The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-16
THE NEW CURATE.

G.t ,ou ST your cap for him, Matte
Yrr..p cot as good chance az the rest
- tl.em. and % is not old 10y any means "
S leaned over the garden gate rs she
s-,se this yeritable village gossip lean
-, Lo- now. with her great poke bonnet.
from which the clustering gray ringlets
col the keen blue eyes that seemed 10
~ YOUR very thoughts, the trim little
t-.r. clad always in ample skirts Of
Quaker gray or sOmber brown.
Never was there wedding, funeral or
Christening IN tine village without this es
ENABLE Adys presence What harm
l..Utt.e body she appeared and how in
clreJIe Of carrying about that wonderful
mil. # information How nicely she
laalr,od her knowledge to her listeners
la+.ainr With. Well. don mind tell
i- sou CT. They do say, but OF course
,5l can't believe anything and ending
with That s. between you and me; it will
l.u. further
,.s, iu the garden that morning train
an some early June roses; my thoughts
wei. not the brightest scarcely in har
u.lr with nature, which was decked in
Id, II her brightest mantles. 1t was
cr..e unnecessary for Mrs. Briggs to re
n.gi ne of M age / was thinking seri-
.....o If 10 Tweuty-sixl Not very old
g. b. sure. and vet not very young To an
unmarried woman. must be content
w... fewer laurels. less conquests |
must step out OF the field. as it were and
leave the romance and day dreams 10
y..user and tairer girls.
]. matterel little ~ me whether the
lew curafc WAS young and unmarried, or
ap.r-.v old fellow. with wife and grown
daughters At heart dislikcd this inter
f-r.ug ola woman who had broken IN on
Us rcveric.
thanked her kindly for her advice, tell
ing her that at present ! had no intention
Of setting my cap for any one. not even
f5r the new cuTate, so saying went back
- my work and the roses.
There Matte. don't get riled OF
cons, its nobody's business If you're
going 10 leave yourself an old maid but
take uv advice and don't spend your time
ira-tins aud worrying over Bob Preston
fer be amt worth it. nohow.'
Size shook her head wisely. ana was off
before | had time 10 recover from the
cruel thrust that had opened the old
wo.nd-Robert Preston and the past.
bad tried to guard my heart. to
trawple under foot the old love. could
have laughed al my girlish folly as II
Ii were a dream until a thoughtless word
had brought back the past, like the dead
risen 20 life again or smoldeIing fire
that needed but gentle breeze 70 make
Il a burning flame One by one the roses
dropped from my hands. One by one the
binding tears fell was only weak
woman. after all. as. covering my face
with ny hands. sobbed:
Robert. oh Robert Why were you
false"
II all cane back 10 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 aud waited for the happy day when
lie would ask me .or that love. tie read
nv answer in my tell tale face before my
lips Uttered 1t.
$, cngrossel with Robert ) society, |
took lt,lc heed Of other matters, scarcely
civin- D thought 10 the fact that young
LADY. the daughter of a deceased friend
Of nv aunts. was going TO make her
home with Us Sic came From the mo
nsnt looked upon her lovely face my
happiness was gone. was pretty girl.
fair and fragile. yet one might as well
compare d simple little daisy to a full
blown poppy or rich red rose as my
irau beauty to this girls exquisite lowell
hess
For 2 time his lore was unchanged. 1
laughed in my foolish heart at rny doubts
I'D fears At times | would find his
serious eyes wandering from me and rest
in almir.ngly on the beautiful face OF
Kathleen Lee No man could resist that
woulrous. fascinating face. She never
encouraged him, but the dropping lids,
the faint flush. the trembling Of the little
hands. al told plainly that she. too, loved
hin
How suffered In my mad jealousy |
erev almost u hate the child He loved
LIE 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 betrothed? prayed that she might
~ away and leave Us to ourselves once
more and Robert would go back to his
Old iud WAYS. His caTesses were grow
iag colder his kisses lighter spoke OF
us sseming neglect He answered light
h. taking both NY hands in his and look
IL iondly at me.
Nonsense. Mattel Do you know, my
l,tle girl tia. you are growing nearer
All 1earer - Jne every day!
For a time was satisfied, trying to be
content with but share of his love.
We were seated in the garden, one
Iiernoon in the early autumn, Robert
Kathleen and |. She was looking .un-
usually handsome in a dress of soft In
dian null Ny lover had just paid her
well merited compliment. for which she
Was about 10 make gracious reply. when
Aunt Martha came TO US.
Robert she said. placing her hand
foud!y On his shoulder as she spoke, viii
Jou gather some grapes for me? / find
that some Of the bInches hang too high
The girls will 80 with you and hold the
basket"
He rose - comply with her request.
Kathleen was at his side in moment.
while refused TO join them. feigning q
severe headache
They do not want me-" ! reasoned
within myself
watched them ~ they walked away