Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-10-21
THE RECTOR'S RESOURCE.
[From Belgravia. ]


The Rev. Cuthbert Dangerfeld, having
with great deliberation and silver papel
knife, cut the ponderous pages Of the Quar-
terly Review, threw himself back in hi
welEpadded chair and gazed reiectively in
to the fire. His glass Of Lafitte was warm
ing in distant corner of the fender, an
obese and elderly Dandy Dinmont snored
Icomfortably before the same and On air oi
lrepose pervaded the whole room. It wa
evident from the peaceful nature of Pepper
sleep that he anticipated no parochial stroll
this afternoon, yet his reverend pastor and
master seemed in no way eager to plunge
into the learned interior of the magazine.
Now and again he thoughtfully stroked bis
sparse gray hair, overlapped his clean-shaver
upper lip with the neither one and tapped
his brow pensively with his pince-nez
Finally he took up the outer sheet of the
Times, balanced his glasses on the extreme
tip of his nose and solemnly read aloud the
following announcement.
| cat the parish church, Snaleham, the
Rev. Peter Popple, M. A., Fellow, of st.
Johns College, Cambs., rector of Dulbrough,
to Lavinia, widow Of the late Major Mullyns,
One. red-and-twenty-ninth regiment
He glanced shudderingly around his Snug,
book.lined room, seized his glass of Lafitte
and then, murmuring. "Poor devillsstound.
ipg-as-toundinR' gulped down the wine
and opened the Quarterly.
The marriage of his old and learned
friend Popple had indeed surprised and even
shocked him. For the Rev. Cuthbert'a
views on the subject OF marriage were very
decided. 1t was generally understood, for
he did not actually propound his sentiments,
that he considered marriage all very we'll
| fOr feo NIL in % a hnt
that matrimony was absolutely distasleful
to him was certain, his views of celibacy
most unquestionably proceeded from no
fanciful High Church notions. Muddleham
Magma was evangelical from end to end.
Popple was man he had greatly esteemed;
henceforth Mr.. Dangerfield felt that he and
Popple would have no sympathies in COM
mon, and the thought caused him much dis
tress.
The Quarterly Review failed to cheer
him. He found his thoughts wandering
from Gladstone to Snaleham and Dull
brough, to Popple and his fall. He posi-
lively blushed when he discovered himself
dwelling on the possibilities of Popple be-
coming family man. Bahl the thought
was too horrible. He started up suddenly,
to Peppers unmitigated astonishment and
disgust. flung aside the magazine and pre-
pared to 60 out.
As he stood brushing his hat preparatory
to starting this afternoon he was undecided
whether to do his cottage or his villa round.
At first he thought he would swoop down
with some requisite PASTORAL reprimands
upon his humber parishioners, but for these
to be duly effective it was necessary to be
stern. This afternoon, with Popple's fall
ever present in his mind, he simply felt:de-
pressed and sad, and under these clrcum-
stances he decided that Twiddy-his curate
should attend to the cottagers. The villa
round should be his to-day. Here he would
be petted and soothed with ell-brewed tea
and comforting tea a-caKe, and SO made to
forget his erring friend temporarily. There
were the Larbys, for example, At the Lau-
rels. His housekeeper, Mrs. Chipp, had
informed him of the serious indisposition Of
Miss Louisa, and as ahe and her sister were
staunch and liberal supporters of the church
and local charities, it behooved him to pay
sympathetic call. Toward the Laurels he
accordingly went. Every shrub in the spot.
lessly kept garden of the small residence
was evenly trimmed, the gravel was rolled
till it positively shone again, and the
doorstep was of immaculate whiteness.
Miss Larby, senior, selemnly arose to
greet the rector as he was announced. She
was an angular female of sallow complexion,
displaying great symmetry of bone. As
she moved there was fetter.like jingle Of
Jet bracelets, and her knuckles and old.
fashioned rings clicked and ratified like a
mechanical toy as she rubbed her osseous
hands together. The somewhat embarrass.
ing skittishnees that the rector had some-
times nervously remarked in the younger
Miss Larby's demeanor was wholly absent
from her sister. He therefore felt more at
ease in her presence and more emboldened
to inquire solicitously and tenderly after tht
invalid.
At the mention of her sisters name Miss
Larby allowed her eYelids to suddenly fall.
as If string had been pulled somewhere
at the back of her head.
"Her condition is most seriousv' she re-
piled tragically.
Dear mep' said Mr.. Dangerfsld, open
ing his eyes very wide. "Dear me! hop,
you are unnecessarily alarming yourself
Seen Chilvers?' Chilvers was the MIDDLE
ham, Magma doctor.
"Mr. Chilvers fears her recovery is i'm
possible. There is no sease, but she seem
to be gradually pining and severe attacl
of bronchitis has struck final blow"
'+Could you not take her for a change o
scene? You have not been away from Mud
dleham since"-
"We went to Dulbrough the first weel
of last September" Miss Margaret re
ponded with melancholy preciseness. Th'
mention of Dulbrough revived thoughts OF
Popple and perceptlble shade passed ovel
the Reverend Cuthbert's face, while an in
voluntary sigh escaped him.
"Yes, I remember, remember" he salt
sadly; and Miss Margaret noticed with ap
no rapf eotiafa ction that he audden1v hacan
sbstracted. She ratified her fingers an
rings more loudly still and rang for tea.
She had great faith in the Larby brew
with its concomitant cream and well-buttel
cd mullins as social agent, and she had o1
| loEc kho faI