The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-06-20

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proportion to his anticipation of coming
matrimonial bliss. Only, he says, as he
parts with Ryle-who has made journey
to London to convey the good news to him .
II think, perhaps, shat, all things con-
sidered, it will be as well to keep this story
from Bessie's cars, Ryle. She's an awfully
clever girl, you know-pl plucky and full of
common sense; still, women are more timid
and superstitious than men, and this idea
of a ghost to be looked out for might mar
the pleasure of eur honeymoon So we
will keep it to ourselves for the present
and it will 90 hard with me if the first
time it appears in Sarcelett parsonage after
am installed there | don't hit it such a
crack over the head as will transform it
into ghost in earnest.
He is brimming over with happiness at
his unexpected good fortaue, this merry
Hugh Darrell He has no Thought but for
his pretty Bessie and his 400 a-year, and a
few weeks afterward he goes up to the
altar with as firm step as ever bridegroom
bore, and signs himself away for life as
cheerfully as if he were merely putting his
hand to receipt for FIVE shillings. Every
one is contented and satisfied, and before
long the villagers of Sarcelett hear that
their new pastor has arrived and taken up
his residence in the haunted house. OF
course, the furniture is of the plainest and
most modest description, although good
Mr. Ryle has sent many pretty ornament
and useful article over to Sarcelett. But
Mr.. and Mrs. Darrell are in the seventh
heaven, as they arrange their various pos
sessions, and Hugh varies the monotony of
labor with unclerical kisses.
Their first difficulty arises on the ques-
ton of servants, and Bessie cannot imagine
why none of the rosy-cheeked girls of the
village will consent to be her housemaid.
However, she has a useful married sister
in London, whom she makes referee on
all domestic matters and who soon de-
spatches her couple of servants procured
from the registry Office in the next street.
Then all goes merry as marrlage-bell.
The little household gets into perfect
working order. The Rev. Hugh Darrell
has become first-class favorite with his
parishioners and Bessie has but one COM
plant to make, that the village people take
up his time SO fully he has hardly a mo-
ment to bestow on herself-that is, until
his afternoon rounds are concluded and the
delightful tea-time comes, when she can
bring him his slippers and his lounging
coat and sit at his feet to hear all that he
has to tell her of the events Of the day
But one morning at breakfast the Rev
erend Hugh proposes to his wife that they
shall take ramble together
"The summer is nearly over," he says,
''and we shall not have many more oppor-
tunities of spending the day out of doors.
This morning, for wonder, | am free.
Let us walk over to Gorhambury, Bessie,
and explore the beauties of the cathedral. p"
Bessie'S face falls. aHow tiresome, she
says, ''that it should have happened SO, but
have engaged Mrs. Brown to come to-
day to alter my winter dresses, and if | dc
not superintend her she will not do quar-
ter of the work. l cannot put her off if
would. What shall do?"
nNeYer mind" replies her husband,
eheerfully; Hthe dress is Of the more im=
portance of the two, and 1t Is right you
should attend to it. will write my Sun
day sermon instead, and we will put of
our little jaunt to the end of the week.
So saying, he rises from the table, kisses
his wife and walks into his study.
As he is writing his sermon, however,
an hour afterwafd, and raises his eyes me-
chanioally to look for ideas among the poses
In the garden, he is rather surprised to see
Mrs. Darrell going down the grayeled path
toward the gate. She Is attired in blue
dress which he has not seen before, but he
admires its shape and fashion and thinks
how we'll it becomes her, as Bessie goes
steadily through the garden and out upon
the village road. Yet he cannot help
wondering where Mrs Brown can be and
why his wife did not tell him she had
broken her appointment. The incident
trifipg as it is, disturbs him, and he does
not make much way with his seF@oR during
the rest of the morning. And when he
meets his wife at the early dinner table his
first words revert to the subject
"Why didn't you tell me, my dear, that
you changed your mind about going out
this morning? I should have liked to ac-
company you"
~ have not been out" says Bessie, in
differently.
aNot been out? Why, saw you &C
with my own eyes"
Nonsense, Hugh. l have been uI
stairs the whole morning, working with
Mrs. Brown. I have had no time fol
walking, worse luck 1t is quite a pen
ance to be kept in such lovely day.
Hugh Darrell regards his wife with the
utmost astoRishWent
my dear, you must have forgotten
Do you think am blind? | tell you
saw you leave the house, and ! can tel
you what you wore lHto the bargain. A
blue dress"
"I haven't a blue dress in my posses
sion" cries Bessie, in tone of annoyance
"and do you think would tell a falsehoot
for such trife? repeat, Hugh, | have
not been out this morning"
ut is very strange, replies her husband
nwho can it have been, then7 | made
sure it was you,
But inquire as he will, he can hear nc
further tidings of the lady In hlae, and al
uncomfortable suspicion that his wife has
for some reason or other, deceived him, re
mains on his mind.
A few days afterward, however, Mrs
DARRELL having question to ask her hus
band, steals downstairs with the view o.
knocking at his study door. As she comes
in view of it she sees the figure of wo
man, dressed in blue, standing on the
threshold, who, as she catches sight OF her
enters the study door and disappears
"That must be the lady whom Hugf
mistook for me-" she thinks to herself
'but she is>not bit like me, in figure Ol
style, and | aam sure he will never catch
me wearing such . hideous blue dress.
wonder what her face is like and what she
can want to see Hugh for?'
Bessie is too sensible to be suspicious o1
Jealous, so she goes down to her kitcheI
for half an hour, and at the end of tina
time returns, and, gaining admittance t.
her husbands study, finds that he is alone
"Where is the lady?" she asks, inquisi
lively, "and what did she want with you2
''What lady?" demands Hugh, looking
nm from his writing