Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-30
THE NEW CURATE.

THE NEW CURATE.
"You haven't seen him yeti Well
that's pity. He's quite catch, i al
told Young. handsome and single VIII
don't you set your cap for him. Matte
You've got as good a chance as the res
of Them. and SO is not old by any means.
She leaned over the garden gate as sh
spoke. this yeritable village gossip Ical
see her now. with her great poke bonnet
from which the clustering gray ringlet
pceped; the keen blue eyes that seemed t,
read your very thoughts: the trim littl
figure. clad always in ample skirts o
Quaker gray or somber brown
\ Never was there wedding, funeral O
christening in the village without this es
timsble lsdy's presence. What harm
les little body she appeared and how in
capable of carrying about that wonderful
budget of informationi How nicely sh,
impaired her knowledge TO her listeners
beginning with, We'll, don't mind tell
in; you. or, They do say. but of cours,
you can't believe anything" and ending
with. That's between you and me; it WI
60 no further.
was in the garden that morning train
ing some early June roses; my thought.
were not the brightest, scarcely in har
mony with nature, which was decked il
one of her brightest mantles. 1t was
quite unnecessary for Mrs. Briggs to re
mind me of my age; was thinking seri
oasly Of 1t. Twenty-sixi Not very old
70 besure. and yet not very young to an
unmarried woman. must be content
with fewer laurels. less conquests.
must step out of the field. as it were, ant
leave the romance and day dreams tC
younger and fairer girls.
|. mattered little TO me whether the
new curate was young and unmarried. Oh
o portly old fellow, with wife and grown
daughters. At heart disliked this inter
fering old woman who had broken in or
my reverie.
thanked her kindly for her advice, tell
ing her that ct present had no intention
Of setting my cap for any one, not even
for the new curate; so saying went back
TO my work and the roses.
There, Matte. don't get riled OF
course it's nobody's business If you re
going to leave yourself an old maid; but
take my advice and don't spend your time
fretting and worrying over Bob Preston.
for he amt worth it. nohow." a
She shook her head wisely. and was off
before ! had time to recover from the
cruel thrust that had opened the old
wound-Robert Preston and the past.
had tried to guard my heart. to
trample under foot the old love | could
have laughed at my girlish folly as if
It were dream until thoughtless word
had brought back the past. like the dead
risen to life again. or smoldering fire
that needed but gentle breeze to make
1t burning flame. One by one the roses
dropped from my hands. One by one the
binding tears fell / was only weak
woman. after Gil. as, covering my face
with my hands. sobbed:
Robert. oh. Roberti Why were you
faisey''
1t all came back to me-that visit to
Aunt Martha. where | first met Robert
Preston. young student just returned
from college / cannot tell you all those
bright. happy day dreams: how loved
him and waited for the happy day when
he would ask me for that love. He read
my answer In my tell tale face before my
lips uttered it.
So, engrossed with Roberts society, 1
took little heed of other matters, scarcely
giving thought to the fact that young
lady. the daughter of deceased friend
of my aunt's. was going TO make her
home with us. She came. From the mo.
ment looked upon her lovely face my
happiness was gone. was pretty girl.
fair. and fragile. yet one might as well
compare simple little daisy to full
blown poppy or a rich red rose as my
frail beauty to this girls exquisite lowell
ness
For a time his love was unchanged
laughed in my foolish heart at my doubts
and fears At times | would find his
serious eyes wandering from me and rest
ing admiringly on the beautiful face of
Kathleen Lee. No man could resist that
vondrous. fascinating face She never
encouraged him; but the dropping lids,
the faint flush. the trembling of the little
hands. sll told plainly that she, too. loved
him.
How suffered In my mad jealousy
grew almost to hate the child He loved
me before she came. with her beautiful,
flower like face. TO rob me Of that love
Was she blind that she did not see we
were betrothedf prayed that she might
90 away and leave us TO ourselves once
AiiO.t, sAIu "OuIu HO DHCh W LIS
old fond ways. His carcsses were grow
ing colder. his kisses lighter. spoke of
his seeming neglect he answered light
ly. taking both my hands in his and look
ing fondly at me,
Nonsense. Mattel Do you know. my
little girl. that you are growing nearer
and dearer to me every dayr
For time was satisfied. trying to be
4. -. - Il =. -
We uere seated in the garden. one
afternoon in the early autumn, Isobert,
Kathleen and L She was looking un-
usually handsome in dress of soft In
dian null My lover had just paid her
q well merited compliment. for which she
was about TO make a gracious reply, when
Aunt Martha came 10 us
Robert. she said. placing her hand
fondly or his shoulder as she spoke, twill
you gather some grapes for meY | find
that some of the bunches hang too high
The girls viii 60 with you and hold the
basket.
He rose to comply with her request
Kathleen was at his side in a moment,
while refused to join them. feigning
severe headache
''Jhey do not want me-" | reasoned
within myself.
watched them as they walked away
together. he carrying the little wickes
basket and she tossing her bright curls
with that coquettist air that came SO nat
ural to her.
cnnor tell you what tempted me to
foIloS them: it must have been some evil
genius Slowly followed down the path
way. taking every precautioI. however.
not to be observed Seated upon a little
rustic bench could see every movement
of my lover and Kathleen.
How lovely she looked standing in the
orchard. the sunlight falling athwart the
lovely upturned face. on which smile
rested Never was seen fairer vision