The National tribune., 1894-01-18

| "foek"-an elderly lady who was the leading
spirit in the Clothes and Soup Distribution
| Committee--he evinced decided proof of this
| breakup of his cousHkItion.
"And now about the sermon on Sunday, Mr.
Harkaway." she said, taking her scat on the
| other side of the FIRE Sud smoothing down the
| folds of her mauve-colored silk gown.
| 81 hope you liked It." said Guy.
Liked it! 0mtMfg Harkaway. do you doubt
my powers of appreciation2 How can one not
| like perfection 2'r-and the aureole of small
| spiral curls that clustered around her head
shook at the recollection.
Dear me! /" said Guy, surprised, "I never
| thonght Mr.. James possessed such powers -
| Mr.. James!" GdaI
"You mean hinslo you uot-he preached on
| Sunday?" =
! Now, Mr.. Harkaway, do You really suppose
could mean anyone SO ridiculous as dear old
| Mr.. James? OF course / don't; mean the
morning preacher; the stranger. And now
want you TO tell me all about hru--where he
lives and preaches; how Mrs. Harkaway got
him to preach for you. and whether we are to
| have him again soon!"
Guy looked about him in confusion. What
stranger could she mean? Mrs. Acton must be
dreaming.
81 think" he stammered, "you will find
that Mr.. James preached both morning and
evening. My wife told me-
But tell you that he did nothing of the
Y,
is extremely strange of her, that's all"
There was some mistake somewhere; il al
most seemed as il Grace stood conv victed before
this stranger of some inexplicable falsehood
and he felt O cold shiver run through him at
the consciousness.
And, by the way, what became of dear Mrs.
Harkaway on Sunday-was she not well 2"
"Certainly-sbe was at chapel"
"Oh, excuse me; she was not 1t was the
talk of everyone that she was not"
" Are you quite sure? She told me -
"But | tell you, Mr. Harkaway," said Mrs.
Acton for the second time, with a gentle firm
ness and curious smile-"I tell you that
she was not. Now, then!"
There was no explaining it. Trying to hide
the confusion in his face he took his hat to CO.
and his hand trembled visibly as he extended
it in farewell
And SO you can't tell me anything about
the young preacher !" said Mrs. Acton as he
was going. How very. very strange! You
must question Mrs. Harkaway very closely
We are all dying to hear about him-we are all
in love with him-he will be just the man TO
take your place when you are moved up
higher" att
Ii was the same everywhere-he had a round
of visits to pay-at every house the same two
questions about the new preacher and his
wile's Absence the same humiliating con fession
of ignorance on his part, and the same entbu-
SldStic praises OF Ills fySbeF]OuS WHO
seemed to have more than taken his place in
the esteem of his people
Before he had finished his visits ho began to
hate aud dread the least reference to this
known man, whom he came TO regard with
morbid abhorrence in the light of successful
rival. The coarser members of the church.
HouredHI riches, who, without meaning any
harm, thought him q kind of privileged serv,
ant of theirs-made invidious comparisons be-
tween him and his substitute, and spoke of
what he might do with Ebenezer Chapel if
he would consent to take charge Of it," III
his really Neutrality-suspicious. state every such
vnlgarity was like the thrust of a sharp instru-
ment in his flesh. causing acute physical pain.
He reflected, too. that it was Grace who had
introduced this fival. whoever he might be;
aud then he thohght with shuddcr of ber
silence in regard 10 hiEi-a silence that seemed
akin to direct falsehood; aud direct false
hood it certainly was to describe to him, she
had done, the effect of sermon which 80 many
witnesses declared she had not heard. And
with the thought that for some strange reason
she had lied to him, it seemed as if the very
foundations of his life were being swept from
under him. as if some black cloud had gath
cred around him land oher--shntting out with
its shadow all light and hope.
Into what snare of the devil" be said look
ing up into the darkeuing sky, we are being
drawn God alone knowethi"
lie walked aIiniessiyf about the streets Tor
some time aud returned home late. He scarcely
looked at Grace WHO had been waiting long 1or
him, but supported his head on his hand. star
ing vacantiy into the fire. She went and knelt
by his side. leaning her head on his arm.
Something is the NATTER" she said, softly.
!" Come. tell me all about it"
Bnt he only glanced down at her with some
thing of repugnauce. and said nothing.
She waited, looking with him into the fire,
drawing still closer to him. Then she said
again:
Come. tell me now. Let us bear one
another's burdens and SO fulfill the law
off,
why were you not in chapel OH Sunday
morning" he asked
She turned pale. and then flushed red.
Those interminable gossips"-
Those interminable gossips speak the truth
you do not"
Then she darted up frem his side with the
swift grace of fawn, and the one excama-
tion: "Guyi"
n nice position for me, is il not, to keep mp
the pretense of being preacher of Truth,
when my own wife"-
"Oh, / cannot bear it," she walled out,
burying her hot face in her hands.
You led me. wilfully led me, to believe that
you were in chapel on Sunday morning. The
fact is. you were not there. Is it the thought
of that you cannot bear2 If so, l can well
m ynuU