shrugs aiid grini-ces. In ttuth, the small, erect figure, in its perfectly fitting gbvrh, bot- *o riseihblaiice W the pladhv elderly Miss Philuta of yesterday. As for the^ace Beneath the hoddifeg-pldhles it tt^as' actnally radiaiit— transfigured—^ith joy and bop'e. '■'■ ■ y. Mrs J. Mortimer Vkn Deuser regarded the 'apparition which greeted, her it luncheon with open disapprdval. This new Miss PhiiCtai with the prettily flushed cKeete, the bright "eyes, the fluff of Waving hair, and — yes, actually a knot of fragrant violets at her breast, Kftd gtfeh her iflh unpleasant shock ok surprise .XI m. sflreX hope you can afford*; aill thil," «cas: her comment, with a deliberate adjustment of eyebrows and glasses calculated to add mordant point and emphasis <to her words. . s "Ah, yes," replied.. J^iss.f Philu^. tranqnilly, but .with heightened colour : ''I can afford whatever X.,li^, now." Mts. Van Denser stared hard at" her gUest. She found, herself actually, hesitating before Philura .Ripe. £hen she 'drew her massive figure to its full height, and again bent the compelling light of her gold-rimmed glasses lull upon the small person of her kinswoman. "WhaW-er— l do not understand," she began Xamely. "Where did you obtain the money for ail this?" Miss 'Philura raised her eyebrows . ever 60 little — somehow they seemed- to suit- tbe cigar blue eyes, admirably to-day. . moneyj"' she repeated in a tone of surprise. "Why, out of the bank, of course.". s tTpon the. fact that she had drawn out and expended in a single morning nearly the whole of the modest sum commonly made to Supply her meagre living for six months, Miss Philura bestowed but a single thought. "In the all-encircling Good," she said to herself serenely, " there is plenty of moriey for me; why, then, should 1 not spend thijr!"

CHAPTER H. The village of Innisfield was treated to a singular surprise on the Sunday morning following, when Miss Philura Rice, newly returned from her annual visit to Boston, walked down the aisle to her accustomed place is the singers' seat. Whispered comment and surmise flew from pew to pew, sandwiched irreverently between hymn, prayer and sermon- Indeed, the lastmentione'd portion "of the service, being of unusual length, and dullness, was utilised by ihe female members of the congregation in making a minute inventory of the ainaz-

ing changes which had taken place .in the familiar figure of their townswoman. " Philura's had money left her, I shouldn't "Her. cousin Van Deuser's been fixih' her up;" "She's a-goin' to be married!" were some of the opinions, wholly at variance with the text of the discourse, which found their : way from mouth to mouth. Miss Electa Pratt attached herself with decision to her friend, Miss Rice, directly the service was at an end. "I'm- just dying to hear all about itl" /she exclaimed* with a fond pressure of , the arm linked within her own — this after the tvw ladies had extricated,, themselves from the circle of j curious and critical faces at the church door. - Miss 'PhilurJii surveyed the speaker* with ! umiditotive eyes ; it seemed to her that Miss Pratt Hvas' curiously Mterfc'd since x she had ] stein "'her last. --•---. ■ i "VHave you had a, fbrt-he left you?" went on hfer inquisitor, hlni^ini enviously at the ndddjhg plume? .: whioh shaded Miss IPhilura's Blue eyes. Vrt Everyb :dy says you have, and that you are going to get married i soon. , I'm sure you'll tell me everything!" Miss Philur* hestated ior a .moment, "I. havflji't esa^tly ; ; had -money left me" she began. Then =, her eyes -.hoghjiened.. ,• "K. have all that I, need," she said, .and straightened her Email figure . confidently. '"And ere -you g6in^.to-get married, dear?' '-'"■■ '* " ■■■■■ '" Yes," said Miss" Philura distinctly. •.-•.