The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-07-11
IiiECURATESSWEE

NV very llllle uli always NHllHti.
That was the description givcn TO Hla
Rev. Charles Grosvenor Of the new oc-
7 cupants Of the little cottage which lay 80
close to his vicarage that he could see the
snoSc from the chimney over The tops OF
the trees ,iot ,irl.3 Dis lawn.
Tho Iey. Daaits Ggosveuor had l-en
away from t.c scene of his labor a-
ChNmleign lor month. Chumsirl
was counh'viied enough and h,ai,nv
enough. but he had been ordered sea r. r.
and had taken the trip leaving his hy no
means extensive flock TO the care Of O
temporary shepherd
The Rev Charles Grosvenor was -
young man, and Clgunioigh was his iii,,
living. He was quite now enough go J /.
worl, to take interest IN it. and he WA,
on intimate terms with all his parishion.
els
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
thoy were.
TIE result was the above description-
q description vague enough in all CON
science, and yet suifjci It az once to in.
vest the hcroines of it with a slight halo
of romance.
The Rev. Charles GrGsvenor had not so
long left college life to bury himself
among the pumpkins but that he could
duly appreciate the piquancy which
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 young bachelor, remem-
ber, 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 a
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 ndunassuming 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 to
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. l must
draw them out
His notion of drawing them out was TO
engage their services in his parish work.
Tho old 1oIxs e,o.
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 a task
congenial 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.
lie talked seriously to Miss Smith, and
Miss Smith listened seriously-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 sinners
fate hereafter, The earnestness and the
vehemence of his parishioner, however.
only increased his interest in her.
Now, when Miss Smith called herself q
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 accented
it from the patron of his living. or his
mother, or any of his lady parishioners.
We are all miserable sinners, and being
enjoined to say so, a clergyman can not
for the sake of being complimentary, re
fuse to believe young lady when she
afiirms 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 a moment.
He soothed her, offered her such consola-
tion as he could, thought she was most
pious and interesting girl, and fell madly |
in love with her.
From the moment he made the dis
coyery his conduct to her altered. He
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 peAistently |
a miserable sinner, She was so charm
ing and so nice that he felt she Nigh, |
very well keep that in the background a |
little.
A white tie and a clerical coat do not |
alter a mans nature and Wlcu a man |
falls madly in love with woman. he |
likes to imagine her as near perfection /
as possible.
Miss Smiths manner changed also. |
She discovered the parsons secret before |
il 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 moment she went deadly |
Ti'c then the color rushed to her checks, |
and she stamnered out a remark which |
tJ-led the conversation
-Li5 Smith saw that the Rev. Charles /
.Cwsycnor was at her mercy, 1t was /
only a question of time whcu he would /
make the avowal. Should she encourage |
him, OF discourage his secret, and stop |
it while there was yet timej
ia her difficulty she laid the case be- /
iofe her motaer and asked her advice,
The old lady was frightened out of her
wits. She dare not think about such |
thing she said, OF course it would be
the raking of her if she could marry |
clcygym9nl but how could it be doneg |
H. woall have % know the history of |
h-g TIE fist, and then
-,nl ,hen he wouldn't' have me,
cn rel he girl pass oua.ely,
-Nrcouue not, my dear said Mrs. ]
Smith. ~at least ! should think not.
Hiobest of ali IN .,,,a,;,ap.