The Osceola times., 1877-08-18

her, and presently she stole away TO look
after her housekeeping, congratulating
herself that everything promised well Tor
her scheme. Flora was perhaps trlile
giddy and girlsh for clergymaD's wife,
but she would outlive all that and what
an excellent thing it would be for Mrs.
Gascogine, whose abilities would never
have fair play il he married any poor
girl about Haphasard, and lived from
hand to mouth, so to speak, with none Of
the opportunities which money could
Offer and as for Flora, she might bless
he stars il he preferred her, if he had
no inconvenient scruples about marrying
a rich woman.
The summer weather was fine at Hap
hazard, and if MIR. Gascoigne begged the
ladies to visit some poor or invalid par
isioner in his company it usually ended
by Flora going with him alone, Bell hsv
ing found some urgent duty TO detain
her at home at the last minute; and Flora
developed quite talent for cheering the
sick room ard dispensing luxuries to the
needy it was role of which she relished
the novelty amazingly.
You were plainly intended for cler.
gymans wife" blundered Mr.. Gascrigne,
in IA moment OF grateful enthusiasm; and
then he colored, and added, hastily ::
"The lame, halt and blind are all sing
ing your praises"
"What discord it must be !" returned
Flora. 81 think should prefer solo" !"
The claims of the parish, however,
were not 40 exacting but he could devote
some leisure to the poets, sitting in the
vine covered arbor, while Bell aud Flora
worked and listened-except when Bell
remembered she had omitted to leave or
ders for the grocer, or had neglected some
important household affair, and excused
herself for long half-hour, begging them
to go on with the reading. And when
she returned, she was always pleased to
find that the book had been closed for the
nonce. Il Re had not been reading, then
Of course he had been doing what he liked
better. And he would say: "We have
been waiting for you, Miss Bell he
had fallen into the habit of calling her
"Miss Bell" during these familiar
seances.
al sha'n't dare 10 run away if ! am
going to spoil your pleasure so,' she re-
piled.
"You certainly do spoil it when you
leave u.s." he would gallantly retert.
If they went for an afternoons picnic
to the top of Chrome cliff, with their
supper packed in hamper, Bell fell to
sketching bend of the river, with the
willows dipping above it and swallows
skimming low, and Flora and Mr.. Gas
coigne were naturally left to their own
devices. II they went ont for an even
ing's entertainment which even Hap
hazard afforded at times when summer
guests were plenty - Bell remembered
the latch-key rs soon as they were be-
yond the gate, or she had left window
open where burglars and showers might
enter. or she never failed of some valid
excuse for falling behind, for refusing
Mr.. Gascoiynes arm-either both hands
were necessary to keep her skirts from
the mud, or the country sidewalk was
too narrow for three abreast. And yet
there was nothing obvious or awkward
in Miss Raymond's scheming. 1t all
came about as naturally as il foreor'
dained and if Mr.. Gascoigne was some
times little vexed that he could not bt
trusted to find the latch key. close the
window or fetch the umbrella, Flora
would say "Its Bells way; she wa'
just so at Nine. Buhl's-always would
wait upon herself"
1t had never been Bells way, however
TO linger in the vestibule after church
but now she found it convenient to ask
old Mrs. Koss about her rheumatism, and
Mrs. Martha Meeks about her grand 'on
fishing at the Labrador. And by that
time the Reverend Clarence had put of
the gown aud made his way to the church
door, where Flora welcomed him; and
Bell nodded and begged they would walk
on and le, her overtake them; she must
speak 10 the sexton about his sick child
or see the treasurer OF the Mite So
ciety-only she never did overtake them
The treasurer had proved garrulous, ant
the sexton had set his heart upon show
ing her the head stone be had got up tC
his first wife. IL she found them sitting
alone in the embrasure of the open win
dow, studying the constellation, She
moved softly away. Who could tell p
it might be the decisive moment.
1t 80 happened that just at this time
Mrs. Raymond fell i'll. Flora proposed
going home, but Bell stoutly vetoed thu
proposition. at will be 50 lonesome ie
Mr. Gascoigne," she said. "And Aun
Milly will be up again soon. Ns; d.
you stop and pour tea at table, and pla,
at ousekeeping, and make it a little lik'
home for the poor fellow"
Seems to me you are very anxiou
about his welfare, said Flora, but staye'
rs she was bidden, and poured his tea
whiled away his leisure hours, beat hin
at chess, visited hi, sick, listened to hi
views, filed the place of the absent 50
prano in his choir, and borrowed his oil
sermons for private reading, while Be
spent her time administering hourl
doses, connecting gruels and dainties t
tempt the appetite, and waiting in
darkened room by day, after broke
nights. Perhaps it was the effect of ove'
taxed nerves and depressed spirits, q
perhaps Miss Raymond had misunde
stood her interest in Mr.. Gascoigne, bu
as she left her patient doing one nigh
and paused moment, leaning out tn
hall window TO commune with the ever
ing staf ana tne iast thucf cnuigen'
of sunset, the sight of Flora and Mr. Ga
coigne pclting each other with roses in th
garden below smote her with sens
of something alien and cruel. Her al
sence did not affect thsir enjoyment ;the
had forgotten her in the delight OF bein
together and for the first time selfis
sorrow stirred in her heart and filled h'
ewes with sudden tears "Did she grudl
them their happiness ~ she asked he
salf oIVas mt M cress enough for her ?"