The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-06-20
Select Story.
THE BLUE LADY.

zling his brains how best to settle certain
clerical disputes that have been submitted
for his arbitration He is a spare little
man, dressed in long black coat and
CATERS, with very white hair and nose
like chilbain-a little man indeed of so
frosty an appearance that he looks as if he
had been expressly got up to ornament a
Twelfth cake.
But the frostiness is all on the outside.
His lordship's heart is in the right place
and brimming over with kindly feeling for
his fellow creatures.
"Who is it, Matthew'S" he demands of
the dignifed creature who has been kind
enough to bring the intelligence to him.
"Mr. Ryle, my lord"
'Oh show Mr. Ryle in, show him in
at once, replies the Bishop, with sudden
interest, for Mr. Ryle is wealthy land
owner in the diocese of Gorhambury-
munifcent man, moreover, who spends his
money literally on charities for the good of
the county, friend and neighbor whom
even the Bishop of Gorhambury cannot
afford to despise.
In another moment Mr.. Ryle has entered
the room and is shaking hands with its
right reverend occupant. He is stout,
forid, genial-looking fellow, also dressed in
CATERS, but of quite differentcut to those
of the Bishop, and the splashed condition
of his velveteen suit, no less than the crop
he carries in his hand, show that he has
ridden for some miles through the muddy
lanes that led to the episcopal residence.
"W ell, Mr.. Ryle, and what brings you
out this wet morning. demands the little
Bishop, when they had shaken hands.
Business, my lord, business = replies
the other, with twinkle in his eye. II
have come to ask favor of you on behalf
of friend Of mine
The right reverend screws up his little
chilblainy nose and laughs.
"a favor Well, Mr. Ryle, if there is
anything l can do for friend of yours that
you cannot do for him yourself, you may
command me. But am afraid substantial
benefits are more in your line than mine :"
'sIt is not benefit, but benefice, /
come to ask at your lordship's hands. The
fact is, my friend Darrell, an excellent fell
low-6rst-class man at Cambridge, and
been working like horse ever since-has
suddenly conceived an ardent desire for
matrimony. They all do it. you know, my
lord, sooner or later The shepherds crook
is all very well for awhile, but it stands no
chance against four-post bedstead.
The little Bishop chuckles softly to him
self. He also commenced life with the in
tention of dedicating it to the good of suf-
fering humanity, but there is little Bish-
opress and more than one episcopal olive
shoot in the upper story that look as if his
thoughts had, at some time or other, wan
dered sadly out of the beaten track
eyes" he admits, after judicious
pause; ''it is certainly true that helpmeet
has wonderful effect in sweetening the
path of duty"
Mr.. Ryle laughs aloud.
$50 my friend Hugh Darrell thinks and
he has found the helpmeet, if he had only
the means of marrying her. But he is
half starving by himself somewhere down
at the East End of London, and it is use
less trying to do division sum with moth
ing but naughts. So have come to you,
my lord, to see if yop can assist me, L
there no cure in this big diocese of Cor.
hamburg into which you could pop my
friend and his wife, and let them begin a
pastoral life together ?"
The Bishop knit his brows.
Chow sorry I am" he replies, ''to be
be obliged to say MOI But 1 have really
nothing to offer you-nothing except
indeed, the curacy of Sarcelett, and that
Mr.. Darrell would not thank me for. In
deed, | am just considering how I can unite
it with that of Payne"
@But why? What objection is there to
Sarcelett ?"
"Have you not heard ?"
Indeed, no These parish disputes
and scandals are not at all in my line"
The Bishop glances around to see if the
door is closed and lowers his voice.
aWe don't like to speak of these things,
he says mysteriously, abHt I am afraid this
story has been too much talked about to be
a secret. Have you not heard the reason
that Mr. Sheepshanks left Sarcelett p
0Not word of it, my lord. did not
even know he had gone till you told me, "
"He could not stay there, Mr.. Ryle; nc
one will remain in that parsonage after a
few months trial have been Bishop Of
this diocese pow for ten years, and during
that time I have put as many menn into the
cure of 2areelett.
"But what's the matter with it p de
mands Mr.. Ryle again,
"It is haunted !" whispered the Bishop
The visitor bursts into a loud and un
seemly laugh.
''Is that all, my lord .? Well, then, give
Darrell the chance of exercising the ghost
He is the man to do it, if anyone can. Ht
! is not q pale-faced, white-livered creature
like poor SheeR RshaHkG, who would tremblt
at the falling of leaf, but stout =heapted
muscular man, with the wisdom of a seF=
pent and the courage Of lion. He'll clear
Sarcelett of its ghosts, | warrant you, anc
you'll never hear another word about then
after he has taken up his residence there. ,
at is all very well to laugh at such
things, Mr.. Ryle, but do you think should
be justified in allowing him to accept the
cure? Remember, Sheepshanks is not the
only one who has found life impossible al
Sarcelett. Everyone has told the same tale
and given up his means of subsistence
sooner than remain there, | could moi
justify it to my conscience to install another
man in that parsonage without telling hin
the truth
''Let us tell it to him, then, cried Mr.
Ryle. ''I know my friend better than yor
do, and an obstacle in his way will MAKE
him only the more eager to fight and over
come it.
''You can do as you choose in the mat
ter, Mr.. Ryle The cure is vacant anC
Mr.. Darrell is welcome to it, on condition
that you fully explain its disadvantages
The parsonage is charming old house anc
the stipend is 400 a year, But these fact
only prove how much Its former holders
must have been annoyed before they would
resign so good curacy."
"Darrell will not resign it, says Mr.
Ryle, confidently II will make out tn,
case to him as black as l can, and in an
other month you will see him and hi
pretty little wife as happy as two birds a
Sarcelett And now all [ have to do is tt
thank you cordially, my lord, for YOU