The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-28
WAS 1T FLIRTING!

WIS eUXdScu w AHScIiio NCi
Vile, aud / thought myself the luck
lest man living. Angelina was so
handsome that no stranger ever saw
her without expressing admiration,
and one did not weary with the face
after years of familiarity with it.
She WAS well-bred, accomplished and
a great heiress. / had reason to be-
lieve she was very fJnd OF me. No
man could be more entirely content
than l was as l leaned back in TIE
firSt-class carriage which took me
from Glasgow into the country, to
the Vale of Cruix, where | was to
preach few SabbatIs. The pulpit
was vacant and l was going to try
my wings. With my pecuniary pros
peefs. scarcely thought ! should
care to accept call to the Vale ~
Cruix, but l had no objection TO fill
ing its pulpit fur few weeks, espe-
cially as Angelina had gone to the
west coast and Glasgow was warm
and stuffy and stupid.
Casual rememhrances of elegant
parsonages built in Queen Anne's
style of a study where the FOOTBALLS
were softened by Persian rugs, and
the doors draped in portiers of vel.
vets chairs and a desk, carved richly
rs some old confessional, fitted
through my mind. And thought
also of a table spread with silver and
rare china with a lady at its head,
who resembled a queen. And !
breathed Il luxurious sigh as / awak.
ened from my day dream to a kh0wl-
edge that the words "Vale of Cruix"
were being shouted on the platform
and that the train was coming to a
stan still.
| seized my travelling bag from the
rack overhead and hurried out of
the carriage. The porter had just
pulled four or FIVE trunks on the plat
form. Two old wagons stood in the
road, one driven by an old woman
in a sun.bnnnet, the other by red
haired boy with bare feet +; and a
q Ieer, knock kneeded horse attached
to a queer old gig. was standing at a
little distance. A young man in a
light summer suit and city family
bent on rural happiness. were my
companions on the platform. The
former put his trunk in the first
wagon, kissed the old woman in the
sun bonnet, took the reins and drove
away. He was evidently the son OF
the family, come home to spend his
vacation. The rest of the trunks and
city family-mother, father. little
hoy. nurse-maid and baby were put
in the wagon and driven Ivy the boy.
When the train moved away l was
left alone on the platform-alone, but
for the station-master, who sat upon
a bench smoking clay pipe In a
moment more the official without
looking at me, made the remark :
deacon Stevenson has come Tor the
new minister. He's over i'm the no
tel and will be back in minute"
"Thank YOU" said /.
The statiOn-master took no notice
of me. but, having climed up on a
stool and made some changes in a
time register on the wall of the sta
ton, locked the door, put they key
in his pocket. and sauntered away
down the railroad. In few minutes
prim little old gentleman appeared
upon the top of the hill, carrying in
one hand a tin can, in the other tin
pail, and under either arm brown
paper parcel. l knew at a glance
that it WAS Stevenson.
"Are you Mr.. Mactaggert ?" he in.
quired mildly, as he approached. II
want to know? l hadn't any expec.
tatiOn of being kept so long, but, you
see, it saves the women folks trouble
to fetch things when i drive down
Step IN. won't you? I'll jest hang
this can of paraffine lie on behind
Some dislike the smell-may be you
do. The sngar-loaf, tea and coffee
can go under the seat rs we'll rs not
How's your health. sir. and how de-
you like Vale of Cruix?"
/ answered that my health wal
good and that l had not, as yet, seer
much of Vale of Cruix.
"No. you haven't" said the old
gentleman. "Well. you'll drive
through 1t now" And he shook tn,
reins and the old horse began Il
stumble along. And on we drove
past certain rows of brick houses
B, very much like each other, and witt
the same flowers in their front gard
ems, until, having passed the church
we came TO one happily set abou
by old oak trees, befnre the gate o
which we drew up.