The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-06-04
ACLERICAL WORLDLING.

The shutters ofthe rectory windows
were wide open. This was very unlike
the policy of the rector OF st. AIMS,
who invariably prayed to be delivered
from the flies, dust and all disorder
iiness. But there had come a change
in the life OF Rev. Arthur Dibbins, as
there ever must be in mutabie things.
He had married wealth, and with
wealth, bondage. 1t was the will OF
Mrs Dibbins that the shutters would
henceforth be open, and to this new
state OF affairs the rector was recon
cilcd by many tonpensations.
His shades had been torn down
in n frenzy, and were now usurped by
neutrality-suspicious. screens OF fine
brass links, purchased in Egypt.
There was drapery from Persia, and
a revolving fan, like q slavein attend
ance over Mr.. Dibbln's brown head
where he sat. Hortense, a French
woman, removed every particle OF
dust before it had settled, His papers
were flied and docketed with a sys-
TEN that he. could only wonder and
admire. He was clad in a jacket OF
imported stuff, and crossed his
slippered feet-albeit eighths-on a
fender ofextraordi naryworkmanship.
All. yes! Heaven had sent compen-
stations. He had married Miss Rachel
Plympton with the full consent and
approval misrepresentation, although
himself penniless This salary OF four
Thousand O year counted as nothing
from the Plympton standpoint), he
was master OF a degree of popularity
and clerical eminence which constitut-
ed q fine stock in trade.
He was a handsome man, past 40,
with o dark, sallow complexion, good
eyes, and hair and mustache OF a
youthful cut. His manner was nery-
Gus and s-elf-conscious, yet saturated
with the aroma of culture which years
OF uninterrupted prosperity exhale.
For the Rev. Arthur Dihbins to fall
down or stumble up, was a horrid
anomaly; it produced at oncelaughter
and a shock.
The wedding festivities over, the brid.
al couple had sailed for Europe.
They were very Ill on the voyage, but
recovered their strength and dignity
in cathedral aisles and galleries OF art.
They Summered on the Alps, and
Wintered in the Riviera; sailed up the
Nile and down the Rhine; crossed the
glaciers and penetrated jungles, the
products Of all of which were shipped
to Liverpool in ponderous boxes and
conveyed thence Tor the transforma.
ton Of the rectory, which was being
torn almost from its foundations.
They hadhad adelightful trip. But
were capable OF enjoying those inner
secrets known only to thetourist who
reads and imagines between the lines
OF his Badeker. 1t had rained occa-
sionally when they had wished to be
out OF doors, and they had experience
ed the usual-one might say, the cor
rect-tribulations which follow in the
wake OF cabmen and couriers. The
former had outraged them, and the
latter had thwarted their fondest de-
sires.
On the whole, however, that intan.
gible perfume Of manner which is so
quickly dissipated by gross forms Of
university. had, in the person of Rev.
Arthur Dibbins, suffered no loss.
Seated in the breakfast-room OF the
rectory--the return voyage over-he
was enabled to live again in the OBJ
jects around him, the charmed exist
ence of the past, fourteen months. Ra-
chel. in q Paris Creation" smiled
from behind the urn like an aurora
sprung from the canvass. She had SUI
perintended the execution of his ia
vorite dishes-forit must DO confessed
that Arthur's palate as well has soul,
had undergone cultivation abroad
which We're o steaming with gentle
invitation from Dresden receptacles
before him. There were flowers in crys-
tai vases on the cloth, and as he leis-
urely slipped his chocolate, his left
hand held open the leaves of an en-
belished volume.
The great Archdeacon was to per-
form in the rectory drawing-room
that morning, the entertainment con-
sisting of his lecture upon Dante, for
an elect few. Mr.. and Mrs. Dibbins
had been immersed for days in bog
raphies and criticisms Of the poet.
The rector was familiar with every
original line OF Dante; he followed him
adoringly, however critically, through
purgatory, paradise andhell. Hehad
q portrait Of him in q prettily-elapor-
ated frame, before which he poised his
slender figure and commented. for the
benefit OF his guests, upon the grief.
worn face. He rould extract mouth,
brow and eyes, separately, and trace
their expression to certain we'll defined
phases Of spiritual throes. He cursed
Florence, and ap~otheosized the wide
world which had fostered such great
genius.
There yer many people," hesaid,
ITO whom Providence had ordained
that the world should be unkind. To
interfere with this intention was a
dangerous matter, the loss. perhaps,
ofour greatest poets and painters.
A9On the morningi in question he turn.
ed thsleayes OF the volume before him
with reriying interest. Now and then
read Hpassage aloud to his wife, as:
THE people of Verona, when they
him or thesstreett, used to say:
sEccoviF IN eli, state all Inferno,
1See, there il q man thatswas in hell
-ah, yes; he had been in he'll; in hell
enough, in long severe sorrow And
struggle; as the like Of him is pretty
Iurs to have been. Commedias that.
,ome out divine are not accomplished
otherwise.
Mr.. Dibbins. mind seized acutaiy
lpOn wQrd-pictnres of this character.
ae appreeilted them, he even believed
Zee hs "a one with them, for THERE'S
n gS,.n 10 as,rh q iInna