The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-12-06

he as good as said SO to me just month
before his death. This, that you speak of,
is not thing to be lightly done. But
, you give me such high character of Mr..
, Wygram-you have bestowed indeed such
unqualified praise on both him and Miss
, Vane, that you make me hesitate about refus-
, ing my consent. Who am l, that should
} take it upon me to make or mar two lives?
You have no doubt in your mind about
their suitability to each other, have you?
! You, who know, them, you think highly
of both p
Again the Bishop leaned towards him.
Again that concentrated gaze fell upon the
luckless curate. Again he felt that he
must speak when speech was denied him.
The Bishop was waiting. Oh the agony
of knowing he was waiting.
"I believe it would be hard to find twb
such good young people, he said at last,
and then he covered his face with his hand,
and felt that now, indeed, it was all over
and that he was on the verge of tears.
There was long silence. Then-'Well,
well, well, said the Bishop-"I promise
you to think it over. Worth, such as you
have ascribed to this young man, should
count before anything" 1t really did seem
to the Bishop that Dr. Ball had uttered
unlimited words of commendation about
Gerald Wygram. "And he is of good birth
undoubtedly. That is always something,
even nowadays. Yes, I'll think it over.
When you return home, Dr. Ball, which"
courteously, 81 hope will not be for some
time yet, tell Dulcinea for me that [ shall
come and stay with her at the hsll very
soon fora day or so, to talk all this over,
! - WALL ask Mr.. Wygram here to
{Ie, before giving my final
-. 200, - with "a kindly kiRad41fyr~-
smile a az Ny astonished curate,
''that it was your hearty praise of Mr.. Wy
gram that led me to look into matter that
| cannot still help considering a little i'm
prudent"
''This will be good news for Dulcinea,
my lord, said the Curate, finding hisvoice
at last when it was too late But was it
too late?
II hope it will continue to be good news
all her life" said the Bishop, with sigh
He knew he would be glad to get rid of
his guardian duties, and for that very reason
was afraid to get rid of them. ''But now
for another topic" he said, cheerfully, lay
ing his hand on the Curate's shouldeY
'You know the rector of Dreena is dead
and" In fact, he offered our little friend
a rectOry, with an income that quadruplean|
his present salary. But the Doctor 81
from him when he mentioned it.
"Nay, my lord, he said, ''givc itr.
better man."
II couldn't" said the Bishop.
! "Give it to some better man."
the curate, earnestly. II could NJ
my present place, indeed. Tht
not get on without me; they are
most part 80 old, and so cross
will leave me theso. with my old
women. They all know uae, and
them; and it is too late t6i; LIS
the world afresh, with new faces
interests"
The Bishop said nothi9S
but he took his arm and
drawing room, where pI
his wife aside, .a4d- told
Atter which Mrs. Craik
Of he little Doctor, and
cately, as if he was of
indeed he Was!S -
1t the end Of two days hoa -
and told Dulcins Ia all the news, and She
ou earring it, took him around the neck
aad kissed him itenderly.
Il knew it, she said. 'Ifeltit Some
thing told me you were the one person in
the world to win my case for NE. Dearest,
sweetest, lovelicst DIR. Ball, how shall
thank you?"
"1Iy dear, if you only knew faltercd
the Doctor
II do know. Don't you think can
appreciate you afteAall trese years You
are so clear, so c9a Acifg. You can come
so directly to IL You can say SO
much that is cd
olated by by dismal lIllsctions. The little
l did say was all good. "
"Im sure of it," gratefully 'YouT
fuency, you know, is your great point
How l should have liked to have heard
you parry successfully every one Of that
horrid old Bishop attacks upon my Gerald.
But, indeed, it seems to me that can hear
you-running through all his good qualities
(and what number he has) in that nice,
eloquent, self-possessed manner that be-
longs to you"
"Dulcinea, hear me" said the curate, in
desperation; and then aud there he made
his confession. But he failed to convince
Dulcinea; she steadfastly adhered to her
belief that his eloquence alone had won the
Bishops consent.
"And really he can't be such a very bad
man after all, she said, "or he would not
be capable of appreciating real worth, such
as yours-would he, Gerald?" For Mr..
\ Wygram had stolen up to them in the twi-
light, and secured the Doctors other arm.
Miss, Vane lQaAed upon his right Elm the
light Of ple property.
at redeeming point in his
character, Wygram, promptly.
"And another u Dulcie; nobody shall
marry us but DR.. RaiA Eh?"
Nobody, indeed" firmly.
"My dear girl, nonsense! !" said the Doc
tor 'You must have Your rector, if not
the Bishop himself. AndAN N-of course, by
lsRe-bye, IRfa6ju5tqss n guardian it will be the
not DO at all; anu you, inc nfsisr fnndentf1I
that is. at least the larOest nronrietor in