Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-07-09
DID BOTH OVERHEAR IT?


and fine linen, were hurrying to reacl
the scenes of their deyotions.
Foster Millard was not pious soul
and he did not hurry. He was not SUR
that he was going to church at all, ant
he sauntered leisurely along, with hi
hands in his overcoat pockets and hi
big collar turned high around hi
throat.
What world it was, to be sure, and
what fool-but, pshaw!-that was al
over now, and he was glad of it.
AT this moment he became aware of ];
slight figure enveloped in fur comine
down the cross street, and they met a
the corner. She held out her hand with
a gesture that bespoke embarrassment
and uncertainty, and he took it gravely
81 believe" he said, sit is quite yeal
since | saw you last, Edith"
ssYes," she said.
Willard turned and joined her in hel
walk.
"And believe" he continued, -'sthat
am very glad to see you.'
Miss Arnold was silent on this point,
"You might, perhaps, say as much,
suggested Millard.
care you goingto church," asked Miss
Arnold
"Well, don't know, that is, will &C
If you take me with you"
Miss Arnold hesitated moment.
"Why, of course, if you like" she said.
Why shouldn't he like, wondered Mil
lard. A pretty girl, good music and lots
of people? What difference did it make
that once-stuffl He had forgotten all
that, and of course she had
'Have you heard the new rector" in
quired Miss Arnold, evidently with an
attempt at conversation.
NO." said Millard. 81 have not been
sionary. Perhaps l am an angel un-
awares though"
Miss Arnold laughed.
"That's a trife mixed, isn't it?" she
said.
"Well, perhaps admitted Millard.
'Tm not up in that sort of thing
'But you used to go to church,
Eyes, -did-when you took me.
have degenerated. If your theology ad-
1nits of backsliding, have backslided.
l am now distinctly a heathen."
Miss Arnold laughed again.
"On the contrary, I think you have
improved" she said.
H.11c-I x-~.lI.
casm, 81 really was not looking for a
compliment.
They reached the church and the usher
showed them to a seat. Miss Arnold
kneeled on the cushion and leaned her
head on her little prayer book against
the pew in front. Millard watched her
silently, as he had done so many times
before. She made d pretty picture
dainty, fur wrapped and devout, and
the hand that held the prayer book was
very small indeed. One little lock of
hair had squirmed away from restrain
ing hairpins and was curling prettily
near her pink ear He felt curious de-
sire to put it in place, and then he be-
came conscious of two voices speaking
behind him in not inaudibie whispers.
"Isn't that Foster Millard with Edith
Arnold in front of us? asked somebody.
"Why, sure enough it Isl" said some
body else. 81 thought she Tilted him a
year ago."
Hush, he will hear your
"They must have made it up. Queer,
isn't itg'
The choir began to sing again, and the
people all rose. Millard heard no more.
Edith held her prayer book up to him,
and they read the responses out of it.
Like those flashes of previous existence
that the philosophers talk about, it all
came back to him-intangible, indefinite,
and yet familiar. How often he had
heard that smooth, full voice, reading
the same old, sweet words Of the Episco-
pal service He seemed to take up the
thread of life year back, as if the year
just passed had been dream from
which he was now awakening.
The TIE Deum was over and they sat
down again. Presently the two women
behind began to whisper again. Edith
was intent upon the service.
"Pretty bonnet she has," said one.
"a trife too high, think. They say
she threw Howard Gale over too. don't
see what those men find in her She is
perfect firt."
''For that reason probably they like
her."
81 suppose Mr.. Millard took it too
easily, and she wants to dangle him
again"
"Dangle him?'
eyes You know what mean-keep
him around and abuse him"
"Hushl I'm afraid he heard you."
mo, he didn't. 1t would be a good
warning to hn, anyws
Millard moved uneasily, and the whis-
pers broke off suddenly. He wondered
if Edith had-heard them. Heglanced at
her, and she looked SO unconscious that
he concluded she had not.
The rector had commenced his sermon,
and she was giving close attention.
Millard listened awhile, but it did not
interest him. He seemed to have heard
the same sermon thousand times, and
his thoughts wandered away into other
channels. TheyAwent back to the days
when he had been wont to read the re-
sponses out of Edith Arnold's prayer
book, and then he thought of the two
women he had heard discussing his case.
He looked at Edith surreptitiously as
she sat there listening SO intently to the
sermon, and he thought she did not look
like girl who would care to ssdangle"
any one. He knew he might be mis-
taken, for he did not claim to know
women. No man does who has once
thought he did. But certainly she did
not look like a girl of that sort. He
knew she had never seemed so to him,
even at the last. But then who could
tell? Perhaps she would like to ssdangle'
him, as they called it.
He wondered if he would care, and
concluded that he would not; it might
even be pleasant. Something suggested
to him that he might let her try, and he
favored the suggestion.
They rose to sing the last hymn, and
then knelt "a moment while the rector