A Mason's Story.

to struggle against his father ' s will , ancl an earnest wish from his mother that he should do his duty decided him . I have said his father was a peculiar man . His peculiarity consisted in his religion , in which he endeavoured to bring up his son . Earl y in life he endeavoured to instil ideas which were dangerous into the lad ' s mind . He

would talk for hours , with a learned air of pomposity , on evolution , the growth of man , missing links , and . other theories , which in speculative science or ordinary dreams would be well enough , but which , applied to reli gion cannot tend to edification . The mother , poor soul , whose hope was grounded on the mercies of that sure Rock- —the great Creator- —did all in her power to eradicate the mischievous teaching's of her husbandbut in vainfor the

, , scientific facts had taken such a deep hold on Penrhyn ' s realistic brain that he found it impossible to discard them . In his twentieth year he had made the acquaintance of the fair young being whom we see by his side in the moonlight this evening on which our story opens . As we have given such a lengthy description of our hero , it will only be fair to introduce our heroine likeivise .

A fair young woman , of apparently four-and-twenty summers , taller than her companion , ancl graceful as Athene , was the vision that would have greeted you on that evening , could yon but have seen her . Lustrous eyes , that rested lovingly on the face of her companion , as ever and anon she listened to his conversation , now and then throwing in a remark . Her form was—an'd it is much to say in these clays of artificial lacing ancl tiht stays—faultless . It was

g well for Penrhyn that he could not see the dimples that were playino- hide ancl seek on her cheeks this night , otherwise I venture to predict that he would have become so self-conceited as not to be able to contain himself . Just now he is criticising some sermon they have been hearing on prayer , ancl his ideas seem to be totally at variance with the preacher ' s . He is quoting Coleridge ' s beautiful lines : —

He prayeth best who loveth best All things both great and small ; For the dear Lord who loveth us , He made and lovefch all . " Yes , " she answers , " but you know that you do not believe in that Beino-. I think it must be terrible to live as you and your father do , believing in

nothing greater than yourselves , and having no hope for the future—no hope of an immortalit y beyond the grave . " " Would that I could believe with you , " he replies , " but unfortunatel y I cannot . I dare not say I believe when I do not , for if there is a God it must be an unpardonable sin to thus blaspheme His name by professing a trust in Him which you do not feel . I would give anything to experience that childlike , innocent faith of yours , which can trust everything to a Providence which is invisible . "

Whom , having not seen , we love , " rejoined the girl , " ancl we are glad to love Him . We are glad to leave our sins on our Saviour , conscious that he , at least , can bear them , ancl pardon and forgive them . " " But it is of no use arguing , the matter out , " said Penrhyn ; ancl , indeed , it was not for that purpose that I came up here to-night . Mary , you cannot have been ignorant of what my feelings towards you have long been . You must have seen that I have loveel yoi ^ almost since I knew and this niht I

yon , g have determined to speak to you . I cannot give you riches , not even in comparison with what you now enjoy at homo , but I can give you a loving heart , as loving as any which has ever been given to woman . Will you give me permission to speak to your father . " " Penrhyn , I cannot doubt your sincerity , ancl I do confess that I love you dearl y , and I know that you love me ; but you must also know that my father