Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20
A RECTOR'S RESOURCE
How Rev. Cuthbert Dangerfeld
Successfully Thwarted a
Matrimonial Scheme.
V,HE REV. CUTHBERT DANGERFIELD

From BslZrsviA-
VNHE REV. CUTHBERT DANGERFIELD
Il having with great deliberation and silver
paper knife cut the ponderous pages of the
Quarterly Review threw himself back in his
well-padded chair and gazed refectively into
the fire. His glass of LATTE was warming
in distant corner of the fender, an obese
and elderly Dandy Dinmont snored comfort
ably before the same and an air Of repose
pervaded the whole room 1t was evident
from the peaceful nature of Peppers
sleep that he anticipated no pa-ochial 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 his sparse gray
hair overispped his clean-shaven upper lip
with the neither one, and tapped his brow
pensively with his pincenez- 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 announce
ment-
AT the parish church, Snaleham, the Rev.
Peter Poppls. MA. Fellow of St. Johns Coll,
Cambs, rector of Dulbrough, to Lavinia.
widow Of the late Mai. Mullyns, one hundred
and twenty-ninth regiment"
He glanced shudderingly around his snug,
book-lined room, seized his glass Of LATTE
and then murmuring, Poor devil! astound-
ing-ss-tounding" 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's views on the
subject of marriage were very decided 1t was
generally understood, for he did not actually
PROFOUND his sentiments, that he considered
marriage all very well for curates and other in
vertebrates. but that matrimony was absolutely
Ifg~o ffrl to- inn art
celiDacy most unquestionably proceeded from
no fsnciful high church notions Muddlebam-
Magma was evangelical from end to end Pop
pie a man he had greatly esteemed; hence
forth Mr.. Dangerfeld felt that he and Popple
would have no sympathIes In common, and the
thought caused him much distress-
The Quarterly Review failed to cheer him.
He found his thoughts wandering from Glad
stone 70 Snaleham and Dulbrough, to Popple
and his fall He positively blushed when he
discovered himself dwelling on the possibilities
OF Popple becoming family man. Bah the
thought was too horrible. lie started up sud-
denly to Peppers unmitigated astonishment
and disgust, flung aside the magazine and pre-
pared to go out.
AZ he stood brushing his hat preparatory to
starting this afternoon he was undecided
whether to do his cottage his villa round.
At first be thought he would swoop down with
some requisite pastoral reprimands upon his
humber Pensioners, but for these to be duly
~ Il.
This afternoon, with Topples fall ever
present il mis- mind, he simply felt de-
pressed and sad, and under these circum-
stances he decided that Twiddy-his curate-
should attend to the cottaSeTs. The villa
round should be his today Here he would be
petted and soothed with well-brewed tea and
comforting tea cake. and so made TO forget his
erring friend temporarily. There were the
Larbys, for example, at the Laurels. His
housekeeper, Mrs ChiPp, had informed him of
the serious IndispositiOn of Miss Louisa and as
she ana her sister were staunch and liberal
supporters of the church and local charities it
beh0oyed him TO pay sympathetic call To-
ward the Laurels he accordingly went. Every
shrub in the spotlessly kept garden of that
small residence was evenly trimmed, the gravel
was rolled till IL positively shone. again, and
the doorstep was OF immaculate Wilderness.
Miss Larby, senior, solemnly rose to greet
the rector as he was announced She was an
angular female of sallow complexion, display
ing great symmetry of bone. As she moved
there was a fetterlke jingle of let bracelets.
and her knuckles and old-fashioned rings
clicked and ratified like a mechanical toy as she
rubbed her osseous hands together. The some
what embarrassing skittishness that the rector
had sometimes nervously remarked in the
younger Miss Larbys demeaaor was wholly alb
sent from her sister. BE therefore felt more at
ease in her presence, and more emboldened
to inquire solicitously and tenderly after the
invalid.
At the mention Of her sisters name Miss
Larby allowed her eyelids to suddenly fall as if
a string had been pulled somewhere at the back
of her head
Her condition is most seriousr' she replied
t-agicaly.
Dear mer' said Mr.. Dangerneld, opening
his eyes very wide. 'Dear me! hope YOU
are unnecessarily alarming yourself. Seen
Chilvers! Chlvers was the Muddlsham-Magna
doctor.
MIR. Chilvers fears her recovery is impos-
sible. There Is no disease, but she seems to be
gradually pining, and a severe attack Of bron-
chitis has struck final blow"
Gould you not take her for . change Of
scene? You have not been away from Mud
dleham since"
I'VE went to Dulbrough the first week Of last
September" Miss Margaret responded with
melancholy preciseness- The mention Of Dull
brough revived thoughts of Popple, and a per-
ceptible shade passed over the Reverend Cuth-
bert face, while an involuntary sigh escaped
him.
Yes, remember, I remember" he said.
sadly, and Miss Margaret noticed with an
parent satisfaction that he suddenly became
distracted Size ratified her fingers and rings
more loudly still, and rang for tea.
She had great faith in the Larby brew. with
its concomitant cream and well-buitered
mullins, as a social agent, and she had often
noticed its magical effect upon the rector 1t
proved less inspiriting than usual, however.
sAAs olScIHOOu- Dus II leu me conversation
back TO Dulbrough.
You have doubtless heard of Mr.. Poppls's-
marriage He gulPed out the last word
Miss Margaret visibly frightened
II was SO glad"
'Glad?' gssped the rector. Glad? Why
were you glad, Miss Larby?''
Mr.. PoPple Is an attractive man in the prime
OF life, his was . lonely existence and. with
% charming q rectory, it seemed, il NAV saw
30, almost selfish OF him to live in single state
The Rev. Cuthbert gazed at her nervously.
That Is what they think Of me, perhaps" he
thought to himself, and the reflection filed
him with terror. He was thankful to change
the subject and visit the invalid Now his
nervous condition was % low and the chair
beside the invaiids bed SO costly cushioned
that be sank into IL and allowed himself to De
talked to by the ladies. Beyond the fact that
her voice was weak and that there was a DOW
srfQl odor Of eau-de-cologne IT. the apartmen Mt
he really noticed no signs OF serious indisposi-
NON about Miss Louisa For this he was CRATE
fui- He disliked sickness, he was not fluent
In the consolatory and amateur medical lam
guase current with sick persons and their rela-
ives SO be outstayed his usual time for such
calls and with marked geniality begged that
Miss Louisa would not hesitate to send for
nm II he could be Of any service.
:, day or two later in passing the Laurels the
hev. Cuthbert called 10 inquire again after the
YOUNGER Miss Larby and received still more