The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-31

| eyes, He had struggled with himself long and
maniul1y. He was not IN a position TO marry
and Miss Grayling was not a suitable match for
! him. He knew all that very we'll He did not
| ike 10 think OF what his aunts, Miss Cope and
! Miss GeorgfDa Cone, would say on being pre-
sented with a village schoolmistress for a niece.
| But then. he had not looked on the face OF any
! other woman who could be called lady-save
Miss Jordan's-for nearly eight months. He
was In love; he could not help It, and now this
unpleasant matter added at once To his love and
to his embarrassment. Even now he did not
know his own mind. His ostensibIe object was
to exchange one OF the harmless novels, with
which he now kept Miss Grayling well supplied,
for another of The same type.
"Miss Grayling," began the curate as he seat
ed himself In the little paror, "this cannot be
true"
"what is not true, Mr.. CopeP"
These shameful accusations, these asper.
sions-"
"of course not; and did not think that you,
Mr. Cope, would pay any attention to them," said
the schoolmistress, with quieI dignity.
ION. no not for worlds p exclaimed the Gu.
Dear Miss Grayling-Laura-I may call you Lau-
ra ?-1 find II difficult to say how feel for you
and how much l long to shield you from the
caumnies and troubles of The world In the shell
ter OF an honest mans love-"
As he spoke, the curate took Miss Grayng's
write and welI-formed fingers between his own.
VI oher you my heart aud all have" he con-
tinued. his eyes searching her downcast face.
ALAS that is so little know we'll we cannot
and strength on my side. Sooner or later / must
get living; and then--and then Oh, Laura /!
say That you love me y!
"Mr. Cone, Ifeel bonored and fattered more
than L can say, and my heart Tells me il is not
Indifferent to you; but
She paused, and the tones OF the church clock
striking fell on her
'Mr Lope!" she exclaimed Withdrawing her
fingers as she spoke, "you are more than gener-
Gus, but cannot trust myself to give you an an
swer now. 1 must not be rash unjust to you
Leave me now-ieave me- beg you. / will write
10 you tomorrow"
Somewhat surprised at this sudden dismissal,
the agifated curate took his hat aud stick and
departed.
Nex day he received a dantily scented note
from Miss GrayltDg, in which she said that much
as she bonoIed him and highly as she valued his
friendship. she could see that il not for his
Interest TO marry dOwerless girl and she there
/ fore. declined his proposal. Her decision. she
added, was "irevocabe." There was but one
'r' In "irreyocable," and somehow, this circum-
stance did something toward mitigating the grief
win which Mr.. Cope received his letter Of dis
mIssal.
The testing examination. which was to conf rm
OF overthrow Miss Graylng,s reputation, was
Saturday.
Aus o'clock on Friday Mr.. Wensby arrived,
ana MIR. DowthwaIte and Miss Jordan went with
theie, with clean pinafores and shining faces,
put MISS Grayling was absent Miss J0rdan's
lace wore peculiar smile as one of the older
girls Informed The rector that Miss Crawling had
hot been al home for three days
Miss Jordan soon set the children ~ work. and
In nve minutes the Inspector was convinced by
the cleartst evidence that not one OF the school
girls could make even decent buttonhOle, much
less one ike those contained In the specimens.
You had better get rid OF your superior
young person as soon as you can" he said to Mr..
D0wthwaife, as they went back 10 The rectory
Next morning. however, when the School
Board met they fouDd letter awaiting them
from Miss GraylIng, In which she said that In
consequence Of the undeserYed aspersions which