New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
III.

Miss Bayley am in position of the eXtrem-
est difficulty"
Miss Bayley was not only the Rev Alan Mac
leOdS parshiOner; she was, to speak, his CO.
curate at SwafIham-on-Sea. That delightful vii
lage boasted of a rector who found that the local
air did not agree with him, 30 he spent most
of his time in the South of France. The Rev.
Alan was, therefore, to all intents and purposes,
the head and front Of all church matters in the
neighborhOod. Unfortunately the greater part OF
the population-what there was of twas dissent
ing. and that part of it which was not dissenting
even worse-it was EpiscOpalian the lowest
of the low The curate. therefore, found himself
barren soil His congregation not unfrequently
consisted Of two-the verger and Miss Bayley.
The curate had returned TO SwaiTham and 1t
this faithful feminine flower of his flock he
was addressing now.
"Oh, Mr.. Macleod J. am so souyl Can help
you? Is il spiritual?"
The curate shook his head. He had not fallen
quite so low as that. The idea OF his coming 10
person in petticoats for help in spiritual matters
struck him as TOO absurd. He could scarcely ex-
cuse Miss Bayley.
Can you think that j, your priest should come
10 learn of you p
Miss Bayley looked down.
Il was wrong she murmured. She told her
self she ought to have remembered that none of
kind Of thing as the Rev. Alan. But then she
was so anxious to lend him hand in anything.
An error owned is half atOned."
He meant this for little pleasantry-but he
was awkward man, even when he trifled He
hestated. lie was conscious that he had come for
assistance in matter quite as delicate any
thing which appertained to church government.
Miss Bayley' lie cleared bis throat. IL
have an aunt The abashed Miss Bayey signifed
that she hod heard him mention that fact before
which. she had, about half dozen times a day
felt that she expected to sigh. She is of the
world, worldly Her thoughts are fixed on tenn
poralities. . Being possessed of great riches, to
which am the natural heir, the continual desire
of her life is that II should marry"
The Rev Alan stammered little at the end
Miss Bayley perceptibly started That was the
continual desire of her life, too She wondered if
it was going to be gratified at last.
That YOU should marry? Oh, Mr.. Macleod -
"I need not tell you that, in such matter, her
desire would not weigh with me in the least. The
Miss Bayley's heart futtered-she did not 90
with him so far as that
Buff she were TO disinherit you?"
DO you know me so little as that? Nothing
would please me better than that she should.
He clasped his hands in a kind of ecstasy. The
lady, whose father was the parish doctor, and who
knew what it was to have TO dress on nothing a
year. was almost tempted to think that the cnrate
was fool. But as She could scarcely express the
thought aloud she was wise enough 10 hold her
peace The gentleman went on rather awkwardly.
The travelling was getting difficult in fact.
"TO-eh-such lengths has-eh-she-she--al.
lowed her desire to-eh-oarry her, that-eh-it--it
has resulted in-eh-involving me in-eh-eompli-
cations of an excessively disagreeable kind"
Miss Bayley'b lmaglnhLon realZeu Tie worst aJ
once.
Are you engaged?" she cried.
"She-she says ! am"
"She says you arel" The lady was on the
verge of tears-the blow was sudden MIR Mac
eod l have something which l have to do up
stairs
She felt that if she stayed in the room She
might disgrace herself by crying before his face
The Rev. Alan was dismayed at the idea of her
leaving him.
Miss Bayley, ! do entrcat you not to 60 You
do not understand me in the least. [ do not saw
i am engaged; quite..qnite the other way"
"Oh, Mr.. MacleOd!"
The affair might have it's comic side for a locker
on, but II was tragic enough for her II she
did not get this man whom could she getp AT