Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-31
TPe Rector's Bane.
Ry Sarah Grand.
Author of the Heavenly Twins.


Author of the Heavenly Twins.
The rectory was in a futter from
earliest dawn. 1t was like a tree full
of sparrows in the spring, all twitter
and chirp and hustle. For the only
daughter Of the house was to be
married that day by the bishop to the
only son Of the wealthiest land owner
in the neighborhood
When the birdie awoke in the morn
ing her mind was filled with the
words: For WHITTIER thou goest, l will
go; and where thou lodgest, 1 will
lodge" No more. But she told her
mother and her mother thought it a
good omen, most appropriate and very
beautiful, and told the rector, who
smiled benignly, being just as much
elated as the ladies, although he
thought it becoming to hide the fact.
But he blessed his daughter, and
melted when he thanked God for the
happy and brilliant prospect in store
for her.
stitutions," he said, unctuously
E9Those whom God hath Joined to-
gether, let no man put asunder. 1t
has been my earnest endeavor all my
Life to walk in Gods way. To be a
humble follower of Christ was all 1
asked. And the Lord has amply re
Warded me-"
At noon the joy bells rang out from
the square church tower, and the sun,
shining on bare brown branches,
struck sparkles from the delicate sill
vering of frost with which they were
appropriately bedecked, as for the
occasion.
The toll worn women passed the
church as the bridegroom handed the
bride into her carriage. One of them,
dark skinned, black haired, vivacious
woman, with gypsy blood in her, prob
ably, and the disposition to be easily
amused that goes with it, held back to
see the sight, and the other stopped
too, as if constrained, and looked on a
moment, as If in evident resentment
"My! them flowersw the dark one
cried, in admiration.
"Eh, lassr' the other one answered
bitterly. '"They cost fifty pounds if
they cost a penny, them flowers
FIFTY pounds!'' the other ejacu-
lated.
CAY, fifty pound. AS 'ud keep a poor
mans family in comfort fur year.
All pleasure in the pageant went out
Of the dark face, and with one accord
the two women turned their backs
upon it, and continued their way to
where, on the other side of the church,
and in the shadow of it, but half
turned from it, as one in despair turns
from a powerful person who could
help but will not, was a small clean,
poverty stricken cottage. The women
knocked and entered. At that time of
day they might have expected to find
the good wife getting the dinner; but
alas, no! there was no sign Of cheerful
prepare ton here. The fire which
should mean to men all that this world
can know of love and comfort; the fire
by which husband and wife sit in
their young love-days, to which the
children come by degrees in after
years, and from which they go again
with tears and blessings, leaving their
hearts, however, at anchor beside it,
the sacred fire which holds the home
together and is the due of every hon
est man and woman, was out; and
only the ashes of it remained on the
cold hearth. Yet even the ashes were
tidily swept up, so inveterate is or.
derly habit among the decent poor.
The clear, crisp, frosty morning which
had walked the happy bride at the
rectory, had broken with cold comfort
for the old pair in the cottage. All the
long night they had held each others
hands, for it was the last in all human
probability they would ever spend to-
gether on earth. They were an old
road maker and his wife. He had
done his last days work. Wet or fine,
Ill or we'll, week in anu week out, he
had toiled for a mere pittance, which
the thrifty wife at home had made
the most of uncomplainingly A sober,
Industrious long enduring, law abid,
ing pair, such as any country should
i claim for it's own with pride; married
forty years, and parents of three sol.
der sons; there the neighbors found
them sitting on an old trunk, alfost
the only thing left in the cottage, still
hand in hand, those whom God had
Joined, according to the rector in the
character of humble follower of Christ,
waiting to be turned out of their little
home, and driven off like cattle to the
workhOuse, where they would be sepa-