wavy masses; the clear skin, its fairness 
heightened by the effect of the mourning 
dress below. 
The girl who answered Guy’s ring showed 
him into the parlor, where Mr. and Mrs. Gib¬ 
son sat over their lunch. 
“ My dear Mr. Britton, we’re so glad to see 
you! Just to think,” with a reproachful 
smile, “ that j’ou havn’t been in before since 
we came down! Why, it wjis no more than 
yesterday thut I was telling Mr. Gibson that 
I didn’t believe there was a man living with 
more of a literary taste than Mr. Britton. 
It’s a lovely trait of character, indeed, I said. 
But then there’s a body’s health to be thought 
of, and the claims of society, you know, Mr. 
Britton.” 
Guy found it impossible to resist the press¬ 
ing invitation given him to lunch, and being 
seated, an unwilling victim, with plate and 
napkin on his knee, lie was treated to a run¬ 
ning fire of conversation. 
“ I heard some one sing very finely as I 
came in,” said Guy, bringing in his short, 
scntcuce by a dexterous flank movement. 
“ Yes,” answered Mrs. Gibson delightedly. 
“ That was Miss Deane, the new governess 
that I’ve got for the children, They do say 
that her voice is remarkable, and I’m glad 
to find you think so, Mr. Britton, so good a 
Judge as you are; as I tell Mr. Gibson, 
‘What a genteel tasto Mr, Britton has in 
everything!’ My children ali have a taste 
for music—you ought to have heard Profes¬ 
sor Grimlelwald compliment Janetta’s voice, 
Hr. Britton 1 And when I think how neces¬ 
sary it is that they should have the best of 
touchers that money oan procure, I do feel 
that it’s a real Providence to have found 
Miss Deane.” 
“ Who is she, Mm. Gibson ?” 
“ Oh, she brought the very best of refer¬ 
ences, Mr. Britton. I make It a point never 
to take any one into my service emphati¬ 
cally—“ that don’t bring the very best of 
references. She came to me from the Hart- 
steins,—you know the ilartsteins, Mr. Brit¬ 
ton—a minister her father was; shes an 
orphan. Her own fault is, that she’s in¬ 
clined to be a little above her business; but 
I shan’t he troubled with that. As 1 tell 
Mr. Gibson, when I hire unybodj' and pay 
them with my money, I just give them to 
understand that they and their time belong 
to me.” 
There was a hardness underlying the smile 
ou Mrs. Gibson’s florid face as she spoke, 
that made Guy shudder at its possible con¬ 
nection with the delicate, refined face at the. 
window. 
“Just walk into the music room, Mr. 
Britton; I would admire to have you hear 
her.” 
“ I hope I shall not intrude upon Miss 
Deane V” auswered Guy, rising with hesita¬ 
tion. 
“ Intrude ?” Mrs. Gibson raised her eye¬ 
brows in surprise. “ Of course she will be 
pleased to do whatever I wish.” 
Laura Deane stood at the piano patiently 
following the slow movements of little Flora 
Gibson's weary fingers over the keys. 
“ Miss Deane,” said Mrs. Gibson, imperi¬ 
ously, and without deigning any other intro¬ 
duction, “ I want you to play and sing one 
of your very best pieces for my friend, Mr. 
Britton.” 
Miss Deane’s cheek flushed faintly as she 
returned Guy’s bow, and sat down at the in¬ 
strument, She struck a few chorda and sang 
“ The Captive Knight.” At first, like Ten¬ 
nyson’s Leila, she “ struck such warbling 
fury through the words,” that. Guy saw the 
gleam of spear and banner, heard the peal 
of the trumpet and the rush and clamor of 
the host; then came the wild, impassioned 
longing of the captive, and at last the wall 
of despair over his dead hope of liberty. 
Guy had never before been more profound¬ 
ly stirred. The girl sang her very soul into 
her words. Such expression could not he 
mere art, he thought—it must bo an out¬ 
growth of her own experience. 
“ You have given me a wonderful pleasure. 
Miss Deane,” he said, in a low tone, as she 
finished; and Mrs. Gibson, in full voluble 
discourse, led the way from the room. 