•'■ "WeU, I never— Philura. Rice!'' Msdmost sciffeiohed lifer ~ coihpwaibn. - - "Do tell m<? when, and whois ..s?",. .. v ' .-...*. "' '" I cannot %tiy^ti^tfiat— nbw," said Miss Philur^' "simply. , " -He is in— — '•'.' She was 41^ut r toVadd, "tKe ehcjrclin£ Good,"; but' she reflected that iifiss Prait might fail tr-: comprehend her. "X ihtroduce you t'o-him-^ater," sne concluded, with dignitj:. . To follow ' the. fortunes oif Miss Philuta during the ensuing weeks were. a pleasant: though/' monotonous ti^k: the ■ encircling G^dd- 'proved itself wholly adequate to the demands made upon it. Though there was tittle money in the worn- purse * there .were Numerous and pressing ihviiM.ibns to tea, id dinner; and to spend- the day, from hosts bf ftifeftds who had: Suddenly; become. Varm, affectionate, and cordially appreciative : ahBV not even the -new Methodist minister's wife could boast of ,such numerous donations, in the shape of new-laid 4gij#»- frosted cakes, delicate • biscuit, toothsome crtellers and ' Choice fruits aS found thfeir way to IMiss Philura's door. "•" i The recipient Of these manifold: favours ilvalked, fes it W&rey upon- air. ** For Unto everyone that hath shall be given," she read in t^eprffhcy of her own. shabby little parloUfrj* " Itttid hfe shall have abundance." ; v ' Everything that I 'want is mine!" cried the" little My, tede^lhg the pages Of Holy Writ with happy tears. The thought of the lover and husband *who, it is truev yet lingered in the invisible, brought a becom*"- " in|*' blush to her cheek*. ■'■ " T shall seO' him |<K>n," sho rfeflfcct6d tkhQuiUy. "He is | inihe — mine!" '! At that very moment Miss Elect*. Pratt j was- seated in the a^e-inspifihgi reception iaHSx Of 3MB* ■J. 'Jtortimer Van Itetfsefs randehc'e in Beacon Street. The two- ladies wefce eUgajg-d in earnest conversation. :-" What you tell me with regard. to Phiinr_ fills me with surprise md "aUdtii," Mrs Van, Dftiiser Was remarking with something more than heir fecctfstotaed majesty of tone* ftnd miWi. "PhUUr_ BiCfe certainly did notbecome engaged to be married during her i stay in Boston. NeStftfer has she been the recipient of funds from myself nor, to the I best of my knowledge, from any other member Of the ffcmily. Personally, I haJre; always been averse to the encouragement of" fcxtiavagahci* and vanity in those destined 1 by a wise Providence to pass their lives in a" humble station. I fear exceedingly that J?hilura"s visits to Boston have failed to benefit her as I wished and intended." "But She sfiiid that Bhe had money, and; that she was going to get married," per-' fcisted Miss Pratt. " You don't suppose — " lowering he^ strident tohfcs to a whisper— "that tiie poor thing is going* craay?" Mrs Van iDeU&r had concentrated her intellectual and penetrating orbs upon a certain triangular knob 'that garnished the handle of her visitor's unmbrella: she Vouchsafed ntf reply; When she did speak, after the lapse of some moments, it was to dismiss that worthy person with a prac. ticed ease and adroitness which permitted of nothing further, either in the way of information or conjecture. ; ' "PMlura fc^ftSr all, a 'diitftnt relative of my own," soliloquised Mrs Van Dfeuiser, "and as such is entitled to consideration." -Her jubs^eht'eogiUfetos "prefeeiitiy todk fehape to thSalaselVes tod became a letter,, despatched in the eVening mail andl bearing HhA addifess oi the' Rev Site- Pettibone, Jiiindsfteld.-i '" h Mrs ''Ysai £>euifer recalled in this ; i^iisi-ve Mi_s ' PMiura's ;*' unfortunate Visit" "to the Onfoloijical Olub, and the patent ihdiCtoWs of its equally uhfortupate. consequence^. "I should be inclined to t*ke ; mylllf Jtererely to task in the matter," wrote the excellent and conscientious lady, "if I hid not improved the opportunity to at lefogthi in the hearing of my. laisguided. relative, the. nature andl • sdc^pe '^trblliriig pWvidence, as : displayisd ; in VJEKs dea'liiigs with the h^rabler cftsßfe_ 'of ib'ciety. 