The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-10

with his flock, for he was good-natured
easy-going and a gentleman. But he wa
not what you could call a strong vicai
or a man OF earnest views. He sailed alons
pretty easily down the stream OF parish
life, avoiding storms and collisions, ans
doing what was required Of him in neg
alive kind Of way. II he had no very deal
friends, il was certain that he had nj
very bitter enemies. Many spoke well OF
him; none enthusiastically. Some spoke
disparagingly OF him; none abusively
From this IL may be inferred that Rev
Stephen Endacott's character was some
thing of a cOlorless sort.
on one point he was particularly eau
tious. No doubt he had reason. Bache-
Tor curates are the Acknowledged prey OF
amOrous spinsters. A bachelor vicar
was still more splendid game. The reve-
nues Of Lynedon were considerable the
glebe lands were broad. the vicarage was
a charming house, just the ideal residence
for a lady with good taste. How pretty
! could make that drawing ROOM" sighed
one to herself. what tennis parties ]
could give in that dear old garden,
thought another. TT would be so nice to
be taken in by the bishop at the conhrma-
tion luncheon" felt a third. But the vicar
had no desire for matrimony. He was not
susceptible He much preferred the in
dependence Of bachelorhood. Not that he
was a misogynist: quite the reverse. a
true Christian, he loved all women-as sis
ters. 1t might even be said that he adored
the whole sex-in that capacity
Many mothers with marriageable daugh-
tiers. and many. too, with daughters who.
from any but the desperado's stand
point, were. the reverse Of marriageable.
tried TO stalk the vicar. His caution de-
fed them ALL They could not get up
compromising situation. The vicar decln-
ed 10 be committed. When young ladies'
called to ask him for spiritual advice he
was always either engaged or else so
busy that he could only spare them
five minutes When he did give them that
rve minutes IT was in his study, a room
with large French windows opening upon
the lawn. And the gardner gem
orally managed to be lowering
about the outside. There were
those who averred that the man was paid
extra to do so. At last most of the la
One or two, however, persisted. They were
true Christians, you see. and liked to
exercise that cardinal virtue of their
creed which, according to the apostle
'hopeth all things" The vicar would have
been the better pleased with a heathen-
ish despair. He was heartily sick of liv
ing in a state Of siege.
Z he most indefatigable Of those who
stil invested this impregnable fortress
was Miss Cecilia Dolce. Miss Cecilia Do
bee was a lady of numerous experiences
She had in her time played many parts
from that Of the fast iirt to that of the
slow saint. But in neither role nor in any
OF the intermediate had she achieved
success. 1t was not her fault There were
facial disabilities. AS a nirt she could
not make her physiognomy fascinating:
as saint she could not make it celestial
1t does not matter" said some lady
friend Of hers, what poor dear Cecilia
does with her face. 1t will always be like
a current dumping" SO It always was
NO cosmetics could alter that doUgh-like
complexion.
But Miss Cecilia persevered Nothing
put her OF from her apparently desper-
ate pursuit. She lay in wait for the vicar
round street corners, and when he APP
peared always happened to be walking In
the same direction. At a district visi-
tors meetings she was invariably the first
present, and took the seat next to his
She fixed him with intense glances in the
pulpit She worshipped him with admir-
ing eyes in the reading desk. She wedged
him into corners at social functions. In
short she ran after him so conspicuously
that her conduct was a standing Joke
with all the gossips of the place
The vicar was intensely annoyed. But
he did not know how to stop it. Had he
been a stronger man he might have gone
la ha 1,.I
and suggested to him in confidence the
propriety Of his parental Interference.
But he was weak and vacillating; he had
nervous horror of anysling like a
scene, and a constitutional inability to
say unpleasant things Consequently he
did what weak men generally do in diff
culties-he let things slide, contenting
himself with avoiding Cecilia Dobee as
far as he possibly could.
At length he had the satisfaction of
seeing that the young lady began to re-
lax her attentions. The vicar breathed
again. After two years his continual
snubbings were now really taking effect
He had been wise to wait and trust to
time for assistance Even a rhinoce-
rine hide must be penetrated If you only
go on at it long enough, The vicar felt
ten years younger. He had actually not
set eyes on Cecilia Dolce for a week
on Sunday last, when he preached, there
had been no Cecilia's face to worship
him from the front seat under the pulpit
At the district visitors meeting next day
no Cecilia had been present to support
him. The vicar was sangune. He quite
believed that Cecilia had been choked
on.
But a surprise was in store for him.
Even the boldest generals, now and then,
make a strategic movement to the rear
while planning fresh attack Cecilia
Dolce, after this short Withdrawal of her
forces, renewed the attack in a holder
way than she had yet ventured to adopt.
1t was on Feb. a that the vicar sustained
the shock of her sudden assault
The mornings post brought him, among
other communications, a letter and a
packet. The letter was in Cecilia Dobee's
handwriting He opened it with a groan,
and read as follows:
Dear Mr. Endacott-I hope you viii
deign to accept the small offering which 1
am to-day having sent to you. This season
of ST. Valentine, with its extra liberties.
must be my excuse in your eyes for thus
presuming. Ever yours, sincerely,
Cecilia Dobee
The vicar threw down this note with an
angry gesture. He said nothing about
Cecilia Dolce which was not clerical For
the credit of the cloth it is better not to re-
-