Sitting alone that evening in his pleasant 
library, Guy was conscious of a vague sense 
of loneliness quite at variance with the soil 
light and warm coloring of the room. Miss 
Deane's face seemed to mingle itself undefina- 
bly with his unrest; and the words and 
melody he had heard sang themselves over 
and over in his memory. lie rose and went 
out of doors, and looking over the hedge, 
saw her slender figure pacing slowly to and 
fro in the moonlight. She moved wearily, 
lie fancied, and he thrilled with a longing to 
speak to her and comfort her. Some great 
sorrow had set its seal upon her face, lie 
thought. Had not Mrs. Gibson called her 
an orphan ? What a sad fate, to be thrust, 
homeless, into the world—a nature so fine as 
hers to be subjected to the coarseness and 
caprice of an employer like Sirs. Gibson! 
The very idea was revolting. Then there 
floated in a vision of a face like hers, oppo¬ 
site him at solitary meals, or beside his study 
fire in the long winter evenings—a face from j 
which all traces of sadness should be gone, 
and in their place the brightness of new 
hopes and trusting love. But while he 
dreamed, an unconscious smile softening his 
features, the figure disappeared in the shadow 
of the tall mansion; and the voice of his 
housekeeper at his elbow broke the un¬ 
wonted spell. 
The next day he saw Miss Deane walking 
in the garden with the young Gibsons. He 
hoped she might come near enough for him 
to speak to her; but she did not seem to see 
him, busy with his pruning scissors at the 
hedge. He could only look on from a dis¬ 
tance, noting her graceful, quiet mien, and 
her gentle patience with the wayward chil¬ 
dren. Yet lie found that as time passed, 
even such transient glimpses had wonderful 
power to brighten his days. Occasionally 
there was a bow of recognition, a word or 
two of courteous commonplace — once a 
longer conversation, which charmed Guy 
by a revelation of a miml richly stored—no 
more than that, until one evening, Btrolling 
down by the water’s edge, he suddenly came 
upon Miss Deane, silting with her port-folio 
on her lap, making a little sketch of the river 
and the opposite hank. 
“ Pray don’t rise, Miss Deane. You sketch, 
I see.” 
“Only a little. I am quite untaught.” 
She held out the unfinished penciling as she 
spoke. Guy looked at it in the light. “ You 
have a native aptitude in that direction, 
then,” he said; “ but if you will permit ine 
a suggestion, I think 1 can show you a better 
position than this. Here, that group of 
trees hides from you one of the very finest 
points of the landscape; but just inside my 
gate is a rustic scat, from which the whole 
view opens up most charmingly. Will you 
come. ? ” 
Miss Deane accepted the invitation with 
unaffected pleasure, but scarcely was her 
paper adjusted aguin, under Guy’s superin¬ 
tendence, before Mrs. Gibson appeared on 
the river path in front of them. Guy saw 
the look of surprised displeasure darken 
over the lady’s face, and walked quickly to 
the gate, hoping io avert the rising storm. 
“ Walk in, Mm. Gibson,” he said, with his 
most winning smile, “ you have not seen the 
view which 1 have Just opened through 
these pines. I have Just persuaded Miss 
Deane to bring in her paper and pencil and 
make a sketch.” 
“ Thank you, Mr. Britton, I haven’t time 
just now.” She looked at her watch, shut¬ 
ting the case with a spiteful snap. “ Miss 
Deane, do you know that it is very near 
school time ? ” 
“1 will go in directly,” was the quiet 
answer. “ I must have mistaken the hour.” 
As the two w T alkcd away together, Mrs. 
Gibson said, in a tone which, though not in¬ 
tended for his cars, Guy could not avoid 
overhearing, 
“ Miss Deane, 1 never was more astonished 
in my life 1 Such boldness in my employ ! 
Going alone into a gentleman’s grounds like 
that! Making a sketch, indeed I ” 
The reply was inaudible. Guy flushed to 
his very finger tips with anger, but reflect¬ 
ing that Miss Deane’s mortification would 
doubtless be increased by her knowledge 
that he had heard the cruel words, he pressed 
back the indignant sentences that rose to his 
lips. 
From this moment his resolution was 
taken. 
