The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-03-01

ii@c I'd I4iuA II over, observed tLc (
former.
Very good, replied the rector II
haze u visit a poor woman, and you
can give me yolr answer when / re-
turH--in half an hour. Make yourself
comfortable in that arGn-caair'
The rector withdrew, and Mr.. wildly
sat down and considered whether il
were or were not worth his while 10 a.
cept the curacy. hundred and fifty
were not much but then he had no pri-
vate resources aud-he SHIFTED uneas-
lily in the armchair. 6ouethiaZ-a
lump q: some i,ind--was pressing into
the small Of his back. lie rose and
reached his hand between the back Of
the chair and the leather cushion.
Yes, there was something. lie drew
out roll Of paper; il was printed
document Further examination re-
vraled the fact that it was q sermon. !
Mr.. Willy smiled when he saw the
words Sermon Supply Association" at
/ the foot Of the outside wrapper In
/ side followed the text: Now Bara bias
was robber," and then came an ex-
+ cellent discourse.
/ ooh, he does, does hep" exclaimed
/ Mr. Willy, land he told me he was
/ particular about Il high level Of preach
| ing being maintained in his pulpit"
Putting the document back 10 it's
hiding place Mr. Wildly stro}led over to
! the rector's writing table and began to
/ look idly at the things on 1.-THE pres
/ entGtiOn iukstand. the testimonial cam
/ dlesticks, the church almanac, the pho
/ tOCraph of the rectOr's wife with the
twins on her knee, and so forth. 4
very smart sermOn-casc Of black velvet,
ornamcDted with cross Of gold, lay
On the bIottiug pad.
''TO-morrOw's sermon, ] suppose"
observed Mr.. Wildly, and he took it up.
NOW Barabbas was robber." These
words figured at the head of the rec
tors discourse. Mr.. Wildly read them
with a sad smile and proceeded to read
on. Presently he went and fetched the
hidden document from the armchair,
and read that and the rcctOr's discourse
/ (which was very neatly written and
tied together with piece of blue rib
bon,) alternately.
Really, you know" said Mr.. Willy,
"hes copied it all ont, word for word,
! in his own handwriting. At this mo-
/ ment a step was heard outside. Mr.
. Wildly hastily put down the rectors
sermon and laid it where he had found
It, The other document he slid into
his coat-tau pocket The rector en-
tered.
''Well, Mr.. Wildly, have you reached
a decison?" he said.
1--WE decided to accept the charge,
sir. Money is no. the only thing 20 be
considered"
'I'm glad to hear you say that Wen
consider it settled then. And you can
begin work at once?"
''TO-morrow," said the new curate.
''Excellent l preach in the morn
ing. Perhaps you would take the
Mission hall service then, and preach
in the church in the EVENING""
THAT arrangement will suit me ex.
cellently," answered Mr.. Willy; and
after few more words he took his
leave.
The parishioners always admired the
rector's sermons very much; out he had
seldom given more satisfaction than by
his stirring discourse on the text:
Now Barabbas was a robber." 1t was
listened to with breathless interest;
and on his way home the rector was
forced TO promise the loan of the manu-
script to no less than four ladies, each
of whom was anxious to read and copy
1t. The rectOr's wife, also, declared
that Algernon had really surpassed
himself, and only re gretted that in
the evening she would be compelled
to suffer the crude production Of a raw
curate.
"Well, well, my dear" said the rec
tor, I'VE mast make allowances. He's
young and we mustn't expect too much
from him"
The congregation was larger than
usual that evening, owing to the In
terest excited by the new curates first
appearance. 1t was agreed that Mr..
Wildly read very nicely, and the cong-e-
cation was prepared to treat him with
every Indulgence when he mounted
into the pulpit. The rector himself
leaned forward with an expression of
amiable, though somewhat patroniz-
ing, attention. Mr.. Wildly, whose bear
ing showed q sef-posscssed mOdesty,
gave out his text in clear Voice re-
peating it twice lest anyone should fail
to catch IT. Now Barabbas was a
robber."
The rector started; so did his wife
and many among the congregation.
The coincidence was remarkable. How
ever, as Mr. Willy continued, the CO.
incidence became very much more re-
msrkable; SO remarkable, indeed, as to
be entirely incredible. Some Uttered,
some stared, some whispered. The rec
tors wife fixed a stony glare on the
, preacher; his hand, and only Z pair of
very red ears testified to the depth of
his feelings For Mr. Willy preached
the very same sermon, identically the
same in the slightest word. which his
rector had preached in the morningl
At last the ordeal-for the rector 1t
was an ordeal-ended, and he and Mr.
, Wildly stood together in the vestry
The church wardens were counting the
til MIR willy observed in an innocent
voice:
81 hope yon are not dissatisfied with
=, my first attempt, rector ought to tell
you
The rector was gonel The church
i wartiens looked at the cuTate with a
sort of horror He babe them good
, night and strolled off towards the rec.
= tory Before the service he had been
invited to come to supper. On his way
$ he passed several groups of members OF
. the congregation; they were talking
with much excitement The curate took
no notice of them.
Masters in the study, SIR" said the
maid, when she opened the door.
Il will find him for myself" said Mr.
Wildly AS ne approached the door hs
heard voices. an thank you to tel
y me, Algernon," said voice. Mr.. Wildly
knocked loudly and opened the door
S The rector's wife, still in her bonnet
y stood in the middle of the room The