Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-13
CHAPTER ".
GOSSIP.

Wise Jack was right. James Browne,
being James Browne, the deanery, unac-
custOmed though it was to throwing open
its gates to strangers, saw great deal
a very great deal-Of this one. He fell
into his place in the quiet household in
the most natural manner possible. After
that first astounding afternoon no one
seemed to see anything at all strange in
it. He was "James" to the good old Dean.
and it was indeed only his absence that
was at all likely to be commented upon
by any one in the old corner house The
! Deans Agatha welcomed him, his boys
made a hero of him, while Frank. waxing
more friendly and confidential still as the
days went on, called him "Uncle James"
to his sunburned face, and in return gra-
ciously rescinded her earlier decision,
and permitted him to hail her Frank
without remOnstrance. Indeed, before the
friendship was many weeks old, she had
kindly cOnfided to him Agatha recently
expressed views regarding the new ar
rivals; her present friendly and unre-
strained reception of him, James Browne.
being, as she insisted, entirely on the
Gagged relative'' basis, but for which Fran
ces was furthermore careful to assure him
his present footing at the deanery would
have been a simple impOssibility.
$50 you see," Frank added on that &C.
casiOn, with a charming candOr intended
to be reassuring, sits very lucky you are
papa's friend, and rather old, or we should
have never known how nice you are, and
you would never have known how nice we
are, so it's all right
But the Major did not look altogether so
satisfied. What if chattering Frank were
right? and he saw no reason why she
should not be. What if the smiles and
welcome with which the Deans daughter
was wont to greet him-that had even now
CO 70 hi h,,,.
fathers friend and nothing more? Her
fathers sold" friend! Was he really so
very old? For the first time in his life
James Browne sat counting up his years
and wondering if his youth, in these
young girls eyes at least, hid really fed.
But whatever might be he effect of
Fran IS little condolences, the did not de-
ter e steadfast-faced Maj from his
purpC IS. 1t must be some hing more
than ne fifteen or sixteen years between
them, e told himself, that should rob him
of his hearts desire. This being so, as
the days went by, the deanery saw more
of him rather than less, until at last there
were those in Postleton who began to be-
think themselves that they ought to have
something to say in the matter.
That POstletOn - cathedral Swallowed
city as it Was-pOssessed its fair share of
gOssips and busybodies, dare not deny.
Some, indeed, went further, and said it
had, indeed, more than its share; but these
were always understood as casting no
particular reflection on Postleton gener-
ally. There was, l may say, no doubt at
whom their remarks were leveled, and
certainly if ever mortal woman was-in
her own belief--bOrn to set the world to
right, to take il by force and mend its
ways, whetl e it would or not, that
woman was the RectOress Of st. SWith-
ms.
Mrs. Tyerman was lady of majestic, l
may say awe-lnSpiring, appearance, and
was wont, when holding forth for the
| benefit of any victims she might have cap
tured, to address them in fine deep voice
that added greatly to the terror of the oc-
casiOn. Parishes marked no boundary
for the Rectoress of st. Swithin's; she
would not only bounce from one end to
the other of her own half dozen times
day, but she would bounce into neighbor-
ing parishes, to the mutual dIsmay of
priest and people. And then the Rector,
as might be expected, would be appealed
to. Poor little RectOrl what could he do?
He who was himself never really safe
from that overwhelming presence even in
his own pulpit, save on those days, it
might be, when as a mark of high dis
pleasure Mrs. Tyerman would betake her.
self to the cathedral, and there loudly lift
up her voice in behalf of the miserable
sinners around her.
She it was who now felt herself called
on to remark upon the Majors intimacy
at the deanery. "And it is not only
there" she said, sit is the same every
where; he is forever at Agatha Wharton's
elbow. What can her father mean by al
lowing it? But l shall speak to him-I
shall certainly speak to the Dean"
IF you viii take my advice you will