“ She shall not long be subjected to that 
woman’s petty tyranny—not if I can win 
her for myself,” he said, closing his lips 
lightly as he walked up the garden path. 
Early on the following day he saw the 
Gibsons drive away with a party of guests, 
followed by a light wagon packed with all 
the equipments of a rustic picnic. Miss 
Deane was not of the number; indeed, lie 
hiul noticed that she very rarely shared any 
of their frequent pleasure excursions. 
“ She is alone; I will speak to her this 
very day,” he thought. 
As lie passed up the avenue that afternoon 
lie started to hear her voice again as on the 
first day when lie had met her. He stood 
still a moment and the words came floating 
to his ear on the wings of a melody sadder 
than anything he had ever heard: 
“ Late, lata, so lute ! and dark the night and chill. 
Late, late, 60 lute I but wo can enter still I 
Too late I too late! ye cannot enter now I” 
Following with his eyes the direction of 
the sound, he saw her sitting on the grass, 
half hidden by a trellis which supported a 
clambering vine. The last note died away 
in a tremulous sob, and burying her face in 
her hands, she burst into a spasm of weeping. 
Guy stood irresolute, fearing to startle her 
by his sudden approach, but as a dry twig 
broke beneath his foot, she turned quickly 
and recognized him. She rose hastily, dash¬ 
ing away her tears, and 'her face glowing 
with painful embarrassment. Guy was at 
her side in an instant. 
“ I beg ten thousand pardons,” he said, 
hurriedly; “ indeed I did not mean to come 
upon you so suddenly.” 
“ The family are absent for the day, Mr. 
Britton.” 
“I know it—I don’t wish to see them. 
Miss Deane, they arc miserably unkind to 
you here,” said Guy, impulsively. 
“ No, no, it is not that; they do not mean 
it,” she answered, striving to retain her com¬ 
posure, “ it is because I am so utterly alone 
—alone! Believe me, I am not often so 
weak as this.” 
“ Oh, Miss Deane, if you would only take 
a place in my heart and home! Tell me 
that you will give me the right to guard and 
comfort you. Be my wife.” 
Her face Hi up for a brief moment with 
strange radiance, then the light passed and 
left her calm and pale. 
“ Mr. Britton,” she said, “ I need not tell 
you how totally unprepared I am for this. 
You do me a great honor, I thank you, but 
this cannot be. You are not the man to he 
content in a marriage that had its origin in 
a mere sympathy, however noble; and for¬ 
give me that I say it, lonely and poor as I 
am, I should want more than that in my 
husband.” 
Guy would have interrupted her with pas¬ 
sionate protestations, but she silenced him 
with quiet firmness. 
“ I am almost a stranger to you," were her 
parting words; “some time you will thank 
me for what may now seem like rank ingrat¬ 
itude.” She held out her hand with a sor¬ 
rowful smile. Guy pressed it to his lips. 
‘‘Miss Deane,” hu said, “I don’t Avon tier 
that my wretched abruptness lias ruined my 
cause. Forgive it—and me. I am going 
away to-morrow, on urgent business. I shall 
be at home in a fortnight ; then 1 shall ask 
you to answer me again.” 
The end of the fortnight brought Guy 
Britton back; but Laura Deane had been gone 
a week. 
“ I don’t know where she Avent,” said Mrs. 
Gibson, Avith something like a sneer, in an* 
SAver to his anxious inquiry. “ I did not 
trouble myself to ask, and no references did 
she get from me, cither! the ungrateful piece! 
Wasn’t her quarter finished, did you say? 
What if it was ? She knew I depended upon 
her. After all my kindness, too! It’s al¬ 
ways the Avay Avith such people, as 1 toll Mr. 
Gibson.” 
One Sabbath evening, tAVo years later, 
Guy Britton walked up the aisle of a fash¬ 
ionable city church, and taking the seat 
which the usher gave him, leaned back 
against the cushion with half-closed eyes, 
listening to the soft, sweet prelude of the 
organist. Suddenly a single voice rose up 
strong and clear, ner voice! it must be 
lid's! 1 he wide world could not hold such 
another! Still soared the strain above the 
fretted arches and the vaulted roof, aspiring, 
adoring—like the lark alone with the morn¬ 
ing, or the eagle bathing his fearless head in 
the very sunlight of heaven. 
