Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-12-18
THE NEW CURATE.
BY KATE WALLACE CLEMENTS.

BY KATE WALLACE
'You haven't seen him YETI Well,
that's pity. He's quite a catch I'm
told; young, handsome and single. Why
don't you set your cap for him, Matte?
You've got as good chance as the rest
of them, and tWenty-six is not old by
any means"
She leaned over the garden gate, as
she spoke, this veritable village gossip.
[ can see her now, with her great poke
bonnet, from beneath which the cluster
ing gray ringlets peeped; the keen blue
eyes that seemed to read your very
thoughts, the trim little figure clad al
ways in ample skirts of sombre brown
or Quaker gray.
Never was there wedding, funeral
or christening in the village without
this estimable lady's presence. What a
harmless little lady she appeared, and
how incapable of carrying about that
wonderful budget of information. How
nicely she impaired her knowledge to
her listeners, beginning with, "Well,
don't mind telling you," or They do
say, but of course you can't believe
everything" and ending with, "That's
between you and me; it will go no
farther"
was busy in the garden that morn
ing, training some early June roses; my
thoughts were not the brightest, scarcely
in harmony with nature, who was decked
in one Of her brightest mantles. It was
quite unnecessary fer Mrs. Briggs to re-
mind me of my age; was thinking seri-
ously of it. Twentysix! not very old to
be sure, and yet, not very young to an
unmarried woman.
must be content with fewer laurels,
less conquests. must step out of the
field as it were, and leave the romance
ard the day dreams to younger and fairer
girls.
1t mattcred little to me, whether the
new curate was young and unmarried, or
portly old fellow with a wife and grown
daughters. At heart disliked this in
terfering old woman who had broken in
upon my rcverie. thanked her kindly
for her advice, telling her that at present
I had no intention of setting my cap for
any one, not even the new curate; so
saying went back to my work and the
roses.
"There, Matte, don't get riled," she
said. ''Ot course it's nobody's business
if you're going to leave yourself an old
maid; but take my advice and don't
spend your time fretting and worrying
over Bob Preston, for he amt with it
nohow."
She shook herhead wisely and was off,
before I had time to recover from the
cruel thrust that had opened the old
wound, Robert Preston and the past. I
had tried to guard my heart to tr.mple
under foot the old love. I could have
laughed at my girIish folly as if it were
dream, until thoughtless word had
brought back the past, like the dead
risen to life again, or a smouldering fire
that needed but a gentle breeze to make
it a burning flame.
One by one, the roses dropped from:
my hands. One by one, the binding
tears fell. I was only weak woman
after all, as, covering my face with my
hands, I sobbed, ''Robert, oh, Robert!
why were you false?"
1t all came back to me, that visit to
Aunt Martha's, where [ first met Robert
Preston, young student just returned
from college.
] cannot tell you all those bright,
happy day dreams. How I loved him
and waited for the happy day when he
would ask me for that love. He read
his answer in my tell-tale face before my
lips uttered it.
So, engrossed with Roberts society,
took little heed of other matters, scarcely
giving thought to the fact that young
lady, the daughter of deceased friend
of my aunt's, was going to make her
home with us.
She came. From the moment looked |
upon her lovely face my happiness was
gone. was pretty girl, fair and fra
gile, yet one might as well compare a