Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-04-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

cupants of the little cottage which lay so
close to his viearage that he could see the
smoke from the chimney over the tops OF
the trees that sLirted his lawn.
The Rev. Charles Grusvenor had been
away from the scene of his labors rs
Chumleigh for a month. Chumleigh
was countrvfied enough and healthy
enough, but he had been ordered sea air
and had taken the trip, leaving his by no
means extensive flock to the care of
temporary shepherd.
The Rev. Charles Grosvenor was a
young man, and Crumleigh was his first
living. He was quite new enough 20 his
work to take interest in it, and be was
on intimate terms with all his parishion-
ers.
Directly he heard of the new arrivals
in the village. he, of course, determined
to call upon them, but he thought he
would Just inquire what sort of people
they were.
The result was the above description
a description vaguo enough in all con-
science, and yet Sufficient at once TO in
vest the heroines of it with slight halo
of romance.
The Rev. Charles Grosvenor had not so
long left college life to bury himself
among the pumpkins but that he could
duly appreciate the piquahcy which a
little mystery lends to our ordinary hum
drum existence.
Knowing that the young lady Stunned
observation his curiosity was at once
aroused, and he looked forward to his
first meeting with her with more than
ordinary eagerness. As to the old lady
well, he was a young bachelor, remem-
Der, and however deeply old ladies may
veil themselves, or however mysterious
they may be, they can not expect to com
mand much attention when there is
younger lady in the case.
The curate called at Laburnam cottage
the day after the return from the sea-
side. he found the Smiths very quiet
and unassuming people. Mrs. Smith said
very little and sighed good deal, and
Miss Smith, though fluent and agree
able speaker, as he could judge from the
little she said, spoke only in. answer 10
his questions, and kept her eyes fixed on
the ground, the whole time he was talk
ing to her.
Something queer about these people,
said the Rev. Charles Grosvenor to him
self. II wonder what it is. / must
draw them out
His notion of drawing them out was 10
engage their services in his parish work.
The old lady sighed and consented. The
young one colored, cast down her eyes,
and said that she was not fit for such
work. Not religious enough, she meant
The Rev. Charles Grosvenor was much
distressed to hear that Miss Smith was
not religious. Here, at least, was task
co9genial to his soul. He was quite will
ing to convert farm laborers and to re-
form market gardeners, but when de-
mure looking young lady. with an agree
able manner, offered herself, he could
not refrain from looking forward to the
prospect of higher and nobler work.
He talked seriously TO Miss Smith, and
Miss Smith listened sseriously--so seri-
ously that the curate was taken by sur
prise. He was almost alarmed at the
terrible earnestness with which the girl
spoke of religious questions, asked for
spiritual consolation, and argued with
him on the dread subject of the sinner
fate hereafter. The earnestness and the
vehemence of his parishioner, however,
only increased his interest in her.
Now, when Miss Smith called herself a
miserable sinner, the Rev. Charles Gros-
venor thoroughly believed that she was
one. He accepted her confession in the
same sense that he would have accepted
it from the patron of his living, or his
mother, or any of his lady parisIlioners
We are all miserable sinners, and being
enjoined to say SO, clergyman can not
for the sake of being complimentary, re-
fuse to believe young lady when she
afirms that she is no exception to the
rule.
But as to attaching any really serious
import to the confession of Miss Smith.
that never occurred to him for moment.
He soothed her, offered her such consola-
ton as he could, thought she was most
pious and interesting girl, and fell madly
in love with her.
From the moment he M e the dis
covery his conduct to her altered Hc
tempted her to talk less about herself and
to be cheerful. He didn't want the girl
he was in love with to be too persistentIy
. miserable sinner. She was so charm
ing and SO nice that he felt she might
very well keep that in the background
little.
A white tie and clerical coat do not
alter q mans nature; and when man
falls madly in love with a woman. be
likes to imagine her as near perfection
as possible.
Miss Smiths manner changed also.
She discovered the parsons secret before
it was many days old. She was still
pleased to see him, but she avoided all
reference to her sins.
Once he questioned her about her past
life. For q moment she went deadly
pale, then the color rushed to her cheeks,
and she stammered out remark which
turned the conversation.
Miss Smith saw that the Rev. Charles
Grosvenor was at her mercy. 1t was
only q question Of time when he would
make the arowal. Should she encourage
him, or discourage his secret, and stop
it while there was Jet time?
In her difficulty she laid the case be-
fore her mother and asked her advice.
The old lady was frightened out of her
wits She dare not think about such a
thing, she said. OF course it would be