Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-29

carry .Ty. ...,. 49,. - u;, /. ..;a
0eorgins Redforth, In the distance; 1--WE shan't
be able to do much more to-day"
"You might fetch . candle, M. Fenton," Gug-
gested Ellen; she spoke mumblingly, because
her mouth was full of tin tacks.
II will, Miss Ellen; there il one in the yes
try" replied the meek one, hurrying of to do
her behest
Just then, immediately above Ernest's head,
there came the sound Of soft voice that
seemed to descend out of the vague darkness
Of the old oaken rafters, and Lille an angelic
whisper to float downward towards the young
man beneath.
SIS that you, Mr.. Fenton?" murmured the
silyery voice OF the invisible angel in the roof.
viii you very kindly hand me up that small
n noss s that h is yRg on the seat There
Ernest was cropping about in the semi-dark-
ness for the hammer and marvelling-whose
was this silver-toned voice? No Redforth
maiden who ever drew breath had such q
voice as that! Having found the hammer he
him he could just discern dark mass, like
unto female form, clad in black, out of which
a white face seemed to CLEAN, moonlike and
mysterious
Three spirits straightway took possession Of
our friend Ernest-a spirit of curiosity spirit
OF adventure, and spirit of mischief-and en-
tering into the tabernacle Of his soul, these
three spirits straightway proceeded to make
themselves very much at homo there.
He uttered no disclaimer as to his identity
with the Rev. Cyrus Fenton. He uttered no
words at all in fact; he simply picked up the
hammer and went up the ladder.
When he got near the top he came upon soft
woollen skirts and found himself in close prox-
unity to an oval face, which seemed to be
framed in by q line of dazzling white. He could
not see her features, for it was much darker
amongst the wooden rafters even than it was
below, but he could see that narrow line Of
white that seemed to make q setting to the
shadowy face above him.
What was she? A hospital nurse in the reg
ulation CAPT or a charity girl in q cottage bon
net? He was certain that she was neither! He
was certain that she was a lady, not only by the
sweet tones Of the silvery voice that had spO-
ken, but also now he was near her, by q GER
tain subtle and fragrant aroma which fingers
near the odor Of lilies and roses about the per-
sonaiity OF woman who is young and refined
and delicately::bred.
When he got close to her he put the hammer
into her outstretched hand, and then he made
movement as though he would have de-
scended, when the voice above him spoke
again; this time nearly in q whisper.
Don't 60, Mr.. Fenton. have something
to say to you"
Ernest ought Of course to have spoken up at
this juncture, but the three spirits afore men
toned being still employed in holding high
jinks within him, he said nothing at all, but
''Do you know, have thought a good deal
about what you said to me yesterday, and I
think you were perfectly right"
Here she paused, and Ernest feeling that
some answer was expected Of him, and re-
alizing that whether It were for good or for
evil he could not now retire from the situa-
ton, murmured in choked whisper Of which
the tones were almost indistinguishable:-
do you think sop
''Yes, do really. But don't want you to
think more OF my words than mean. It was
quite right Of you to tell me that ought to do
some good in the world, and have made up
my mind will do So / will visit the poor or
nurse the sick-Or-or do anything you can
suggest to me to be useful. did notmean at
all to deny your right as a clergyman to point
out this to me when told you that I could not
marry you. was angry at the time but am
sorry 1 spoke 80 hardly. am sure there must
be other ways of doing good in the world than
marriage, even with q Clergyman
By this time Ernest wished himself at the
bottom Of the ladder again, and those three
rampant little fends who had led him into this
awkward situation persisted and died of shame
and inantion within him.
His only desire now was to run away He
dared not disclose himself; he dared not point
out the faint CLEAN Of the curate's spectacles
as they glittered in the light Of the tallow can
die far away in the distant chancel He dared
not utter a sound indeed, so fearful was he of
betraying himself to Mr.. Fenton's lady-love!
He did not wish to listen to any more Of the
lady's outpouring Of heart, and yet how on
earth was he to get away!
He went down two rungs Of the ladder, and
then the voice of the angel arrested him once
more.
..Wait!" she said, and he waited obediently.
There was something in the ring Of that voice
that began to produce odd effects upon him: he
crept up the ladder again. There was a watt
of perfume in the very atmosphere that sur
rounded her. She bent toward him and he
could almost have touched the dusky locks of
her scented hair. She was young and she was
beautiful. He could not see it, but he could
have sworn it.
Il have something 1 wanted to give YOU.
You have been kind to me in place where
was stranger-and-I fear have not treated
you very well, and wanted you to keep this as
a little remembrance of me. give it to you
and because l think you will like it all the
better for that. How dark it is! l cannot see
a bit; hold out your hand"
And then terrible thing happened. Whether
the ladder with its double weight had slightly
shifted, or whether the lady reached ont too
far and overbalanced herself, it will never
rightly be known. But of a sudden there was
a crash and a cry, and down came that ladder
to the floor with a great thump, while the two
persons who had been at the top of it re-
manned suspended, struggling, clinging on to
the fortunately very firmly attached rome
which was fastened to the beam above their
heads.
1t sounds perhaps worse than it really was.
for the distance was not immense, and the rope
hung down almost into the organ gallery. More
over. Ernest who was young and agile had
caught firm hold Of the young lady's waist with
one arm.
Don't be frightened, have got you" he
said. and then he swung the rope, himself and
his fair burden-even at that moment he no.
ticed how slight and lissom was the figure that
chung to him-very dexterously into the organ
gallery, where they both dropped about cou-
pie OF feet into an empty pew, little bit
breathless, but otherwise quite unhurt.
You have saved my life!' cried the lady,
little Historically.
"Fiddlesticks!" replied the gentleman, quite
forgetting his assumed character, and speak
ing in his natural voice.
A moment Of silence. 81 had no idea Won
were 80 active-and SO clever! It was all nv
fault. / bent too much over and you might
have been hurt, too, Mr.. Fenton, but for your
own presence OF mind, which saved us both"
"Oh, 1t was nothing"
"But it was. And-now more than ever I
wish to give you this-it will prove to you INV
gratitude" And she pressed something into
his hand-he hardly knew what.
There was-if he did not wish to be ipno-
miniously discovered-no time to be lost. The
noise of the falling ladder had alarmed the
Misses Redforth and the curate in the chancel,
where they had been putting the finishing
Is anybody hurK he heard them CIV ss Is s thew
came hurrying down the nave.
Without a word Ernest turned and fed. down
the gallery stairs, out at the west end door Of
the church, and home to Fossett Hall M Fast an