Laura Deane, coming down the stairway of 
the orchestra, at the close of service, saw 
Guy Britton standing at its foot. There 
was no demonstrative meeting; to the by¬ 
standers they might have parted but the day 
before. 
“ Do you walk home ?” he whispered. 
“Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore,” 
said Miss Beaue aloud, “ you need not mind 
to go my way to-night; I have found a 
friend here." 
She took his proffered arm, and they 
passed out into the lighted street. 
“ My weeks have been years,” said Guy; 
“ I have come for my answer.” 
She flashed one eager, questioning glance 
upon him, and ns the lamp light shone full 
upon her face, he saw it transfigured by 
a look that nothing hut death would ever 
take away—a look of perfect love and trust, 
and rest, the home-coming of an exiled soul. 
-- 
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE. 
Society, Personal Gossip. Cnnarcss, Tlie 
Experimental Garden, ifcc. 
“ And the last shall be first,” so I write of 
Speaker Blaine'S levee last night. He lias 
one of the pleasantest houses in Washington 
in Avliicli to receive his friends, and one of 
l lie plcasautest of ladies in Mrs. Blaine to 
assist him. She is a tall, dark-eyed Avomnn, 
dressed on this occasion quietly but richly, 
a heavy black silk dress, with a Avhile point 
lace shawl draped about her shoulders, and 
diamond ornaments. But the Speaker, oh, 
the Speaker l Some say he is the most 
elegant gentleman at the Capital. Tall, 
finely-formed, high-bred features, iron gray 
hair and beard, and the kindness and good¬ 
ness of his heart finds expression in the 
most agreeable forms. 
The reception begins at nine, and the par¬ 
lors Avhich at first were pleasantly furnished 
Avith people, begin rapidly to fill up to re¬ 
pletion. The crowd is not so great as at the 
President’s, and the people seem to be better 
acquainted. There are handsome Avomen, 
and men famous and courtly. One not un- 
frequcntly meets friends from Maine and 
others from the far, far West, at these pleas¬ 
ant assemblages. 
Conspicuous in the throng, marching to 
ward us, are General Sueiiman and liis 
daughter Mary. The General is in full uni¬ 
form, and, although crowned with National 
honors, still suggests the days Avhen at Saint 
Louis he was so nearly arrested for a lunatic. 
He has one of the most peculiar faces I ever 
looked upon. The profile of it is of the eagle 
style. It looks Aveatber - beaten, and the 
stubbed, half-grown beard suggests a porcu¬ 
pine. His eyes have a rapid, unsettled stare, 
and his talk and manner are abrupt and fa¬ 
miliar to an undignified degree. And this is 
the man who marched to the sea, and now 
has the snug berth of $15,000 per annum, 
aids and servants thrown in. He gives grand 
receptions, does the honoi-s for the army, 
and the people foot he bills. His daughter, 
avIio always accompanies him, is a sweet, 
fair, intellectual-faced girl, with refined and 
womanly manners, and a quiet dignity that 
makes her distinguished. Her dress is of 
green silk, with a high-necked, long-sleeved 
over-dress of Swiss, ornamented Avith puffs 
and Valenciennes lace. Her jewels are of 
Etruscan gold. She always wears her light- 
brown hair in the plainest way—combed 
smoothly back from her brow and finished 
at the back Avith a moderately-sized chignon 
of braids—no curls nor frizzes nor powder. 
A white camellia is fastened at one side. 
Beck, from Kentucky, tail, powerful and 
handsome, holds a small court with his 
handsome daughter, whose pretty shoulders 
arc alabaster in their real or artistic AVbite- 
ness. She has a laughing, generously pretty 
face, and her noble figure is Avell adorned in 
a gray silk, Avith abundant blue trimmings. 
Those two tall, stylish-looking young la¬ 
dies in pale silks, much bc-ruflled and be- 
panniered, are daughters of Baron Geholt, 
the Prussian Minister. 
Van Af.rman of Western New York is 
present Avith his daughter, an intelligent, 
modest-faced girl, whose clear brown eyes 
shine the brighter as Ave clasp hands and 
talk of our mutual alma mater, aud auld 
lang Byne friends. 
