The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-22
BAXTER'S DILEMMA.


BAXTER'S DILEMMA.
lepdes fyssA.
Ths Rev. Thomas Bsxtsr uas eursss
q fhs muscuIsS. sDBDstae type, which.
logtunstejy for fhs church. = turned cut
not unfsequsnny b cur univsEnsfses and
public schoola He Us big. broad
shouldsrsd young man who, bssides dis
tineuishine himself greatly both on the
river and On the cricket field. had taken .
vsry respectable degree. for hs vas By no
means AFRAID OF hard work Of any dsscfsp-
ton such msn often make capital par
SIMS. and Tom wss hardly less energetic Ia
his parish work than he had been in very
different spheres Of action st Eton or OK
lord. but there were limits 70 Mr.. Bsxt<r's
endurance; he liked IN occasional holiday.
and this was the only point upon which he
and his vicar. the Rev. ssptimus Straight
wsy. wsrs not entirely agreed.
The Rev. Eeptimus Vas m earnest man
and toek severe and gloomy view Of the
pleasures Of life. He worked terribly hard
In an East End parish, knew nothing and
cared less about outdoor sport. or. In fact.
expectsd hts curates 70 follow unhesitat-
ingly In the extremely narrow and steep
path up which he led them. Hence is
came 70 pass that Mr.. Etraightway expert
enced considerable difficulty In finding
curatss after his own heart: the young
men were continually leaving him
for less ssduons duties. and the
Wears opinion Of human nature in
&x.3< - h. t<exx sf
cufaies In particular, steadily grew wofse.
be possessed treasure, and the danger OF
working willing horse TO death never 50
much a. entered his head.
Poor Tom did his very bsst 70 satisfy Mr..
straightways requirements. for he really
respected he man aud valued immensely
hts rood opinion. bat. % has already been
indicated, he could not help longing that
his superior would enter . little more into
his own harmless liking for occasional
relief and sympathiss with his passion for
rowing and I'll that Was connected with
athletics.
At he tins write Of the cricket season
IVES IN full swing, but Toms duties had not
single match. but evsn from looking On 81
pavilion st Loed's Moreover, the univer-
sity cSickst match, In which be took an
absorbing tntsrest, was last approaching.
and NJ was sorsiy troubled BY the dread
that he might not b able 10 - il. This
fear hauntsd him day and night II
worried HIN during his visiting and
mission work. spoils his rsst and occasion
ally ohesudsd ITSELF upon him In the pulpit
Even ne abssntmindsd Mr.. Straightwsy
as length noticed shat his cursts's mind
was u 81 sass. snd one day be went 20 far
- 70 inquire the cause. Tom stammsred
and veutused % hint that he thought .
days holiday would do him COED.
"Whsn was your age. Mr.. Baxter.
ters vicar, hut ron Are certainly not look
In about fortnight think can arrange
. day for yon. Say July Ia
'Can't il b managed . week sooner ?"
queried Tom. desperately, fer the unsvers-
ity match vas fixed for the 9Th.
Quite impossible. I fear" said the Vi
car, decisiveiy. for he was terrible marti-
net with his curates. So. with . wave of
his hand. he dismissed the subject. and
Tom knew that farther appeal Was use
less
Its rather too bad grumhled Mr..
Baxter. - he walked home 70 his humble
lodgings. ''Isnt its no use taking TO him
about cricket; he doesn't know bat from
. ball." And with heavy heart he tried
TO resign himself 10 the inevitable
But two days later . circumstance cc-
cured which entirely routed Toms vir-
tuous resolutions. A letter arrived at the
reverend Rentieman's lodgings, which was
eouehed in the following terms:
HsArHcorE Hail. Ioanshsre
nesresf Tem We are actually eomiag 10
tcwnl only ior two days. though. and We are
Ecsng - Iord's to ere the match. uncie has got
. drag taese, block n OF course, shall never
fefgsse Yea n yoa dont come and $50 me.
Wednesday afternoon We 80 TO xssex TO stay
with the Ghtvsrsens. - this II our only chance
al meeting DO eoma In terrible haste. yours
lovingly. Ai1cg.
From the foregoing II may be gathered
that Miss Alice Heathccte and Tom Bax-
Ter were on tolerahly intimate terms Asa
matter Of fact they had bean engaged for
ssx months. during which time they had
very rare.y met RAxser's people were
well OF. and he had very rich uncle
among whose possessions was IN excelIe at
family living. destined In the future for
Tom and his bride. but toe uncle Was A
stern aud conscientious gentleman. and he
vas determined hesere he definitely agreed
10 give Tom The vacancy when il occurred
Ito see what the young gentleman was
made Of. And thls was why baxter hat.
hssn sent 10 help Mr. s,faightssy in the
East End. why he worked $40 hard in tie
parish. and why be was 50 desperately
aaxsous % stand high in the Wears opln-
lon
When Tom Rad the letter bis Irxs i'm.
pulse. uneierteA though Il may appear,
was - use strong language. Ba, he re.
strained himself and EEL 80 thinking ever
the sarioas means ot escaping from BIS
duties A frssh appeal 10 Mr., Ssrasgatsay
he knew 10 b hopeess. Tina. worthy ss.
essic did not only look npon cricket as a
frivolous waste al time. has he Vas ssrons
advocate Of the eeiieaey 81 the clergy.
Moreover. by merely asking the question
Tom might offend hisa. and this he GER
sataly could nos afford 70 do under the cir
eumssAnceA.
There Vas nothing for 10 then bnta pio1s
fraud. ard although Toms conscience re-
eeiaed against the idea Ct aeessvsng hss
vicar. who trusted kim i'm plieifly, be could
nos make up bis MINE 10 1isspposnt Alice
or 10 deny himself the pleasure at seeing
her. He might, under mere favorable CIR.