Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-11-12
A CUNNING SCHEME.
But It Didn't Work to the Authors
Entire Satisfaction.

girls by tho hand. They wondered,
knowing how much she had been to
him, how he would endure the terrible
blow Of his wife's death. His face was
like marble as tho coffin was lowered
into tho grave; there was no outward
sign Of anguish, but no one doubted for
moment that he suffered keenly. He
had been rather a mystery to his con-
gregation always; but they knew him
70 be capable Of deep feeling, in spite
Of his cold. impassiye manner. A
NOISY, demonstrative show of grief
would have been impossible to him.
lie was n man Of great tranquility Of
mind, and with little energy Of dispo-
sition. lie took all that Providence
sent him very dutifully, without any
effort TO change or amend il, no matter
how Objectionable 1t might be, and he
possessed in perfection the art of put
ting up with whatsoever befell him.
He was not favorite with his flock,
but he was by no means unpopular.
The poor loved him, for his hand was
always ready to go to his pocket at
tale OF distress, limited as were his
means. and his reproofs were always Of
the mildest sort. The rich. though
they had little to say for him. had moth
ing TO say against him. They invited
him frequently to their houses, enter
tanned him handsomely, and bore very
complacently with his habit OF falling
into brown study at the dnner-table.
A. Tor the younger portion Of his flock
his good looks, his rich chestnut hair
and dreamy dark eyes had early inn
pressed them profoundly, and they sang
his praises without stint
II was a source Of regret to many Of
the young ladies-and a few Of the
older ones-that Mr. Brown was 4
married man. Many years before he
had come TO the church at Barstow he
had welded a gentle, sweet-tempered
girl. who fairly worshiped him, and
had proved herself a good wife and a
devoted mother Their welded life
had flowed on as calmly as a meadow
brook, undistuTbed by any petty
domestic Jars or troubles. 1t bad never
occurred TO Mr.. Brown that it might
not 20 on so forever. He did not notice
his wife's failing health, and as she was
one Of the kind who never complain.
he was utterly unprepared for her
death. II stupefied him; he could not
understand IL 1t seemed 10 him in
credible, impossible, and he felt be-
wildered and half-puzzlcd even when
he heard the sods falling on the coffin.
He went back to his lonely home with
his two little girls. and shut himself up
in his study. where he lay down on the
well-worn lounge, a dull pain in his
head. 1t seemed to him that his lost
Laura must know how much he needed
her. He could not realize that she was
gone. He lay there, hah-expectiDg TO
see her enter and to feel her tender
touch on his brow. soothing away the
pain as she had often done when he
was brain weary. But hour after hour
went by, and no one came near him.
and he heard only the voices of bis
children as they talked loudly to the
cook in the kitchen.
The next day he went out as usual,
pursuing his accustomed round of
duties as TRANQUILITY and patiently as
ever. His parishioners were loud in
their expressions Of admiration to each
other n they saw how well he bore his
great sorrow, and they were very kind
TO him, especially in the matter of ad-
vice. His distressing situation" was
the subject of debate in almost every
house in Barstow. II was talked over
at the meetings Of the sewing circle,
the reading club and the Indian Relief
Association, and It was unanimously
agreed that the best thing the poor wild
over could do was to employ a gov
erness, who could also act as house,
keeper and general manager
But il was not an easy matter to find
the right kind of woman for the place,
though there were many applicants for
it II was decided that only a middle
aged, respectable, quiet woman, who
would be incapable Of scheming to fill
TIC late Mrs Browns place, and who
would be competent to take charge Of
the little girls. would do, and such q
one was bard TO find.
1t was Miss Anastasia Bowen who at
length found just the right person. and
as Mr. Brown was willing to do just
what Miss Bowen thought best, that
lady took the responsibility Of installing
Miss Susan PIPER in the parsonage
without further delay.
Miss Piper was neither old nor young
she had no pretensions whatever 10
good looks, and she was so exceedingly
shy that If the minister spoke to her on
even the most trivial topic she blushed
as red as "A peony. But these, said Miss
Anasiasia, were such trifing drawbacks
as almost to be looked upon in the Light
Of advantages. under the circumstances.
Miss Piper was, as Mr.. Brown soon
saw, very good woman, exceedingly
conscientious and painste king. She did
ber best for the two little girls-healihy
happy, pretty little creatures Of nine
and eleven years-who learned the
simple lesson she gave them from pure
love for her, not because they feared
her displeasure.
Probably there was no lady in Bar
stow who took deeper interest in the
household affairs Of the bereayed wild.
over than Miss Anastasia Bowen. She
was. in spite of the fact that youth haC
long since left her. Of a sentimental
turn OF mind, and the pale, high-bred
face and gentle manners of Mr.. Brown
had inspired her with an intense admir-.
alton for him, which, after the death o.
his wife, ripened into an undisgulsed
attachment which was patent 10 every
one but the object Of II. Not a chancC
did the spinster lose Of seeing her idol.
aud scarcely day passed that she did
not run into the parsonage on one
excuse or another
But the minister absorbed IN his
books and the memory Of his dead
Linrs. was utterly aud sublimely un-
conscious OF the passion he had in
spired. The idea OF second marriage
had never entered his mind. lie never
even asked himself whether he liked
Miss Bowen or not, but SO constantly
did she press her advice respecting
every subject upon him that he grew 10
depend upon her in great measure.
and often consulted her upon different
household and church matters, never
touching. however, in any manner