A number of Western men are present, 
and for the most part Avith bodies indicating 
easy and abundant digestion, quite in con¬ 
trast Avith their nervous, Avorn-looking, leaner 
brethren of the Eust. 
Then there are day-time receptions, like 
those of Gen. and Mrs. Cafron on a Satur¬ 
day afternoon. The General makes up well 
in a photograph, but even then one does not 
get a full idea of the high, proud outline of 
liis noble head and face, and feel the strong, 
healthy vitality of the man that is so plainly 
revealed in his expression and manner. His 
Avife, in a stately silk, with a crown of curls 
and a lace ruff about her neck and throat, 
reminds one of the pictures of Maiiy Stuart, 
and her smile is as sweet and gladdening as 
a buret of sunshine In a cloudy day. 
The art of “ receiving" is a delicate one, 
and if one does not possess the grace by in¬ 
heritance, it must be learned. It is extreme¬ 
ly awkward to have a silence ensue after the 
first announcement and introduction are per¬ 
formed. To lake the lead in conversation 
and continue it without lagging, although 
unaided by your visitors, is something to 
boast of. I knOAV of nothing excelling it in 
the fine arts of society. Utter strangers 
must be talked to and interested, regardless 
of your prejudices or their exceeding unin¬ 
terestingness. There is no knitting or 
crochet work to resort to, or discuss, neither 
domestic matters nor trouble with hired help, 
which form the staple of talk with so many 
excellent women. It is quite Avorlh the 
practice by the humblest of Avomen, us in 
this country none know Avlmt society may 
demand of them, when they or their hus¬ 
bands are honored Avith trust by their coun¬ 
trymen. 
Dr. Newman’s Church, 
where Gen. Grant, Schuyler Colfax, 
Secretary Cressavell, Chief-Justice Ciiase 
and the handsomest members of both Houses 
attend, is the fashionable Sunday resort 
here. It is a new edifice, very neat and 
tasteful in construction and finish. It is 
called the Metropolitan Methodist Church. 
The pa9tor is a rather handsome, middle- 
aged man, with a spontaneity of manner 
that smacks of Plymouth Church, and holds 
stupidity off at an agreeable distance. Of 
course strangers flock here to worship, and 
watch to see the President enter, ne comes 
a little late, hut before the sermon begins, 
removes his beaver inside the door, and 
walks down to liis seat as unostentatiously 
as a mm might. Mrs. Grant and Miss 
Nellie usually are with him. Dr. New¬ 
man does not preach smooth sermons, as if 
he stood in uavc* of his distinguished audi¬ 
tors, but handles sins and sinners with un¬ 
gloved bands, and preaches, prays and sings 
honesty, strength, uprightness, economy and 
the Lord’s beautiful prayer straight into the 
heart of the Administration. 
At the' Capitol 
the chief interest of Washington centers. 
It is a sort of Mecca. The lobbies are 
always as much crowded as the galleries. 
Men stand about waiting to button-hole 
members of Congress. Intrigues are con¬ 
ceived, plots executed, hopes fixed or de¬ 
stroyed, and wire-pulling dexterously prac¬ 
ticed. Young men from all parts of the 
country flock here to find employment in 
some Department of the Government. Weeks 
go by, money is gone, and, borrowing from 
a friend, they manage to get home again. I 
wonder if my advice would be heeded by 
young men or women avIio indulge open or 
secret longing for a position in the Depart¬ 
ments here ? There may be a glamour of 
fascination over the drought, but even if a po¬ 
sition could be secured it had better be given 
away than entered upon. All subordinates 
are at the mercy of higher officials, who 
play Avitli applicants for office to suit their 
own personal advancement. A position is 
gained for one applicant one Aveek, recalled 
the next, and given to another the third. 
The amount of anxiety that comes from thi3 
uncertain, notional action amounts in fact 
to sheer misery. And yet hundreds of peo¬ 
ple are, during every session of Congi’css, 
drawn into this vortex of unrest and de¬ 
moralization. 
