The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-06-28
SELECTED STORY.
One Clergyman and One Suburban
Serying-Maid.

title OF This article, lOr Ue III knOWu,
the clergymau-Mr. Edward V. Angel
and the maid-Annie Sistant--never
saw each other.
And vet fate brought those two into
one trouble in curious, almost an alb
surd way; and the same trouble came
within one vote of severing pastoral re-
lations between
But l anticipate.
Bluff Heights-so called because it is
level prarie--is one of the prettiest,
though not most fashionable, suburbs
of Micago-far: prettier than any be-
longing to the rival city of Chicwaukie
and can be reached, when the roads
are dry, by lovely drive; for, from
the moment you leave the shore of Lake
Michigan and turn inland, the road
runs quite level all the way.
Pedestrian enthusiasts have even
walked the distance on a summer Sun.
day morning, arriving before the be-
ginning of Mr., Angels highly priced
sermon, and before the heat was OPP
pressive; but of course the main access
is by the N. E. & S. w. II. r., as many
times a day, almost, as there are odd
minutes; it being against good railway
blulCS W uIIlNO uJ CNCh hOulo VI buc
larger subdivisions Of an hour.
Trouble arose in the principal church
of Bluff Heights through the utterance
by its pastor-until then, its beloved
pastor-of three words; just three, and
mOnosyllables at that. They were not
profane, in the Bible sense, nor scandal
words-when he uttered them; nor
We're they ribald, at least in the mean
ing which the world generally applies
to that adjective. They were not per-
sonally off nsive-not meant to be so;
nor were they words of vanity, though
they led to veXation of spirit. They
were good dictionary words, used in a
manner grammatical though somewhat
colloquial.
They were-But again anticipate.
Mrs. Casanova was always glad to see
Mr.. Angel come whirling his little cane
and STRIKING along the plank walk that
led past her front gate, because he
might be going to click the latch, open
the gate, crunch with his footsteps the
gravel in the path, fly up the steps at
two skips, and touch the electric button,
while she did the rest; that is, give a
look in the glass, pull out her curly
collar and cuffs had no smoke blacks
upon them; all while the second girl"
was swering the bell. When he did
not click the latch, ct cetera, she went
back to her reading or sewing or
crochet, or what not, with proper resig-
nation; but, when he did, she was ra-
diant; for Mr.. Angel was Every good
form" He had come from East"
and knew the "best people," and
showed his breeding in every word and
look; and, if you didn't mind his ur-
gency as to church and Sunday-school
and poor-sisterhood things and all that,
you got along with him very well, no
matter if he was little forgetful of the
proper class distinctions. A great many
of the very high born people do have
those fads, you know; they seem to be
almost sick and tired of aristocracy!
Think of it!
This very morning of all others, she
wanted him to click the latch, ct cetera;
and he did it! She did all the rest in
due order, except that for reasons soon
to be told, he had to touch the button
twice, and then she opened the door
herself.
you! 1t really seems like a special in
deposition; just when | need all the
consultations of religion--every one!
Mr. Angel laid his hat on the hall
table, balanced his stick across it, and
followed his welcoming hostess into the
parlor with that quiet smile that seemed
a part of his nature-a smile that might
mean: " have studied, toiled, lived
to administer those consultations" or to
deeper insight might mean: l OBJ
serve that those consultations are often
sought for just when the seeker is least
deserving of them"
"You know, Mr.. Angel, l told you
about that treasure of girl l had
Annie Sistant; so faithful, so cheerful,
so intelligent, so ndustrious-above all,
80 Obedient and respectful. Well, she's
gone"
His smile faded and his eyebrows
rose in sympathetic surprise.
Eyes, gone! And you know how
dreadful, heart-rending, the servant
girl question is in these suburban
placesl"
He nodded gently, slowly and repeat
edlv: for he knew it but too well. She
1COnLlnueu.
s. 1t is perfectly outrageous; and l
will tell you how it was. went to
town on the nine-six-no, / think /
missed that through stopping for the
mail and calling at the wretched meat
market where they never have any
thing but liver, the hook of a ham,
fourteen old lamb chops and part of a
box Of tomatoes brought from town a
week or two ago-and so | was late,
and took the nine-torty-seven. AT any
rate, was so late that ] could not get
through my shopping, and was forced
to drop into Meadows tea-room and
get cup of tea and piece of custard
pie and some macaroons and candy,
and then, instead of getting back on
The one-twenty-nine, never got home
until the three-thirteen; and as | came
along, what do you think? / heard the
piano going! Still / did not suspect
anything-lhought perhaps your wife
had dropped in and was being so very
kind as to sit down and wait for me,
knowing that l was almost sure to come
by that train, since the four-twelve has
gfnnna1 p,,t IL 4