7 Ais'aia -Joderfehepherd of the lowly flfccfc to which MissRice belongs, my dp&r Mr Pebtiboine, I lay ! hi» TspiriW^-s^e, hfe beg that ybii Vili' it. iwice . endeavWik' to s^t right" her eifcofifcfttis Wtttob of the overruling . guidMice^ of the guprejne Being. I ehail my^f fetattJ&Je for PhMnra' before the ". ThTone.of Grace." '*'","".. VHe I&f $tfa_ Pettibone ):&& this remaarkable ooinmunication with interest; in- , deed, after returning it tO^ its 'envelope andi bestowing i_ iir his most inaccessible coat - pookeb, the of th 6 foMy flock "of Innisfield gave himself the task oi •■ reraiTecting -apd r«peiusing_ the succinct yet"'wei^y"'iiro^'of\'Mjra Tun Deuser. If the RftV Sa^' liM Been^^ttessed with a > wife, to whose jwmbler, wits ?ie might have submitted the case, it is. probaUe that he would not. have sat. |or co long a time mi his great chair hpobdin^ overlie contents of ttie violet-tanted enveiope from Boston. But ujofortuinejfely ac good minister haid been forced^ to lay his helpmate beneath the rough sods of the village "churchyard 1 some three years previously. '" Since thds , sad event, it is scarcely aeoessaiy to statCj he had found it essfcmtial to his state of mind to employ great discretioni,ini his dealing? with the female meitnhers of _4_ flock. Hd viewed the matter .ih hand with. vague misgivihgk . Strangely enough, he had, niojj. Eeird of Miss PMiira's good fprtune^ ond\ to his masculine and impartial vision there had appeared no especial change in the asS p'ecb anSi conduct of the Jitifle woman, i "^Let Me'th-ok,'' he pm§e4 passing has j whfte hji»d i^arough the thick dark laoks v • ju^fc touphed . .with grey, which shaded his perplexed f orehead. • He. was a personaibla man, was the. Rev Silas Pettibone. "Let me think. iMiss Philur* has been very \ regular in her attendance at church and! prayeriiheetihg of late. No, I have obi served nothing wirong I^. But I oan- | not, approve of these-—ahj— clubs." Ha again cast his eye upon, the- letter. " On- . ; tology, now, is certainly not a fit subject I for "the consideration of the female mind." | Having delivered himself of this sapient ' opinion, the reverend gentleman madd : ready for .a round of parochial visits. Fore-most-on his list appeared the name of Missi ' Philura Rice. As he stood upon, the modest doorstep, shaded on either side by fragrant lila«. plumes, he resolved to be par-: ticulaxly brief, though impressive, in hda pastoral ministrations. If this especial! j member of his flock had -wandered from tbe straight and narrow way into forbidden j bypaths, it was his manifest duty to restore ; her in the spirit of meekness ; but he wouldl | waste no unnecessary time or words in the : process. The sunshine, pleasantly interrupted by snowy muslin curtains, streamed in through! . the open windows of Miss Philura's modesb parlour, kindling into scarlet flame the blos- : tsoms Of a tj*trifty geranium whioh! stood *■ upon the sill, and flickered gently on the ,

brown head of the little mistress of the house, seated with her sewing in a favour-i ite rocking-chair. Miss Phrilura wads unaffectedly glad to see her pastor. She told him at once that last Sunday's sermon was inspiring ; that she felt sure that after hearing it tlie unconverted could M-jxjly fail to be convinced of the error of thai? ways. v The Rev Silas Pettibone seated himself . opposite Miss PMlura and regarded" her attentively. The second-best new dress was -uutteßialfly b©6«w«tig • the blus eyes .under* the childish- .brows beamed upon-him.com dually. - "I.Jam.fleiased to learn^aJw-that you can approve ; of the disdoUMe^oX, gabbath mornings," he .began im somewhat laboured fashion. •**_ haVe h^vpcca^totpl • — tbat is-^-er, my atteiitioni hks l>eea of iate.to tsie fact that certain menAers of the chUrch have— well, to put'Jt brieflvi^ sofiie have fallen grievouMy away ffbni mci faath." Miss Philura's sympathy and concern! were at Once apparent, "I do hot see," die said snmply, " how one can faill awajl from the faith. .It is so beautiful' to be-I UotcJ;'" "' A^A ... '■ A. ;;.,;.' . ; „'■'■■" The $mall7 x up'tunied face shone -with\ so sweet and serene "a light that the underof the Ihhis'iield Hock leaned forward and fixed his earnest brbwh eyes on the clear blue eyes of the lady. In treatises relartifig to'the affections this stage of the proC'eeoingS is generally conceded to mark A crisis. It marked a crisis, ort this occasion • duriiig* that" 'momept' r vthp Xtev- Silas Pettibone forgot at <?noe '^fid for all tinie the violet-tihted e'ifvejiopfe in. V.hi^ coat-tail, pocket. It Was discovered six months' lat^r, andCftnkgned to oblivion by — but let Us not ■ ,r God is. so kind t so generous!" pursued Miss Philura, softly. "If -we once know Him as our Father we can, never again be Afraid , r or* Toneiy, op' pbory or lacking for inj gbc*d thhig, 6o^v is it possible to foil away? '" I'do not understand. Is it not because they do not know Him?" It is altogether litely' that the pastor of the Innisfield Presbyterian Church found conditions in the spiritual^ taste of .Miss Philura which necessitated earnest and prolonged aSmOidtiopi i a| aU events, the sun wus sinking ' behmd '"the western horizon iyhin the reverend gentleman slowly and thoughtfully made his way toward the par- ' sohage. Curiously eri6ugh t this highly re-, spectable domicile had taken oh during his Absence an aspect of gloom and lonemiess iinpieasantly apparent. " A scatle't- geranium in the window might* improve it," thought the v,?i^!ly r ,dis.sat^ed'pj;oprietor, (is he put 0^ hisVd'ressj^-^oTyjft.^ja ( thrust bis fkep : info $& hWest pAir of slipipers. j[Prei9en : te,4, by Hjsf - Electa Vpjnaitt, . ,". to my pastor with grateful iiffection A]' "I believe % failed to draw Iviisa Philura's attention, to thes obvious relation between faith • ahd , works," cogitated the Reverend, as he sat before his lonely hearth,; placidly .scorching, the^soles, of his -ney slipbers before tne qlieeri'ul tywe. '...""jt-w^l-j*a- ajjipgether advisable, I think, to setter, right on that point without delay. I will f^hy-just.lppk .in again for a moment tojnorfow alternoon." -■••• "trod's purposes will ripen fast,. Unfoldinjg every- hour. The hUd maS'hax*. * hittee. taste, , .; . , ; But sweet-will J^e the.f'fio^erj';'. „, ,V |aUg the dboSt of the Jkhisfield Pi*sbyterian ChurCh bne Stinda^ morning 1 -_ mohth later. And MSs Philura Rice^^is was aftetwaird Wmarked-r-Sang * the woi*ds "with ' fcuch enthusiasm! and earnestness That her high Soprano soared quite above all the other voices ih the choiri and this despite the fact that Miss Electa, Pratt wa^ putting forth lier nasal contralto with moire than wonted insistehice. ■ *•' ■• •; A *' v: " The last mentioned ladjr found the sermon —on the text, "Little children; love one another, for love is. of God*— sb. extremely convincing, and her own subsequent' spiritual state in such an agitated condition, that she took occasion to seek a. private converfeition with her pedstot in : his study on that same Sunday afternoon. " I don't know when I've been so wrought, up!" dfeckired Miss 1 Pratti with prelimi■nary display "Of- immaculate handkerchief.. "I cried- and cried after I" got hdmo from' church this moruibg. Ma she sea to me, sez she, 'What ails you, Lecty?' And I sez to iha, siz.l, 'Ma, it was that blessed sermoh. 