The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-11-26


or Oh them looking toward my young
lovers. When they were gone, Charlie
gave his arm to Gabrielle, and away
'hey went In the opposite direction.
Then was left alone, land alone 1
renamed for an hour. At the end of
that time there came up the path q
lady OF forty, very prim, very plain,
and very neat, who busted me off with
her handkerchief-n that that Of
tended me-before she would sit down,
and then shook her head and sighed.
cit seems so suitable" she said to
herself. "Mr. Spinner is a good age
for me. 1 respect and admire him :;
we have congenial tastes. / could
make his parsonage all it ought to be.
was male for minister's wife, and 1
should have been one if that fiossy-
haired little flirt of a Gabrielle Thomp-
son hadn't gone into the Bible class.
Such wife for a clergyman as she'd
be! Oh, dear Hike him so. Well,
It's my cross, L suppose. I'll try not
to think about it-but it's so absurd
for him. Bless me there's q bug of
some kind coming down the tree, and
two men up the path. What will thew
think of me here all alonei" And off
she hurried.
About .moonrise L saw coming up
the path man. He had thin face,
with very small blue eyes, very long
nose, very long chin, very wide
mouth, and no whiskers or muztache
whatever but n face with n mild,
pleasant expression, for all that. AS
he sat down, he laid book upon me,
and read upon its cover the name
Adoniram Spinner.
This, then, was the clergyman.
81 can't say that 1 see my wav very
clearly" he said. cit is plain that 1
am expected by the congregation to
offer my hand to Thompson's daugh-
ter, Gabrielle. Her father plainly
desires it. They believe that 1 have
been paying attention to her. I sup
pose L have. l mustn't do anything
wrong. Especially must not awaken
hopes in nm innocent young heart to
crush them. merely thought her n
child. Still, since 1 have seemed to
feel more. [ must fulfil the promises
of my actions. / fear ] Shall not
make her happy, and she is not the
woman L need. There is Miss Crump
now. All what womanl Had I
not unconsciously paid particular at
tention to poor, dear Gabrielle,
should now be free to-Butn no matter.
Duty first. Heigho." And the Rev.
Mr.. Spinner took up his book ad de-
parted.
"What fools people are - 1 said to
myself. l knew they'd all come back
again, and so they did. One day Ga
briella and Charles would talk, as low
ers do, on me. Another, Gabrielle
and her mamma. Miss Crump came,
too. Sometimes the minister came
himself, and crossed his legs and con-
soled himself with the thought that he
was doing his duty to Gabrielle.
Once old Thompson came with him,
and told him how, matters once ar
ranged, he would buy the handsome
stone house next the church for his
daughter. And Adoniram inquired
whether Gabrielle was really happy in
the prospective union; and Thompson
old sinner-said, every, only she
was shy"
| tried my best to shake him off.
I'd been willing to be smashed up,
just to have hurt him little.
At last / knew that the day was
fixed. One evening Miss Crump came
to sit on me and weep, and wandered
away in the wrong direction in her
agitation. And there followed her as
far as my post Spinner, who did not
weep, but groaned. And the moon
went up, and he sat there still with
his forehead on his umbrella handle,
when n shrek was heard, and there
down the path n lady, who cried:
"Oh, dear what shall do? What
shall l do? I've lost my way, and
it's night"
And it was Miss Crump. And Mr..
Spinner ran to her and said
Dear Miss Crump. don't be afraid. "
And Miss Crump sat down upon me
and said
ooh, Mr.. Spinner, was SO terri
fed L couldn't find my way, and
there was a drunken man in the ar
bor 1t is dreadful to have no one to
take care of you"
-A''NN ~ ''t'ANA NV lAltduluR 10 SPEAK
SO, but doing it involuntarily:
eff it were IN my power you should
never be without some one to take
care OF you again.
And she started TO her feet, and he
stood away from her And she said:
"You are engaged to Miss Gabri-
ella" And he said Forgive me.
My heart spoke. I must crush it, and
do my duty. Only you know my
secret now"
And Miss Crump burst into tears,
and said
eve must both forget this. Poor
Gobriellaw And just then two more
figures came into the moonlight, and
Gabriclla's voice cried:
cit is Mr.. Spinner"
And then sho came up, leaning on
Charles arm, and said: "Krnd
friend, forgive me-" And he said !:
'for what, my cbild?" And she
said "I'ye promised to marry you.
but | can't. ! love you, but not that
way. / wouldn't make YOU good
wife. Pa knows feel so. And
please let me Oft, Mr.. Spinner.