_Love Passages._
The summer passed, and in the bright month of September, came Hubert
Fairlie, to pass a few weeks beneath the glad roof of his parents, whose
only and beloved child he was.
Their warm welcome given, the first visit of Hubert was to Naomi. They
met as such young and ardent friends meet after an absence of months,
and Naomi soon confided to him her regret that her parents would not
allow her to cultivate the friendship of Grace Norton, whom she extolled
in such warm and earnest language, that Hubert found his curiosity
greatly excited to behold one calling forth such high eulogium from the
gentle Naomi.
An evening walk was accordingly planned which would lead them near the
cottage, hoping by that means to obtain a glimpse of its fair inmate.
Fortune favored them. As they came within view of the cottage, a sweet
voice was heard chanting the Evening Hymn to the Virgin, and Hubert and
Naomi paused to listen to as heavenly sounds as ever floated on the calm
twilight air. Then as the song concluded, Grace herself still sweeping
her fairy fingers over the strings to a lively waltz, sprang out from
the little arbor, and with her hair floating around her like stray
sunbeams, her beautiful blue eyes lifted upward, her white arms
embracing the guitar, and her graceful figure swaying to the gay measure
like a bird upon the tree-top, tripped over the greensward.
Among other amusements which the deacon held in great abhorrence was
dancing, and Naomi had been taught to look upon all such exhibitions as
vain and sinful. Yet never, I may venture to say, did any pair of little
feet so long to be set at liberty as did Naomi’s—_pat—pat—pat-ing_
the gravel-walk where they stood, urging their young mistress to bound
through the gate and trip it with those other little feet twinkling so
fleetly to the merry music.
The cheeks of Grace rivaled the hue of June roses, as she suddenly
encountered the gaze of a stranger; but seeing Naomi, she hastened to
greet her, and thereby hide her embarrassment. Naomi introduced her
companion, and then Grace invited them to walk in the garden, and look
at her fine show of autumn flowers. Minutes flew imperceptibly, and ere
they were aware, Hubert and Naomi found themselves seated in the
tasteful parlor of the cottage listening to another sweet song from the
lips of Grace.
As this is not precisely a love tale, I may as well admit at once, that
Hubert became deeply enamored of the bewitching Grace, and from that
evening was a frequent and not unwelcome visiter—a fact which was soon
discovered by the deacon, for noting that Hubert came not so often as
was his wont to the farm, he set about to find out what could have so
suddenly turned the footsteps of the young man from his door.
Alas, for his hopes of a son-in-law in Hubert! He found those footsteps
very closely on the track of as dainty a pair of slippers as ever graced
the foot of a Cinderella.
Nothing could exceed his disappointment, save the pity he felt for his
minister, whose son he considered rushing blindly into the snares of the
Evil One. Nay, so far did he carry his pity as to warn Mr. Fairlie of
the dereliction of Hubert. But when that worthy man reproved his
uncharitableness, and acknowledged that he could hope for no greater
earthly happiness for his son, than to see him the husband of so
charming and amiable a girl as Grace Norton, the deacon was perfectly
thunderstruck! It was dreadful—what would the world come to! In short
almost believing in the apostacy of the minister himself, the deacon
went home groaning in spirit, as much perhaps for the frustration of his
own schemes, as for the “falling off,” as he termed it of the reverend
clergyman!
The swift term of vacation expired, and Hubert returned to college. His
collegiate course would end with the next term, and then it was his wish
to commence the study of the law. Mr. Fairlie was, perhaps, somewhat
disappointed that his son did not adopt his own sacred profession; but
he was a man of too much sense to force the decision of Hubert or thwart
his wishes. He hoped to see him a good man whatever might be his
calling; and if ever youth gave promise to make glad the heart of a
parent, that youth was Hubert Fairlie.
The intercourse between Grace and Naomi from this time almost wholly
ceased, much to the regret of both. Yet such were the orders of Deacon
Humphreys, whose good-will toward the widow and her daughter was by no
means strengthened by the events of the last four weeks.