Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20

asked upon you. We needs must love the
highest when we see it, some one has said, and
no one has ever seemed SO good and great as
you"
The rector WINGED at each tender word and
beads of perspiration stood upon his brow.
You have done me great honor. but
You do not hate me them she asked visit
fully.
"Of course not, my dear lady, bu. was
naturally unprepared- 1 fancy you are not
altogether certain as to your feelings your
long illness"
At this juncture Miss Larby returned. she
had evidently heard the last sentence, for with
an agitated rattle she exclaimed: Then Louisa
has told you all. Oh, Mr.. Dangerfield. you
will make the dear girl happy Miss Louisa's
forty-ninth birthday had dawned long since);
Il know you will, +" and she grasped both his
hands firmly. He turned hot and cold by
turns, his tongue became an absolute fixture,
while the terrible avowal to which he had just
listened seemed to throb audiDly In his brain.
Only one coherent thought occurred, and that
was that he must escape at once from the
house, and In view of the fact that this mlsera-
Die woman was in extremis he was justified, he
thought. in accomplishing his escape at any
cost. He never knew exactly what he did say.
de heard a far-of murmur of voices, he was
dlmly conscious that Miss Louisa kissed his
hand. Then his mind became @ blank. On his
way out he met Chilvers. mo hope, 1 fear"
whispered the little doctor ~ they passed each
other
NO hope" echoed the rector in . sepulchral
tone.
Then there was balm in Gilead after all.
The following day passed as q series of hide
Gus dreams to the rector of Muddleham-M Magma.
be rose haggard and depressed after q night of
sleepiessness and despair. Twiddy expressed
concern as to his appearance, and Mrs. Chip
was evidently suspicious that there was some
thing wrong. He felt as if the horrible truth
had already leaked out; in his imagination he
heard the gossips Of Muddleham-Magna linking
ms name with Louisa Larby's, and he positively
hung his head as he passed along the High
street. Reluctantly he dragged his weary feet
to the Laurels. The blinds we're still undrawnl
ID ali daZed he entered, suffered himself to be
led into that awful room again, and left feeling
qulcksands closing around him. All day long
he wandered In the country. and when night
fell he crept back to his rectory, faint and
weary, only to learn that Miss Louisa was de-
cidedly better.
Chilvers was awaiting his return, and cheer
fully communicated tho news.
shes mad; that woman's mad" exclaimed
the rector desperately.
Chllyers laughed in an irritating good-tem-
pered, professional manner. mad, my dear
rector; not bit of it. Never met clearer
headed woman in my life. Great determine
over this illness. Seems to have been brought
on by some worry"
Il tell you shes mad :" again said the rector
But Chilvers was not to be talked down. That
card had failed. Was there no escape? She was
better; she was sane; she would expect him to
marry her. He remembered Popple, and in
his agony ne groaned aloud. Then he decided
on flight just before that fatal visit to the
Laureis the blshopric of Bamboozle had
been offered to him. He had, as a mat
ter OF form, begged time TO consider the
Gathering offer. Now he felt that Bamboozle
rpfu He
and accept But stay, He would iirst make
known his resoiveat the Laurels. May be- after
All, his lnyalids improvement but tenn
porary. At all events she would never dream
of gong to BambOoZle. The news concerning
Miss Louisa health he found alas WAS but too
true. She was better. She was even gay. He
observed with sinking heart that her fringe
was curled, and that she called him cuthbert
He at once plunged into the Bamboozle bust
ness 10 his disnay his news was received with
demonstrations of delight.
You dear, clever thing" said Miss Louisa,
pressing his hand.
How lovely gushed Miss Larby. Dear
Louisa Is born organizer. She will revel in
diocesan work"
You don't mean to saw" gasped the Rev.
coming to Bamboozle?''
Ny place is by your side, Of course. A sea
voyage Is Just what l want, Mr.. Chilvers says"
CD Chilvers!' muttered the proposed
bishop.)
But the climate?" he said aloud. .Tt's
terrible; lisa miasmlc swamp; hotbed of
tropical disease. The late bishops wife died in
year. he added with desperate mendacity,
and they tell me the episcopal residence is
absolutely without drains. / couldn't think of
permitting you to sacrifice your life"
Miss Larby only smiled triumphantly. 81
NOW that my sister will only be happy in shar-
ng your dangers. You have snatched her from
'he grave, IA it were. She will risk all for YOU"
-. You have made up your mind to marry me
thenI he inquired, in strained. faint tone.
'.Oh, Cuthbert!' whispered Miss Louisa.
while the elder Miss Larby coughed and placed
you for years.
That night he took q desperate resolve To
Mrs. Chipps despair his dinner was left I'M
tasted. and, after ordering bottle Of brandy
to be taken to his study, he retired to that
apartment and locked the door. So far as
could be seen through the keyhole the rector of
Muddleham- Magma simply sat and gazed be-
fore him for hours, in a helpless hopeless
manner, which at once convinced his household
that he had gone mad. The fact that he did
not eat was sufficient proof to Mrs. Chip that
some serious disturbance was at work. The
bottle of brandy was in itself sus-
picious. And, while his servants specu-
lated on his sanity, and his letters re-
manned unopened, and his lamp burned
low, the rector, with drawn, white face and
eunken eyes, sat In the bltterest thrOee of men
tai anguish As the night wore on his face be-
came more set, his perturbation greater Some
times he walked wildly up and down the room.
sometimes he tit;ng himself down and writhed
in agony upon the floor. When morning
dawned the distressed Mrs. Chipp, who was
anxiously lowering round the study door was
suddenly confronted by terrible apparition
The rector, unshaven, dishevelied and haggard
strobe forth, with the fierce light of determine
ton In his eyes, and ordered her to pack his
portmanteau immediately and send for Mr.
Iwiddy.
I'm going to London" he said. 'I'm
called away on urgent business. / may not be
back-for some time" An hour afterward be
had left the parish. In London he remained
for the next month. Meantime the Bamboozle
inter was fitted to another head, and Miss
Louisa Larby had reappeared in Muddleham-
Magma society, which was in an agreeable little
hutter OF excitement over dark rumors of their
rector's romance, when suddenly a bomb ex-
ploded in its midst. Mr.. Twiddy, with tears in
his eyes, announced the Rev. Cuthbert Danger
fields secession to the Roman Church! And
the Colchester Chronicle, in confirming This
terrible news. added the following sienIficant
item Of intelligence:
''We are authorized to state that the reverend
gentleman will be very shortly received into
the Roman priesthood"
Thus 1t was that he escaped the fate of Poppls.
Singular Freak Of Nature.
singular freak Of nature has manifested It.