Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-11-26

small property amply sufficient for their
modest life They were much respected
in the church"
did you learn anything of their antc-
cedents?"
"Why, no. when | assumed charge
their places in the congregation were
fixed, and accepted them at the valua.
ton placed upon them by the other mem.
bers. They were unobtrusive people,
reserved, not seeking society, talking not
at all of themselves. | made regular pas
toral calls upon them. They took little
part in the social side Of the church, but
were not reniss in their duties"
Did they have any intimacies with
any one in the church,
IL can recall none that were notice
able"
Did not the young lady mingle with
the young people?"
''She did when first came, but when
she was about twenty, say six years ago,
she abruptly withdrew herself"
Can you recall anything within your
knowledge which at any time seemed
uncommon, or out of the way-mysteri-
Gus, SO to speak," asked Cathcart.
The minister thought few moments.
well. sir" he said at length, 81
have often said to my wife that Mrs.
Parish gave mo the impression Of
woman with history. Under sweet,
cquable temper there were to me signs of
q latent grief, settled to be sure, but the
cause of constant sorrow. Shortly after
4 4 bod Col .,,
did not seem well pleased, but answered
that in her young days she had passed
through period of deep sorrow, and she
supposed it had left its impressions upon
her. On another occasion, when Mrs.
Parish was calling at the parsonage, my
wife, referring TO case just then occu-
pying great deal of space in the public
press, bore down heavily on the woman
involved, when Mrs Parish, much agi-
tated and evincing an impatience foreign
W ner, cried out to my wife TO be mercl-
full. There are lives she said, that
God alone can see the innocence of, but
which a censorious world would pro-
nounce evilT Then she added these
singular words, addressing my wife:
Judge not, lest we be judged. Your
condemnation of this poor woman rings
in my ears as condemnation Of myself
"My wife and | often talked of this
incident, but could make nothing of it.
Again, eight years ago, l called at her
house and found her in great distress,
and though endeavored to console her
she would say nothing as to its cause.
At that time she put on mourning,
which she wore ever after, and it was ut
that time that the daughter withdrew
from association with the young people.
This is all can recollect, think. Stop
there is one more incident, trivial, per-
haps but | will tell it. One day about
three years ago had been from home
in attendance upon = funeral, and re-
turning was told that Mrs. Parish had
been awaiting me in the study long
time. Going to her found her in great
trouble. She said, however, that though
she had come for advice upon matter
| giving her great pain, she had reflected
while waiting and had reached the con-
| cluslon that it We're better for all con-
cerned to say nothing; that she would
bear this new trouble as she had borne
other troubles all her life, alone, and
! she went away"
The old detective had listened most
intently, never interposing word, ges-
ture or expression, though his keen
bright eyes gave heed to everything.
"Of what did her family consist all
these years." he asked
Herself and daughter. once heard
her refer to the boyhood of son, but
from her speech | presumed he had died
young"
Cathcart asked and received the names
and addresses of some of the older mem
hers Of the church, whom he next sought
in inquiry. One old lady recollected that
when Mrs Parish first came among them
she had son, but that he disappeared
when about eighteen, her understanding
being that he had gone to the care of II
relative in another city. The daughter
| of another old member contributed the
fact that during the past three years she
had seen Anne Parish walking, on three
different occasions, il Union square with
a young man-the same young man.
She had noted and remembered it, since
it was the only time Anne had been
known TO be in the society of one of the
other sex, and also from the Vet that
she seemed to be greatly troubled on
each occasion, and further that the young
man was most fashionably clad and had
the air of being fast.
The day was we'll spent when Cathcart
finished these inquiries, and he now
recollected he had neither lunched nor
dined. He hurried to the G.ind Central
hotel
TO BE CONTINUED