Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-12-14

her memory.
| Mrs. Tibb catered with nratess
frugal supper. She cast Fmpa-
thetic glance ct the wear see. as
she stood at the window - ne into
the summer twilight,
Mr.. Dalton, sir. called sid told
me to remind you Of the II ~ to-
morrow night.
Leslie remembered. Ye vas :
parish meeting. yearly be- Which
be had TO preside, and W. SELL at-
tended.
Il spOse. sir. /" Mrs. Tibb Isnsd.
hesitatIngly and looking q rastv
old coat which was sh sorafs !
everyday wear. I'D lend
fy0ar best cUat down - zss II
the morning TO repair, the sleeves
ripped where you cssught it getting
honeysuckles for May-willfui little
thing.
MY coat sleeve" said Leslie, CON-
ing with start out Of his sad rev
erie. "Yes. certainly. Mrs. Tibb.
You can take away the tray, I'm not
hungry, as I'm rather tired"
Dear heart. sirl but you don't
eat near enough; and no wonder il
You are tired, seeing all you do,
murmured the sympathizing Mrs.
Tibb, as she reluctantly removed the
tray.
Il don't do half enough" said the
curate, when alone. "If did more,
perhaps / should eradicate this wick
ed folly. 1 wonder" he added, alb
ruptly, "if he really knows the spleu-
did qualities hidden in her being.
But. mea maxima culpa." and he res
olutely turned to his examination pa
pers, writing on until long after the
church clock chimed midnight.
The morning came with a cool
breeze RUSTY through the myriad old
fashioned village flowers. The curate,
after broken night. had an apology
for breakfast-he was always careless
about food-and went off Mrs. Tibb
cleared away the table, signing over
her dodgers small appetite, and jim
my, her eldest hope. was sent with
the best coat to Thacket, the tailor.
who, as not unusual, had gone off
with some boon companions for the
day, and would not be iit on return
to pull his own. coat off, much less
! than to mend any ones else's.
Mrs. Tibb sat down and lamented.
there was the meeting, in the even
ing with numerous critical and for
eign Ito Bransley) attendants, and it
was an absolute necessity, for the
credit of the cloth and the parish,
that the clergyman should have
decent coat on. She couldn't mend
it. She was "allers a botcher." Mrs.
Tibb felt distracted, aud was con-
templating the coat despairiugly when
silvery voice called her, and starting
up she saw the squire's beautiful
daugher holding little basket.
Here, Mrs. Tibb," said shc "are
the eggs that promised you from nv
Hapsburgs. Put them under your
Dorking hen, and you'll have a brood
which will lay all the year round, and
then poor Mr.. Leslie-I know he's
out, Tor | saw him cross the meadows
can have new laid eggs every
morning.
Mrs. Tibb, with profuse thanks,
bemoaned the curate's scant appetite.
told Miss Meldon two or three in
stances Of his simple heroism and
unpretending charity. which made
the young lady look at her with Sc
rious eyes as one hearing unsupported
truth, and then explained her present
perpiexity about the coat.
Il will help you, Mrs. Tibb,"
smiled Flora; though people don't
know 1t, l can repair wonderfully
Giyc me the coat, said the young
lady, seating herself in Mrs. Tibb's
old-fashioned arm chair, made a
charming picture as she deity re-
paired the damaged sleeve, Mrs. Tibb
standing by with open mouthed won
There" said Flora, as she gave it
back-"Im proud Of my work. Mind
you don't tell who did it." she adj
ded, with a faint blush: and Mrs.
Tibb vowed she wouldn't, as she cur
tlsed the young lady out the pretty
cottage.
OF course she did, within half an
hour, and to the very last man she
should have done so. Gerald Marley,
coming ia with botanical specimens,
the squire asked leave for the curate.
found Mrs. Tibb in estacies over the
coat, and she. thinking Flora's praises
could not be too loudly sounded, told
her visitor.
his face was immobile white in her
presence. but. as he went down the
garden to the road, he frowned say
a9ely. To his shallow and conyen-
tional nature, this act Of FIora's was
dire ofense-''s setting all the FOOLS
tongues wagging." he said. cutting at
the hedges with his stick-and then,
turning the corner, he came on his
fiance, and Notwithstanding hercharm-
ing completeness. told her his mind
IN tone and manner quite new to
the high spirited girl. who at first
opened her eyes in quiet astonish-
ment, and then. resenting the author
tive manner. and seeing with clear
ness Of perception inherent in her
how artificial was the nature she
deemed so genuine. retorted proudly
on him. and at last. taking of her
ring, gave it TO him. at the same time
cancelling her engagement.