Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-12-27
pie Silence Of
Dean Qaitland.
BY NExMELL GRET.
Continued.

ing that the young man was over
wrought by the labors which he dis
charged with such apparently con
scientious zeal, and tortured by anN-
iety for his friend. had hidden him
take little holiday, and go home to
prepare himself for the ordeal of Ev-
erard's trial. Thus, on the sunday,
Cyril found himself once more in the
old familiar home, now so distaSteful
to him. through bitter associations.
The Melbourne witnesses, including
most Of the Maitland household. were
Subpoeuaed for the following day. and
all were present at church, most of
then, with lively remembrance of
Cyrirs sermon on lnnoccnt'S Day,
when the slayer and The slain had
been there also. Today Cyril enjoyed
the rare luxury of forming one of the
congregations; but his father. having
mentioned at luncheon, With pro
found sigh. that ii was christening
Sunday. Cyril. knowing that neither
he nor Mr. Marvyn enjoyed the duty,
offered to take it for him.
"They make me do nearly all the
baptiSmS at st. Chad'S." he said, Smil-
ing at the recollection of his follow
curatCS' frequent requests to relieve
them of this duty. because the babies
seldom cry with me. And they are
not engaging babies" he added; cut
ter strangers to water, much less soap,
We frequently have children of six or
seven, aud they need management"
So when the time came, Cyril rose
from his place in the chancel, and
walked down the church to the font.
round which three infants were ranged
with their sponsors. The congregation
turned to the west, and Lillian watched
her brother with loving reverence, rs
he poured the water into the font and
began the solemn service in his per
feet manner, giving each word it's
proper weight and purcSt enunciaton
in his matchless voice, which was like
an organ with many stops. The bright
afternoon sun of early spring fell upon
him ana the pathetic little group of
poor mems babes brought for his min
istratiops. and Lillian no longer won
dercl' at his being chosen for the duty
at 81. Chads when she saw him bend
and take the children with revcrent
tenderness in his arms, and, by some
subtle magnetism in his touch. hush
incipient wailings into peaceful, wide
eyed quiet.
The most impressive and touching
of all the church'S offices, this baptiS-
NAL service seemed, under Cyrils min
istration. yet more solemn and pa
thetic, and the most unimaginative
and commonplace woman, whose child
was restored to her arms in that care
full and dignitied manner, could not
but feel that something august and
wonderful had befallen the uncOn-
scious infant in the interval. George
Joseph. lusty babe whose vigorous
roarS had occasiOned his eing trans
ported three times to the church-yard.
subsidized into cherubic quiet after one
or two rebellious efforts at a. scream.
which the graceful young priest sooth-
ed with scarcely perceptlble gestures.
and began his Christian course in a
most laudable manner; then came
tiny Elizabeth Jane, who conducted
herself with equal propriety. Then
Cyril turned to the third infant. which
he did not recognize by its friends,
as he had the others.
1t was carried by n widow woman,
who lived alone in the village. and
was known far and wide as the friend
of the friendleSs, and the natural
visitor of every house in which there
was trouble of any kind; she was also
the invariable sponsor of infants who
conferred no credit on their friends.
This child was better than the cot
tager's children, all in white, with
black ribbons at its shoulders. 1t was
a baby that no woman, from a queen
downward. could have looked upon
without longing to kiss and was ut
tering various little dove-like muir
murs. which occasionally rose TO
crow Of JOY, and which the magic
touch. and perhaps the glance of the
priest, quieted into the softest sounds.
"Namc this child" said Cyril. turn
ing to the sponsors, and expecting to
hear some feminine appellatio +. a fe
male having already by mistake taken
precedence of IT,
benjamin Lee" replied the widow.
in clear high tones. which seemed to
ring through the silence of the church
and pierce into the very core Of Cyril'S
heart He staggered. and his face for
a moment was winter than the in
fant'S dress or his own stainless robe.
Not the child which st. Christopher
bore on his giant shoulders pressed
with a more Overwhelming weight
upon him than lid tins cooling babe
looking up with the beautiful. far-off
gaze OF baby innocence into his white
face, press upon the shuddering arm
which infolded him.
For some seconds a dead silence
broken only by the child's happy muir
murs. filled the church. The whole
congregation saw the terrible emotion
with which Cyril was shaken-hiS
father. Mr. Marvyn, who was looking
down pitifully from the reading-desh
and rpproaching himself for not hav-