West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-09-19

his surplice and replace IL in the sachel
chosen by Mrs. Minis. While so en-
gagged letter was handed him with the
word Immediately written conspicu-
ously on the envelope. The contents
were as follows:
MARROW HALL. Thursday, lsth.-If Rev.
Julius byron could hnd II convenient TO OF.
nciate at private baptism this afternoon az
MARROW Hall, ne would confer a great favor
on the undersigned. Mr.. Byron Is requested
ticc. as the case il urgent. Inc u, nm. train
stops at Portland Station, where a carriage
Will be in waiting.
SrANTIELD NARROW.
"You will 90 | SUPPOSED" said Willis
Howard, TO whom Mr.. Byron presently
showed his note.
'Of course; one cannot refuse such
summons. 1t is probably question of
life and death"
81 am due at Uxmo-e tonight -ratb-
er different erraud from yours-a
masquerade party I'm sorry we arc
not travelling in the same direction. a."
II am sorry also. DO YOU know any
thing OF the PEOPLE at NARROW Hall.
HowardPn
"Never had heard of them before.
Are they strangers to you?"
Entirely So"
Now goodbye, old fellow; my traps
are all slowed away i'm the train. and |
had better follow them. Take care of
yourself among those mysterious
strangers.
In the hustle and confusion a, the sta
ton Mr.. Byron's sachel was mislaid.
but he presently caught SIGHT of the
familiar object on distant table. and
ielt ihwardly thankful for its ungainly
proportions and the huge brass dia-
mond which made it SO easily recoo-
niZed.
AT Portland a respectfully dressed
man in charge of awagonette came for
ward to meet Mr.. Byron, and. during
the drive to the Hall, the former dis
courscd freely upon the existing state
OF affairs there. A son and heir to the
line estate had arrived, and there had
Decn great rejoicing, but within the
past twenty-four hours their ioy had
been turned to mourning by dispatch
summoning the newly-made father to
the death-bed of his only sister in Ger
many. The young mother seemed to
feel presentiment of misfortune. and
she insisted upon the young baby being
baptized before the departure of its
iather. The clergyman of the parish
was temporarily absent, hence Mr. By
ron nasty summons. The ceremony
would be performed in the chapel con
nected with the Hall. and would be
very quiet, being witnessed only by the
father and grandfather of the child.
win possibly one or two guests.
After lunching in n somber, richly
decorated dining hall, Mr.. Byron was
shown to bedroom, with the intima
ton that his er,ices i'm the chapel
would be required in au hour if CON
venient to him.
lhere was something strange and in
terestiEg about the fine old mansion, so
lately scene of rejoi ing, and now 81
lent as an empty church No members
OF the family were visible. and the great
house seemed deserted, save for a few
silent footed servants.
AS the time for the baptism drew
near, Mr.. Byron asked to be conducted
to the vestry TO make sure that
everything was in readiness he oDencd
ms sachel, when, to his CONSERVATION.
instead OF drawing forth neatly folded
surPlice, he held up before his aston.
ished gaze doublet and hose of scarlet
and gray satin. such rs might be seen
on the stage in "As You Like IT,
Alas for the veracity OF Messrs. Piper
and Tipson and the credulity of The
worthy Mrs. Minis. The so.called
unique bag had many duplicates. and
MIR Willis Howard had bought one that
very morning in which to stow away
his fancy ball costume.
Here WAS predicament indeed for
Rev. julius Byron In desperation he
flew to the wardrobe i'm the yestr.v-
room. Vain hope. Not a shred of the
other Clergyman vestmCnts hung
there. What was TO be done? Even #
IN extreme cases the church rules per
mltted the clergy TO oliiciate without
robes IN the sacred edilice-and for .
moment Mr.. Byron was too bewildered
TO think whether this would be permis-
sible or nOt-how could he expiain tho
annoying mistake 10 those STRANGERS
They. already 50 troubled, woul think
him an Enthusiastically, careless tritle.
In his perpleXity he rang Cor the man
who had already waited on him.
"Is there a lady in the house with
whom | could speak for a few mo.
ments?' Mr. Byron asked.
My mistress cousin is here: but she
does not leave the inyalids rooms for
anything just at present"
Then | will write my message in
note. w
He stated the case as clearly as he
could on paper, and dispatched the SER
want with it. In answer the lady sent her
maid TO inquire if search had been made
everywhere in the vestry-room for a
surplice. He sent back word that fur-
ther search was useless
After some moments of. TO hin. tor
rible suspense-for the time was almost
come for him TO appear i'm the chanel
the maid returned. and with deem
blushcs and nery Gus twitch no OF bor
apron hem, began
My young lady told me to tell Won
s r, that If YOU would not think n anv
harm, she would send YOU her
Oh, no. don mean that. SIR She
SAID J was not 10 say who 10 BELONGED
TO-, but she would cut the bands off tho
sleeves and the lace from the neck. and
% would be long. and nobody would
houce that 1t was n nightg0wn. sir.
and. If YOU didn't mind. SIR wouId go
and fetch it at once, for there u.s.. no
time 20 lose
The girl concluding remarks wor.
only too true and. however much he
might nave he-ltated at her suVprsfs ON
ln cooler moments. he was thankful
now Tor any solution OF the difficulty.
"IelI your mistress that I shall 6o
very grateful for the loan She proposos