The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-12-28

for at last, fOrSeJ1ul Oh lNe oLlei > .,Lin y
and state, Capt Oliver interrupted
his words with
Good heavens, sir! will you hear me.
| have no more intention OF marrying
Mrs. Evelyn than of taking my cook TO
church; and here have / been badgered
to death for days about her. l was
going to say hang the woman.
I'm delighted to hear you say so, my
dear sir" exclaimed the divine, allud-
ing to the former part of the speech,
and quite forgetting the latter, i'll his
zeal.
The rector left perfectly content; he
had not the satisfaction, 1T is true, OF
carrying back sheep to the fold IN
triumph on his shoulders; his had not
strayed, neither had he the weight, so
he trudged home perfectly content;
and scarcely had he gone, when oh!
mans infirmity Of purpose, and OBJ
stinacy Of heart, Capt. Oliver took his
hat and stick, and with something like
an oath Of desperation, walked. III
broad daylight, up to the widows door,
rang, and was Immediately admitted.
"I'll show them whether | am boy
in leading strings he muttered. as he
crossed the hall after the servant.
My mistress is in the grounds, l
think" said the man; If you will take
a chair, sir, l will tell her you are
here"
The captain was seated, when the
door opened, and in fitted Alice, with
her quiet smile and coming up to him,
asked for Basil.
Her little face grew sad when she
heard that his father had actually, just
then. forgotten his existence, as he had
started without him
You are fond of Basil, are youS not,
my childy' he asked drawing her on
his knee
Very" she whispered, glancing
round timidly
why do you say that in a whisper,
Alice?" asked the surprised man.
Alice was silent
Have you been told not to say so?
He is very fond of you; you should love
him in return.
II know that. in Christian charity"
said the child, pursing up her mouth,
and looking very demure
Yes, that's very Well Alice. but for
his own sake, too. a little; don't you
think so?'
Il mustn't" she uttered, close in his
ear
Why? for goodness sake, why?"
She looked down in perfect silence,
and bit her finger.
Again he reiterated the question.
Alice was gentle. tender hearted
,hild, and the thoughts instiled into her
young mind made her melancholy; her
mouth quivered a few moments, and
then she began to cry but very gently.
whispered to her young
heart that she might, in her pure in
nocence, do more by asking, than even
her mother could accomplish in more
direct ways.
Il mustn't love you or Basil, except
IN Christian charity" she uttered,
quickly, because you are great sinners;
that is. not till you are converted, and
you will be, won't you? 0, pray, do
be? that I may love you for yourselves
pray for you every day; mamma told
me to do so; and so does she herself
and that's what she's about now, |
know. though John said she was In the
garden, and John did very wrong to
tell an untruth. for he knew where she
was; and John prays for you, too, every
day; mamma desired him to do so. And
now you will be converted, won't you;
that we may all go to heaven to-
gether?' and she laid her doWny cheek
close to his.
Capt Oliver was thunderstruck. He
knew that Mrs. Evelyn was self-right
eous, and, consequently, illiberal bu,
there Is something painfully unpleasan,
to man to know himself the obiec,
OF the united prayers Of serious fam
lly, Just as il he was the greatest rep
rebate in the world He was en- thu
point Of putting down Alice. and leay
ing the house, when the door opened
and in walked Mrs. Evelyn. with {
sweet smile, yet quite human enough
for man to feel little raneour to
wards her. A man does like to b.
loved with all his faults on his head. +,
be taken for better or worse" and no
to have all the worse carefully sifte,
out. before he Is worth acceptance. 7
Is more than probable, but for 200
Allce'S unfortunate candor and warmth
OF heart, that the widow might hay
gained her ends. As it was, Cant. O]
iyer's natural obstinacy Of tempe
grew stronger before the great iniustic
done to his personal merit, by her dc
Gliding upon not loving him. cen as h
then was.
I'll be shot if she ever shall hav
me- he thought '.I'll lead the sffY
rlshteous woman a good dance; fort
unately all are not like her"
| with these indignant feelings swell
ing IN MS heart, he sat, and talked mos
agreeaDly to her, and when they parte,
ne ielt an impression on her min
that the never failing subject of he
! rellglous views was making an inroa
upon his conviction; and thus he an
little Basil became friends OF the hous
/ wi