1 don't know when I ever heard ahythiUg like iti That dear paitor of ours iS jusf* ripening for a better world!' " Miss Electa paused a moment to shed copious tears over this statement. . "It' does' seem to lie, dear Mr Pettibone," she resumed, with a tender glance and a comprehensive sniff, " that you ain't looking as Well as usual.* *• "I said So to. i*houra liice as Wfe was comings oUt of chufch, and t really hate to tell ' yCti ~hb\v she ; answered' me; .only. I feel as though it was niy duty. : ' Mi- Petuboiie is jperfjecUy Well!' she says, and tossfed thoise feathers of hers higher'n ever. ■ Philura's awful worldly^ Ido grieve to say — if not worse. I've been a-thinking for 6ome time that it was my Christian duty (however painful) to tell you what Mis' Van Deuser, of B6ston,' said about— — ". 1 The itfev Silas I?ettibone fiowned' with awful dignity. He/brought, down his closed fist upon his open Bible with forensic force and ..suddenness. " jMQss l%ilUra Rice," He s^i_ emph.atically, "is one of the most spix* itiiftl— -the' most lovely and consistentChristian characters it has ever been my privilege to .know. Her faith and unworldiiness axe absolutely beyond the comprehension of — of — many of the flock. I must further tell you that I hope to have the great happiness of leading Miss Bice to the,matrimonial altar in the near future." Miss Electa Pritt sank, ih her chair petrified With astonishment;- "Well; I niust say!" she gasped. " And *he was engaged to you all' this tinie, and I-never kfltew' it J" The B<ev Pettibone bent his eyes' 'coldly upon hi* agitated- paristtmeh-. "laih^at a loss to comprehehdVyour very strange coinv ment,- -Miss PrWt;"- he iskid ;- " the ; 'eUgage- J meiit has been of such very short duration that "1 cannot regard it as Suirprising that you _hduld hot have Kekrd it. It— ah— took place only yesterday." Miss Electa ' her shoulders with a jerk/. " Yesterda'yl' , she almost screamed. "Well! "1 can t^UVyou that Philura Bice told me that she was.gnr gaged to be maiTied more than three months ago!" -. ,'■ . <AA *' You ore certainly mistaken,.. Madam/ began the minister, .in a. Somewhat perturbed tone t .which did not escape the : notice of the now flushed and triumphant spinster. ,u More than three months ago!" she re* jjeated with inoisive emphasis. "Now, maybe you'll listen to me, while I tell you what I know about PhilUrai Rice !" But the lady had reckoned Without her host. The Rev Silas arose to his feet with decision. "I certainly will not listen to anything derogatory to Miss Rice t " he skid sternly. "She is. my promised wife, you will remember." With that the prudent 'minister beat a hasty retreat to en. trench himself without apology or dfelay in the inner fastnesses of the parsonage. Miss Electa rolled her greenish orbs about the chamber of learning with a thoughtful smile. "If Philura^ Rice abtfto crazy," she said , aloud j "and I guess she ain't fax from it. She's told a wicked lie I - In either oase> it's my Christianvduty to see this thing put a stop to!" That evening, after service, Miss Philura, her modest cheeks dyed with a painful blush, confessed to her promised hugfoand that she had, '/indeed, announced her intentions of matrimony somii three months previous. "I wanted somebody tcfr-to love me," she faltered; "somebody in particular, you know ; and— and I asked God to give me.— ai— a husband. After I had asked, of course, I believed that I had. He— he was already in the encircling Good, you know, or, l should not, have wanted him ! When Electa asked me point blank, what could I say without— without denying —God?" The brave voice faltered more than once during thi„ recital ; and finally broke down altogether when the Rev -Silas Pettibone, his brown eyes shining, exolaiuied in joyful, yet solemn tones, "And God sent me I" The Encircling Good was perfectly manifested at that mOifteht in the shape of the,

two strong arms. Miss Philura rested in them. and Was glad.