The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-27

as he, tho rector, was concernca, hi- curats
might have flown about on II hroomStick If
by so doing he kept the bother Of the parish
Off his s1iperior's hands
| Mr.. Mordle, who was unabl. tn that his
ordination VOWS declared him from using
such convenient vehicle for getting from one
end Of the parish to another, did u hold thing
Knowing that tho bishop was staying at a
country house some twenty five miles away,
he threw himself early one morning into the
saddle or the seat, and used his neither limbs
to such purpose that just before lunch timo
his card was sent in to his lord>hip. aud in ten
minutes the bishop was grnv.ly inspecting
what Mrs. Pierreront, when speaking tn her
friends, called diaboicaJ mPchina.
For somo minutes ths bishop stood on tbs
d"nrS'eps, weighing The innocence or guilt %
tho inanimats creature At his feet, Sylvanus
.ho "hile pleading its cause with his usual
brisk vehemence and jerky dextarity. Tie
sIpatiated on the size Of his parish, and on tho
wonderful assistance ne derived from this
modern invention for getting quickly over
the ground. He showed his lcrdship the con-
venient little bag attached to the back, in
which he carried his books Of devotion, or,
when occasion needed, some small creature
comfort for the aged sick. He explained the
action of the machine, and so raised the epis-
copal curiosity that an unheard of thing
occurred. His lordship, CATERS and ali,
gravely installed himself in the seat, and to
tho unutterable delight OF several ladies and
gentlemen who were gazing through the
drawinS-room windows, in quiet, dignified,
leisurely way, as behooves bishop, actually
propelled his sacred self down the gravel path
and up again, with no further damage than
cutting up the edges Of his hosts lawn and
knocking couple of stones out of a rockery.
The tricycle. triumphed! Although the bishop
did not embody a eulogistic notice of it in
his next charge to his clergy, he has been
known on several occasions to recommend its
use in outlying districts.
Like many other useful innovations, Syl-
vanus and his tricycle. lived down prejudice,
and were able to accompany each other to
Hazlewood House this particular afternoon in
July.
The "Tabbies" had driven into Blacktown:
but Miss CIauSon was in the back garden
Sylvanus pulled his tricycle. aside, so that it
should be out of the way of other callers, then
Went to meet what fate had in store for them.
Poor fellow, he breathed a prayer as he
crossed the lawn. He had really very little
hope; but he felt he must make his confession
before he struck his flag altogether.
1t was warm July afternoon. Beatrice,
in dainty white dress, looked deliciously
cool as She sat reading in the shade of a syca-
more tree. She smiled pleasantly when she
saw her visitor approaching. Sylvanus wonld
have given all he possessed to have seen her
eyes drop shyly--to have noticed blush rise
to her cool, white cheek. Mrs. Miller, the
nurse, sat with the little boy on her lap some
short distance off.
After the first greeting, Sylvanus fetched
one Of those comfortable, carpet-seated chairs,
several of which were scattered about, and
sat beside Beatrice They talked for while
on ordinary subjects; then, like man, the
curate resolved to come to the point.
81 wish to say a few words to you alone,
Miss Clauson. viii you walk into the house
or the other garden with mef
1--WE can speak here" she said telling the
nurse to take the child indoors. She kissed the
little man tenderly as he was led away.
"You are very fond Of tho child" said Syl-
vanus.
Every, very fond Of him" Then she
turned her clear gray eyes upon him as one
who waited for a promised communication
He knew all was lost--or rather nothing had
been his to lose But he went on to the Bit
ter end.
'Miss Clauson- Beatrice" he said. 81
have come to-day to ask you if you could love
me-if you will be my wifeF