The sort of men the people 9cnd here to 
legislate forms a most interesting study, and 
the place to study is in either the House or 
Senate. In the latter, Roscoe Conklikg 
and Charles Sumner had a tilt, the other 
day, over the Census bill. Conkling’s hair 
is less red than 1 thought—iu fact, just a 
fashionable blonde. In debate be is quick, 
having every weapon at his tongue’s or fin¬ 
gers’ ends, and has a way of giving the fall¬ 
ing inflection to the end of each sentence, ns 
if liis opponent must be insaue or foolish to 
question the correctness of his views. Ilia 
enunciation is clear, his choice of Avoids ex¬ 
cellent and to the point. He indulges in the 
keenest sarcasm, but does uot make himself 
vulnerable through any discourtesy or un¬ 
fairness. lie has a trim, neat figure, and 
dresses exceedingly well. 
In the House, affaire are usually in a lively 
condition, aside from the noise. By refer¬ 
ring to a map of the nouse, giving the num¬ 
ber of the seats and the occupants, you know 
“who is who.” Some changes have been 
made since the opening of the session, so 
that your reference is not fully to be relied 
upon. But some of tbe members you recog¬ 
nize at once, such as Generals Butler, 
Banks and Logan. General Banks pos¬ 
sesses the deepest, most poAverful and yet 
most pleasing voice of any one I have yet 
heard speak. It contains every element ne¬ 
cessary for command. The House is dis¬ 
cussing economy, retrenchments, &c. Of 
course, everybody has Income accustomed 
to Congress preaching one thing and prac¬ 
tising another. General Butler stands up 
at his seat, lifts his eyes, mouths his lips, 
stretches out his arm, and you are ready to 
expect any tiling or all things, even to being 
swallowed. But lie seems to he quite harm¬ 
less, so far. A snapping, nervous little man, 
with a pale face and black hair and heard, 
relieves himself of a tirade of adjectives far 
from being complimentary, unless being 
called “bad, vile, rhinoceros-skinned, so¬ 
cially ostracised,” &€., Is complimentary. 
This Buapping-turllc of the House is Sunset 
Cox, who might as avcII bark at the moon. 
Butler looks him straight in the face, as 
unruffled as a summer sky, and finally makes 
a short speech, winding up with “ Shoo fly, 
don’t bodder me,” which creates a furore of 
laughter. Butler is not a pleasant, or even 
eloquent speaker. His words come out as if 
jerked out. But the House listens when he 
speaks, and there is no mistaking the porver 
of the man. 
I promised to tell you something of the 
Experimental, or Propagating Garden. It 
is a pleasant change from the Capitol to a 
stroll through the grounds and green-houses, 
especially Avlien Mr. Saunders bears you 
company. And let me say, In passing, that 
in no Department here are truer economy, 
more able, honest officials, understanding 
their business, to be found than in the Agri¬ 
cultural. If the people think it an expensive 
humbug, a useless gormandizer of money, it 
must be because they do not understand its 
object and its operations. But more of this 
anon. The Experimental Garden is a 
branch of the Agricultural Department. 
The grounds are as yet limited, but well im¬ 
proved. When complete, every variety of 
fruit tree will be found here, and cared for 
after the most approved plan, and Mr. Saun¬ 
ders lookB at modes of culture from his own 
standpoint. He does not entirely eschew 
trimming of trees, but as commonly prac¬ 
ticed, be denounces it uot only as entirely 
wrong, but “ cruel,” and he speaks the word 
Avith his honest Scotch accent, so that you 
feel much as if some friend’s arm or leg had 
been cut off from mistaken and unnecessary 
notions. He considers it a great waste of 
time and vitality to allow a tree to put forth 
buds and branches and then cut off the 
groAvth of one, or two, or three years, to 
modify bearing, or to insure symmetry of 
form. If there is a tendency toward super¬ 
fluous branches, nip them off while in bud. 
But when you find a man with such an in¬ 
telligent appreciation of, aud sympathy Avith, 
plants and trees, what can you expect but 
the most excellent behavior on the part of 
liis vegetating family ? When through his 
efforts, seconded by tbe Government, Ave 
raise all our oavu tea, coffee, spices, fruits aud 
sit under the shade of trees of all precious 
Avoods in our dear America, will avc not be a 
bit too independent, and take on too many 
airs for good looks’ sake ? MentwOod. 
