The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-23

4
Its a very pretty parish" sal,
the Rev. Mr.. Racquet, land a yer,
pleasant people. The elderly ladie
are steady, consistent workers, tn
younger active and enthusiastic.
don't think. if / had possessed tn
privilege Of selecting for myself,
conld have found a more delightful
position"
Mr.. Roderick Raquet was six-and
twenty, with a straight nose, pleas
ant blue eyes, and general talen
for being satisfied with eyerythin,
and everybody. He was located il
his first parish, picturesque little
knot of houses, overhanging brisl
cataract which made work for the
mills and factories, and SO far he
was one OF those exceptions in life
a perfectly satisfied man.
All" said Liz friend, Mr.. Alton
who was q misanthropist. "The la
dies, eh r.
"Yes," said Mr.. Racquet, quietly
"for a country parish depends upon
i its female members.n
"Yes," observed Mr. Alton, dryly
"You are an unmarried man, | be.
lieve."
II am an unmarried man-yes
certainly"
"And this is-Leap Year.
"Nonsense!" cried the parson
briskly.
II hope you may find it non.
sense" said Mr.. Alton, pursing up
his lips; "but ] am told that there
are good many single ladies this
year who are driven desperate by
the prospect of spinsterhood-"
"Nonsensem again exclaimed Mr..
Racquet. "My dear Alton, this is
q little too much burlesque. You
don't believe in this-this absurd.
ity ?"
Mr.. Alton only shook his head, as
he arose and reached for his hat.
"I'll get my book, Racquet" said
he as he looked lugubriously around
the room, land go out for q stroll in
these pine-scented woods. Ny doc
tor says that pine sap is very heal.
thy for lungs that are consumptive-
ly inclined"
very well, said the Rev. Mr..
Racquet, with O glance at the scat
tered sheets of half-composed
sermon that lay on his desk, 'and
will join you after little"
He took his pen, dipped it deter
minedly into the inkstand, and
went resolutely to writing i but, the
words of his iconoclastic friend rung
persistently in his ears.
If there should be any foundation
for Atoms absurd idear' he pom
dered with his pen suspended above
the partly written sheet. "But Of
course there can't be; but if such a
possibility could exist-a married
man is really better member of
society than a single one. l never
did adhere to. the doctrine that
clergymen should be celebrates p
And all the while Rosa Apple
toms cherry cheeks and yellow
hair were dancing human will-o'-
wisp before the horizon of his minds
eye.
"She's youngx he said to himself,
"and perhaps a trifle inclined to be
giddy, but she's certainly very
charming; and since the Appletons
have failed, and the mother has
opened a boarding house, and Lu-
ella has gone to teaching, | do not
think could do better than mar
ry."
"Rosa Appleton, sir, if you
please
1t was a timid little voice that
broke in upon his reflection, and
Rosa herself stood before him, col
oring like a pink carnation, with
q basket full of late peaches in her
hand.
I've called on business. sir," !"
said Resa.
The Rev. Roderic moved forward
a chair.
sPray be seated, Miss Appleton, u
said he, not without some confusion
on his own part.
Miss Appleton sat down, pulling
nervously at the fingers of her thread
gloves.
asIt's about our Lucilla," said she.
"Indeed," said Mr.. Racquet
"We want to get her settled in
life" said Rosa appealingly.
"But l thought she was teachingr'
cried Mr.. Racquet.
sShe don't like teaching" con-
fessed Rose cor rather to be candid
with you the trustees don't like her.
She isn't very young, you know,
and has some odd formal little ways
and only one eye; and the children
make fun Of her, and the trustees
say she has no dignity"
"Very unfortunate" said Mr..
Racquet, bending a pearl paper cut
ter back and forth, with the sublime
indifference which we are apt to
display towards the tribulation Of
others. "If there was ANYTHING !
could do"
"Oh, but there ISL said Rosa.
"Eh 2" CALCULATED Rev. Roderick
"She thinks, and mamma thinks
--n 1908
"Well?n
"That she might come here" said
Rosa, with her blue eyes fixed on
the young clergyman's face.
Click Click! and the two pieces
of the paper cutter few into oppo.
site corners of the room.
"Here!" cried Mr.. Racquet-"to
the parsonage 2"
YES" innocently assented Rosa
l"She is not pretty to look at, to bt
sure, but as you yourself said in youl
address to the Sunday School last
week, beauty is mere nothing
but you will find her very intelli
gent"
aIndeedp' said Mr.. Racquet
frigidly.
ssShe has been highly educated,
went on Rose. gaining confidence
but at the same time she would moi
despise descending to menial dutie.
for the sake of one she loves ant
l.