The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-01-30

of the Bethel society and the Dakota League
to Lucretia," said Miss Rich "It's only pro-
per for the clergyman's wife to be at the
head ofthem."
you'll feel sorter lost without 'em ?" ask
ed Mrs Phelps.
"The parish is large field. l think can
spare them to Lucretia. Do you know the
other night as l was going 10 watch with
Miss Hart when she had in flammation of the
lungs came across Lucretia and Susan and
Mr.. Lindsay. l must say l should think
Susan would have more taste than to follow
,em anywhere. Why don'tshe keep herself
in the background?
"She's been pretty much in the back.
ground all her life" said DR.. Slow. per
haps she's tired of the situation"
but she ought to have more consldera
ton. P'r'aps the lovers don't mind her.
There they were all three of 'em, watching
the comet and studying the heavens"
"a proper study for a clergyman" said DR..
Slow.
"And he was pointing out all the conster-
nations, and it seemed to me they was look
ing at him instead of the stars, pursued Miss
Rich.
ut would be a complication" suggested
Mrs. Phelps, "if, while he's counting Lucreta
Susan should get in love with him.
at wouldn't be no use" said Mrs. Grimm
| "Lucretia's that smart she'd make him be-
lieve it was her he was dying for"
The Shaws had enough to keep the wolf
from the door, but nothing to spare; they
owned their house. but kept no servants
Help would be dreadfuly in their way"
Miss Rich declared II wonder they don't
feel glad they can't afford any,"
Susan always wore the simplest garments,
which she designed and executed herself,
while Lucretia-"Well, if there's anything
that units Lucretia for her future position
at the head of the parish" confessed Mrs
Phelps, "it's her love for finery."
| Lucretia always blossomed out in a pretty
spring bonnet-while Susan made her last
years one answer-and smart new suit
made in the latest wrinkle.
1t was about this time that the parish pic
mic occurred-an institution which every
| body believed in. Hadn't there been more
| matches made at the last than during all the
year besides? And wasn't it fine chance
to test Mrs. Phelps recipes, Miss Rich's cream
pies and Mrs. DIR. Slows tarts? OF course
Lucreta went, and Mr.. Lindsay with her
Susan happened to be making preserves and
pickles that day, and berries wouldn't keep,
and staid at home. At about the middle of
the afternoon, when they had had dinner and
cleared away, and things were little slow,
and they wanted somebody to start some
music, Mr.. Lindsay was nowhere to be
found.
ooh, he's gone off with Lucretia some
where" said Miss Rich, who felt it her duty
to account for him.
mo; there's Lucreta now, talking with
Dr. Slow about free-will."
"P'rhaps he's gone home to write out his
sermon" suggested somebody else, the pic
mic grove being only half mile from town.
"Or he's finding tongues in trees and SER
mons in stones out here"
But at sunset Mr.. Lindsay stroed back,
with Susan on his arm, in time to Join them
at tea and he and Susan made the coffee, and
pitched the tunes they sang before the day
ended.
Now wasn't that thoughtful in Mr. Lind
say to 90 after Miss Susan? That's what
call real Christian, and brother-n-law
worth having" commented one old lady.
But when Mrs. Bishop, who had staid at
home with teething baby, reported that
Mr.. Lindsay had not gone home to write
his sermon, but had walked straight into
Susan's kitchen, and helped her seal up the
preserve jars and set them away, and had
sat in the front porch an hour or two after
wards with her-when he might have been
with Notwithstanding secular poetry, and
not Dr. Watts or Charles Wesley either, the
parish rose in its wrath to u woman. This
would never do; Lucretia must not be tri-
fled with. Mr. Lindsay had inspired hope in
her gentle heart he must marry Lucretia or
leave the parish"
you see" explained Mr.. Phelps. 1--WE want
to settle you, Mr. Lindsay. You suit us to
a t, but it kinder seems MS if you ought to
propose to Lucretia Shaw, you've been so
attentive"
propose to Lucretia Shaw p repeated the
young man, with startled air. "What has
that 10 do with settling me ? Is every clergy
man who comes to Lennox obliged to pro-
pose to Lucrelia Shaw as a preliminary pre-.
paration?"
"Well, no, not exactly" laughed Mr.
Phelps, mot unless he's given the parish
| reason to expect it. You know we don't
want the credit of settling a philanderng
parson who makes love right and left. I'd
no idea the thought would be new to you,
but the parish has set its heart on the match,
you see and we wouldn't like to see a man,
if he was eloquent in prayer, who'd tritle
with the affections Of one of the flock, you
know"
"But, my dear sir" said Mr. Lindsay, "Im
not at all in love with Lucretia Shaw. You
wouldn't have me perjure MYSELF"
mot in love with Lucretia? The parish
won't believe its own eyes again, reckon"
"Well, said Mr. Grimm, severely, 1--WE
could't think ofsettling preacher that hadn't
no more principle than to throw over Lucre-
tia Shaw after taking tea so much to her
house, and raising her hopes, as it WERE"
perhaps" said Mr.. Lindsay, after pause
-'perhaps you will be able to forgive me
for not proposing to Lucretia when | tell
you that have already proposed to Susan.
You see it would complcate matters n little
if were to accede TO your wishes However,
have lately received call from Western
parish, and should feel obliged to decline the
Lennox parish, even ifyou had thought me
worthy of it, as this other furnishes wider
field of usefulness"
And larger salary, suppose" added Mr..
Grimm.
"And larger salary, allowed Mr. Lindsay
Double, in fact"
II suppose" persisted Miss Rich, after the
wedding-"I suppose Lucreia must have re-
fused him first"