Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-10-26


even to prepare a sermon. We shall
be greatly obliged if you will dine
with US tomorrow after church.
THEoDORA REED.
And after satisfying herself that it
was all right, she carried it herself to
the Star Hotel.
Mr.. Hervey wasn't in, hadn't been
in since morning. But they would
give him the note directly on his ar
rival.
So Theodore fastened home again,
and in the course of the afternoon
little colored boy from the hotel
brought a card on one side of which
was engraved "Henry Hervey,"
while upon the other was written the
words, "Wlth the' greatest of pleas
ure."
And the minister's daughter, ION
hospitable thought intent, roasted
a pair of Fchickens, collected the in
gradients for salad, made peach
pie, and baked loaf of bread, which
was light and white as sea foam.
ssI'll show him that the country
girls understand good housekeeping"
said Theo to herself.
Mr.. Reed was not able to leave
his sofa the next morning, so Theo
put on a pretty blue and white mus
lin dress and the gypsy hat with the
roses that became her beautiful COM
plexion so perfectly, and went to
church, after first seeing that the ia
BILE was all spread for the cold DIM
ner, and the, coffee pot simmering
on the stove.
The church was full.
Mr.. Hervey was rising luminary
in the theological horizon, and al
most every one in Winfield had heard
him so that there was no lack of an
audience.
But to Theodora's ineffable dis
may the tall young man who walked
so composedly out on the platform
o1h {hon tho fro r q on6
person who had stood on her kitchen
threshold only the day before and
overheard her diatribe on the subject
of undesired guests.
Under the shadows of the roses
she turned redder still.
"Oh, my tongue-my unlucky ton
gue?'' she said frantically to her.
self. 81 always knew it would lead
me into greater trouble What must
he have thought?''
And as may be inferred, Theo-
dora's devotions-albeit she was in
reality a sweet, sincere little Chris
tian-did not do her much good that
morning.
Mr.. Hervey came across into the
parsonage when the sermon was over
and held out his hand to blushing
Theodore.
"We meet again." said he, with a
smile.
81 can't help it," burst out Theo-
dora, in desperation. 81 meant ev-
cry word / said, Mr.. Hervey; it was
all true. But-but it didn't apply to
you !"
81 understand, he said quietly.
81 was little nettled at the moment,
for | merely wished for temporary
shelter while they were furnishing my
room at the Star Hotel. But l can
easily see now that l have thought
the matter over in new light, that a
minister's family must be sadly pes
tered with voluntary guests. Pray
think no more of it, Miss Reed"
And he spoke so frankly and pleas
antly that Theo became quite at her
ease, while he carved the chicken,
and she prepared the crisp lettuce and
limpid oil for the salad.
He was taken up to Mr.. Reeds
sick room after dinner and had a
pleasant chat with him before the af-
ternoon service.
"You have done me great favor,
SIR said the elder clergyman, when
at length he parted from his guest.
"And we should esteem it as priv
ilege-my little girl and If you
would make your home at the par
sonage during your stay in town.
Should we not, Theo?"
Theodore hung down her head and
turned pink to the very roots of her
hair.
eyes," she said almost inaudibly.
"Only 1 am ashamed to say so. Oh,
papa" hiding her face on his shoul-
der, 81 have behaved very badly! ]
|
never should have taken it for grant
ed that Mr.. Hervey was like the
rest"
And then, infinitely to Mr.. Her.
vey's amusement, she told the whole
interview with Deacon Powers.
Mr.. Reed smiled as he stroked
Theo's head.
"My little girl is only little girl, y
said he, "and sometimes forgets that
the tongue is an unruly member. But
she will improve as she grows older. "
Mr.. Hervey spent the summer at
Winfield. He was revising the proof
sheets of a theological volume and
liked the quiet and seclusion OF the
little village.
Perhaps, too, he liked something
else about it. At all events, although
he did not make the parsonage his
home, he spent a good deal of time