The record-union., 1893-11-25
TIE GURATE'O MISTAKE.

the rector's fat, lax hads, to the disgust of
Mr.. Miners predecessor, who, finding
that he must either marry Augusta or
resign, ungallantly made st. Kevin's
choice.
Mr.. Miner, however, being gentle
creature, made to be wooed and won by
the brave, after some natural and becom-
ing hesitancy, yielded his hand and heart
to Augustus persistent pursuit.
He was rejoiced 10 run up to London
two hours by express from Kirkboro-for
a fortnight's holiday.
Ralph Brent, an old schoolfellow, car
ried him off, first to the Lyceum, merely
as a literary treat and tribute 10 Shake
speare. This fatal step once taken, swift
and facile was the Avernlan descent from
the Lyceum TO the Haymarket; from the
Haymarket to the Criterion; from the
Criterion to the Court; from the Court TO
Tooles. and from TOole's-tell 1t not IN
Gath-to the Imperial Music Hall.
To do Rev. Ernest justice, he hesitated
long upon the brink Of this last abyss,
asking himself what would his Augusta
think
well, I shall call tomorrow morning
to let you know ii l can manage 1t" he
finally said in reply to his friends argu-
ments.
'Of course you can manage it. Meet
me at tomorrow night at the box en-
try. Don't forget, 8, box entry. Ia, ta."
Next morning Rev. Ernest called at
Brent's rooms TO say that the die was
cast, but, his friend being out. he had to
write his adhesion TO the engagement.
Then be hurried from the room, forget
ting in his agitation, perhaps, at having
committed himself his card-case on the
table.
Brent, upon returning to his room, read
the message and then perceived the card
case which he slipped into the pocket OF
his overcoat, to restore TO Its owner when
they met that night.
But they did not meet. When Rev.
Ernest stood shiyering and ashamed at
the entry 10 the upper boxes, Brent
awaited at the box entry proper TIL, con-
Guiding that the curate's conscience had
pricked him or that his courage had failed
him, he gave him up and entered the
music hall alone.
Rev. Ernest also entered alone, think
ing that perhaps he might ind his TREND
inside, and feeling that at the entry every
eye was on him, seeing through multi
the parson and perhaps even the curate
OF Kirk bOrO.
Being without the moral or immoral
support OF a companion, he spent as polg-
Dant hours of abject wretchedness as
even his Augusta might have wished MIN
in his spiritual interest.
Brent also waited to the end. At It's
close he was so pressed upon by the
crowd that he could not put on his over
coat.
Before he had got clear of the crowd
outside in the street he noticed a girl with
sweet, ingenious face looking about dis
tracIedly for her lost escort, evidently
from whom the rough outburst Of the
people had separated her.
At the same pIOmenC a WQlI-OTesS0Q.
raffish looking man, approaching the girl
with his hat of, said: Lost your escort,
madam? Allow me to fetch you cab?"
"Oh, II don't think-yes, please.
Perhaps it would be better, thank you,"
she answered in distracted distress.
Brent, distrusting both the looks and
intentions of this fellow, wanted to see
the affair out.
The fellow having fetched the cab, put
her In and asked the address to which
she wished TO be driven, gave the driver
quite different instructions, and then pro-
ceeded cOolly to enter the cab himself.
II shall see you home If you will allow
me-" he said.
"Oh, no, thank you; pray, pray don't"
she cried, in pitiable terror. Neverthe-
less, he was in the act of stepping into
the cab when Brent interyened. Putting
his hand on the scoundrePs shoulder he
pulled him back, saying at the same time
TO the girl: "He has given the driver the
wrong address,"
"What is that to you ?" he cried, turn
ing furiously upon Brent and aiming at
him a blow which our friend had to drop
his overcOat on the road to parry.
Brent's blood now being up, he struck
out straight from the shoulder with
sledge-hammer force and knocked the
fellow down under the wheels of the cab
just as the driver, to get clear of the row.
had urged his horse forward.
At the same moment a man shouted,
Here's the policer - and Brent, having
no desire to be mixed up, heroicaIly or
otherwise, IN street row, hurried away,
forgetting his overcoat in his excitement.
THAT'S the coat of him that done it ~
shouted voice in the crowd. The police
man proceeded TO search the pockets of
the coat for clew to the assaiiant, who
by boiling, had to the officials mind
proved himself a criminal, but found
nothing in them but Rev. Ernests card
case.
Just as he took out card from the case
to read it by the light of the lamp above
his head, the girls father, attracted by
the disturbance, looked toward the cab
and recognized his lost daughter.
Halo, Maggiel How did you get
there? What on earth is all this row
about ?'
Before Maggie could reply the police
man approached the cab and asked her,
"Do you know the gentleman, Miss ?''
handing her card on which she read,
''Rev. Ernest Miller, Clifford Terrace.
Kirkboro."
NO; he was a stranger, but he only
interfered TO protect me from that man,
who struck him first" Maggie said
eagerly,
The policeman only shook his head and
demanded Maggie's address.
George Morrison, Shenstone's Hotel.
sfraar rapIiaI
promptly for her. When the policeman
had taken down this address the cabman
drove on.
''We're off by the first train in the
morning, so it doesn't matter" cried the
old gentleman gleefully as they moved
away.
They might have found out all about
the Rev. Ernest on the journey down had
they known that he was on the same
train with them, as he was.
III the rector or anyone should want TO
see me particularly he said to his land
lady, pray tell them l have gone to Salem
house"
All went pretty we'll at lunch, since Mr..
McGettigan was much more anxious to
tell OF all he had seen and heard and done
on his last visit TO London than TO listen
to Rev. Ernest's experiences.
Please, sir,' said the maid, who en-
tered at this moment, "a policeman is in
the hall asking for Mr.. Miner"
AS dinner was over, not only Rev. Err
nest, but his host Augusta hurried into
the hall curious ana anxious.
It's some mistake, SIR" replied the
Sergeant, salutlng. Then turning TO Rev.
Ernest he asked, "Were you at the I'm
perial Music Hall in London last night
sir?''
1t needed all the Professors courage
for Rev. Ernest TO say boldly as he did