The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-20

ahotilef PARISH, Wiiere the vicar was
very old and infirn, bat the curate of
MaTldOn had never shrank from re-
spending to any call which came from
the two or three families inhabiting the
poor, low lying, damp, out of the way
cottages. LeIs. OF all would he have
refused now. As she felt in her own
conscience what his conscience would
suffer for the act she started upright
and turned to run and tell him. But
she had one of chose strong wills which
from their very power over their pos
SCISSORS, are often unsupported, and it
rose mp now like iron. "No, she said,
she shall not 90. His throat Is weak,
and ne is - carcless OF Infection that he
would let the children play about him,
as they always do. II he had known
that he was wanted, would not have
tried 10 stop him. wouldn't lay the
sin Of refusal upon his shoulders, but if
| take it myself God cannot be angry
with him. | will take it-I do take it, +"
She lifted her gray face to the gray
skies. Good Lord she said solemn
ly, the sin is mine" Then she opened
the door and walked determinedly into
the little room where her husband was
writing.
"Nho was that ~ ne asked
"0nly girl" she replied, her heart
beating.
NO one wanting me? Well, that is
a mercy, for have stuck at this ser
mon long enough"
She had gone behind him and now
stood looking over his shoulder.
GLOW you slave day after day - she
exclaimed at last, with an impatience
which surprised him. "Ifthere's moth
ing else, there's always sermon to De
written, and they take so long Other
men don't spend 20 much time over
theirs"
~ never was quick at this sort of
thing" he admitted readily, 'and I'm
not sure ] do much good by it. How
ever, it has to be done
al wish you'd 90 way and take a
holiday ~ she exclaimed abruptly.
Take holiday p he repeated in
amazement. sly dear, are you mad
Pray, what would the vicar say, and
who would do the duty"
''0h, I'd find some one. I'm quite
certain | could find some one, and YOU
are looking so tired that you are very
! likely to break down unless you get a
change. fit were only TO Donning-
ton, John,n she hurried on, putting up
her hand to check his interruption.
''It would he better than nothing, and
you know that Mary has been worse,
and it would he the greatest comfort TO
them -
my dear Louisa. She pushed his
hand aside breathless.
Come, say Yes, say yes, just to please
me Let me gc.aisl pack your bag,
and then You can start by the train.
He began TO laugh.
"What are you talking about? This
is October, and we viii discuss holi-
day when August comes around and
the vicar has had his, can't imagine
how such an unreasonable idea got in
70 yonr head Pray, take il away with
you and leave me 10 my Sermon" A.
she did not reply, he looked round and
saw tears in her eyes. '.My dear love-
/ ba eaiI n, a aI,.uc.I x-o.:.. 81 -l,.lf D.,
gin to think it i yoa who are Overdone
and want the holiday. Ifyou are real
ly speaking seriously, recollect how
much illness there i about-,you know
! should not like 10 be absent even for
one night when it might he a sick soul
was in sore need of help"
'Everything falls on YOU - Her
tone was sharp and resentful, for al
ready she was fighting with remorse
and Il great fear
''Wen, we'll he said, smiling, "we
needn't grumble. Hard work agrees
with me, and, God knows, I've more
blessings than most men. Hadn't YOU
better see what those children are
after?''
Dinner time came, and she helped
the children methodically, although
she was more silent than usual, aI.,i if
her husband had been an obServant
man he must have noted H. His own
thoughts, however, were busy with the
possibilities of village reading room
he was starting and with setting a
Latin exercise for his boy. lie had no
conception Of the remorsc with which
his wife-brought up to feel duty the
highest obligation Of life-was bat
Ting. Ii struck him at last, however,
that she looked even palcr than usual,
and remembering with some uneasi-
ness the little scene in his study, Ia
said kindly, II am afraid, my dear,
that the children have tired YOU"
NO" she said. .No." Then quite
slIddenly-suddenly even 10 herself
for il did not seem to her that the
thought had flashed into her mind until
that moment, she added, 'But if you
won't 90 to bennington l believe |
shall"
''Yoa - he exclaimed in utter be-
wildermcnt, for his wifc's reluctance TO
leave home had passed into a proverb
in her family.
''Yes. Why not? Annie can man
age for you and the children for few
days, or perhaps your sister would
come"
''Mary is not really worse, is she?"
''NO. But she feels seeing 50 little Of
us. If you don't mind, think will
go-this afternoon"
As she said these words she flung
him frightened look, but the amaze
ment of her first announcement had
swallowed up that of the second.
''Of course | don't mind" he said
slowly. 81 dare say you're right. Pm
afraid I've been selfish in keeping you
away from poor Mary. Won't you
take one of the children -
''Oh, no, no, no ~ she cried, with a
quick shudier.
John Wood was man of easy adapt
ations, and by the end of dinner the
first strangeness of her proposal had
worn away She was relieved from