The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-04-16


a little.
"Miss Sarah?'
"Well, | suppose it can hardly be M
Sarah, said the young clergyman, ha
smiling. eyes, Miss Sarah, of course"
"Shc's at home" said the girl, ur
graciously opening the door little wider
'Came this afternoon. Settin' in tn
parlor. Walk in"
And without further ceremony Cary
found himself ushcred into a semi-dar
apartment, where a tall, slender youn
beauty of eighteen summers or so sat befor
the fire, i'll q plain black dress, with tn
simplest of cuffs and collars, and singl
pale blue ribbon fastened into the thick
dark braids Of her hair--a person so entire
ly different from what he expected to se
that he stopped short in some perplexity
rs this-ah'e EN- Sarah ?' he asked.
~ am Sarah Fielding" she responded
''I have caIIed-to speak TO you, saTu ne
with a desperate rallying of his yerba
forces. ''Perhaps, Sarah, you may ao
know who am?''
''No, / don't,'' said the girl, in somt
surprise.
~ am Mr. Caryl, the pastor of the par:
ish."
81 am happy to make your acquaint
ance," said the girl, putting out one slim
hand in the easiest possible manner.
The pastor hesitated. This was not wha
he had looked for ut all.
"Of course-of COURSE" said he. "Bu1
how does it happen, Sarah, that you are al
home again so soon?"
f'Do you mean at Wcstbrook ?'
"Where else should | mcan?' retorted
Mr.. Caryl, crustily-for he felt that if he
once abandoned his tone af authority he
was lost. "Why didn't you stay where
you were?'
Sarah colorcd up to the roots of her hair
He could perceive that even in the un-
certain rise and fall of the freight.
~ do not like the position" said she, in
a low voice. 49,:
"But you ought to like it, said Mr..
Caryl.
''You arc not aware of all the circlln-
stances,' - pleaded Sarah.
81 am quite aware" said Mr.. Caryl,
severely; 'that vanity is the root Of all
your evils
"Vanity?''
The crimson was deeper than ever now
on brow and temple us she half rose.
eyes, vanity!" impress1vely reiterated
the clergyman. "Be silent, if you please,
young woman, and hear me out. You
have certain amount of personal attrac-
tons, which appears to have turned your
head. Remember that beauty is but skin
deep. Call to mind frequently the ancient
adagc that Handsome is as handsome
does" After all, you are neither Mary
Queen of Scots, or Cleopatra. Now take
my advice, Sarah
ftBut have not asked for it!,' she cried
out, in chokod accents.
''No matter whether you have or not, y
said Mr.. Caryl, calmly. ''It is my busi-
ness to volunteer good counsels, and yours
to receive it. / repeat, Sarah, take my ad-
vice, and go back to your last place. Apol-
! ogizc humbly for your shortcomings; tell
the woman Of the house that you will strive
to amend your conduct for the future, and
endeavor to deserve her approval. Put
away your silly ribbons, bows, brooches u
with a stern glance at the poor little
agate breastpin that glistened at the girls
throat-sEand leave the vain accessories OF
dress 10 your betters, always remember
that the ornament of a meek and quiet
spent"
But just at this point the young clergy
mans Grafton was abruptly checked by the
entrance Of Mrs. Prunc herself, shawled
and bonncted, and breathing fast from the
efforts she had made. In one hand she held
prodigious brown cotton umbrella; with
the other she dragged forward the untidy
damsel of the shawl and curl-papers.
'sHere she is, Mr.. Caryl, here she is y
bawled Mrs. Prune, who did not possess
that most excellent thing in q woman, 'Sa
low and gentle voice. /" "a lazy, gcod-for-
nothing, strck-up, vain mink, as needn'i
suppose as I'm going to do for her no lon
ger! You needn't hang back, Sarah; il
amt no good! Here she is, Mr.. Caryl-
here's Sarah" !"
The young pastor started in amazemcnt
tsfs that Sarah ~ said he.
"That's Sarah, = painted Mrs. Prunc.
| n 1oI
turning to the slim, dark-eyed girl with
the blue ribbon and the agate brooch.
''That's my niece, Sally Fielding, as has
been governess to a family up in Maine fol
three years. said Mrs. Prtne. "And
she's down here on a visit--come this very
afternoon. Hain't you beenintroducedy yet
Nlr. Carlyl, my neice, Sally. Sally, this
ere's-''
But before she could finish the words OF
her formal Introduction, the clergyman
had made nervous grasp at his hat.
ell have been the victim Of a misun-
derstanding, stammered he. .'Ihis young
person told me that she was Sarah"
4 $50 she is, said Mrs. Prune. 'But she
amt the Sarah as is to be spoken to.
81 beg thousand apologies, . said Mr.
Carlyl, feeling the cold sweat drip from
every pore.
4 Miss Fielding burst out laughing.
"rhey are cheertully granted, = said she
"No, don { go away, Mr.. Caryl," holding
out her hand Us he was turning to depart
ri have learned that you possess at leas
the virtue of frankness. Shall we not b
friends"
! And MI. Caryl looked into the dark-blu'
ewes and said. Yes.
| He forgot all about the hot corn-breat
! and strawberry jam at home, and stayed tt
tea ut Mrs. Prnne's; while the. right Sar;,i
4 escaped the intended lecture, and th
wrong Sarah presided i'll q most gracion
and winning manner behind the cups ant
saucers; and old Mrs. Caryl laughei
heartily when her son explained the curl
Gus rcncontre to her, later in the evening
"But why did she leave her situation
the wrong Sarah, mean?a said she.
because the young heir of the hous
made love to her, said Mr.. Garyl; "an'
/ don't wonder At it. She's the pfetties
little creature / ever saw il my life. 4
ssPerhaps, then, said Mrs. Caryl, doubt
fully, 'syour advice wasn't 50 very muc
aniss, after all
"Certainly it was, said Mr. caryl, wit
, spirit.
The Did lady looked sharply at him.
aCharles, \ said she, ~ do believe your
struck with her."