The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-06-25

'o'tt't nave lould IL uloEe delgnt1ul pc
sition."
Mr.. Roderic Racquet was six-and-twen
ty, with straight nose, pleasant, blu
eyes, and "a general talent for beinI
satisfied with every thing and every body
He was located i'll his first parish, pictur
csque little knot OF houses oyerhanging
brisk cataract which made work for mill
and factories, and filled all the adjacen
woods with its noisy melody; and SO far h
was one Of those exceptions i'll life, Il per
tectly satisfied man.
"Ah,' said his friend, Mr.. Alton, VIII,
was misanthropc. 'The ladies, eh ?''
Yes" said Mr.. Racquet, quietly; $50
ofcourse, you know that much Of the pros
perity ola country parish depends upon it
female members"
"Ycs," observed Mr.. Alton, dryly
''1Ou are an unmarried man, believe p
81 am All unmarried man-yes, certain
| ly." ... ..... ~...~.
"And this is-leap year."
''Nonsensen' cried the parson, briskly
Il hope you may find it nonsense" sale
Mr.. Alton, pursing up his lips: ''but an
told that there are a good many single la
dies this year who are driven desperate by
the prospect of spinsterhood-''
''Nonsense :" again exclaimed Mr.. Rae
quet. 'My dear Alton, this is little toe
much Of a burlesque. You don't serious
ly believe i'll this--this absurdity? 90
Mr.. Alton only shook his head as he rose
and reached for his hat.
'I'll get my book, Racquet" said he, as
he looked lugubriously around the room,
''and go out for stroll in these delicious,
pine-scented woods. My doctor says that
pine sap Is very healing for lungs that are
consumptively inclined
every well,' said the Rev. Mr.. Racquet
with glance at the scattered sheets of the
half-tinished sermon that lay on his desk :;
"and will join you after little period of
time" ... .:.~...: -L~ m.@.r
He took up his pen, dipped it determin-
edly i'll the ink-stand, and went resolutely
to writing; but, i'll spite Of all his industry
the words of his iconoclastic friend rang
persistently in his ears.
If there should be any foundation for
Atoms absurd idea.n he pondered, with
his pen suspended above the partially
written sheet: tsBut Of course there can't
be; but if such a possibility did exist-and
a married man is really better MEM
Der Of society than !: single one. never
did adhere to the rigid doctrine that cler-
gymen should be celibates.'
And all the while Rose Appleton's cher
ry cheeks and tangled yellow hair were
dancing human will-o'-t '-the-wisp before
the horizon of his minds eye.
'She's young" he said to himself, s'but
perhaps tritle inclined to be giddy; but
she's certainly very charming. And, since
the Appleton's have failed, and the mother
has opened a clearinghouse, and Lucilla
has gone to teaching, don't think | could
do better than to marry
''Rosa Appleton, sir, if you please"
It was timid little voice that broke in
upon the thread Of his reflections, and Ro-
sa herself stood before him, coloring all ov-
er like pink carnation, with basket Of
late peaches in hand, and white, tluttering
ribbons in her hat.
FI've called on business, sir" said Ro-
ga.
The Rev Roderick moved forward his
chair. ~. ..:....s- ..~.5 #.-. ...:
''Pray be seated, Miss Appleton" said
he, not without some confusion on his
part.
If they had been living i'll the Palace of
Truth now, and Rosa could have seen into
the depths of his heart!
And Miss Appleton sat down, pulling
nervously at the fingers of her brown
thread gloves.
'It's about ON Lucilla," said she.
s'Indeed ?'' said Mr.. Racquet.
owe want TO get her well started in
life said Rosa, appealingly.
81 thought she was teaching, cried Mr.
Racquet. .5~
FsShe doesn't like Teachings" confessed
Rosa; 'For rather, to be candid with you,
the trustees don't like her. She isn't very
young, you know, and has some odd, for
nal little ways, and only one eye; and the
children make fun of her, and the trustees
say she has no dignity"
every unfortunate, said Mr.. Racquet,
bending transparent pearl papei-eutter
back and forth, with the sublime indiIfer-
ence which we are all apt to display to-
wards the tribulation Of others. IF there
is anything could 90"
10, but there is,'' said Rosa.
"Eh?" calculated Rev. Racquet.
tShe thinks, and mamma thinks
"Wen?''
"That she might.eome here" said Rosa,
with her blue eyes fixed full on the young
clergyman's face.
Click! click, aud the two pieces Of sew
cred paper cutter flew into opposite cor
ners Of the room.
"Here," cried Mr.. Racquet-s'to the
parsonage?''
''Yes," innocently assented Rosa. She
isn't pretty to look at, TO be sure, but as
Won yourself said, i'll your address tothe
Sunday-school, last week, beauty is a mere
nothing; and you'dand her very beauti-
TIT and accomplished
F'Inde: d 90 said Mr.. Racquet, ffigidiy
stshe has been highly educated, went
oil Rosa, gaining confidence .as she talked
ssbtlt at the same time she would not de
spise descending to menial duties forthe
Fsakc OF one she loves ana knows as she
does Won, And 50, Mi. Racquet, she
wants to know If you'll have her. =
a cold perspiration broke out around the
Reverend Roderic's mouth. He Dire"
back his chair with an instructive move
ment of self-defence. Leap year was UP
on him in very truth and fact Alton was
right, and he should be eoereed INTO mat,
lrilnoDy before tie knew IT.
aI-I,d rather not.'a said Dir. Racquet
/ very decidedly.
\ Rosa looked at him, half amazed, hal
offended. .
ssRather-not? she repeated s don
think Itlcilla expected that decision. l'er'
hap she, d better come and see you aDou
lii herself !
aNo, 10 she needn't 40 that, I s;'si'eft
\ NIL. Racquet. decision Is lffeVoca
And burriedly gathering Ills papers, n