The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-05-25
A VALENTINE:

in young middle life, on the whole pop
ular with his flock, for he was good
natured, easy-going and a gentleman.
But he was not what you could call a
strong vicar or a man of earnest views.
He sailed along pretty easily down the
stream of parish life, avoiding storms
and collisions, and doing what was re-
CURED of him in a negative kind of
way. If he had no very dear friends 1t
vas certain that he had no very bit
ter enemies. Many spoke well of him;
none enthusiastically. Some spoke dis
paragingly of him; none abusively..
From this 1t may be inferred that Rev.
Stephen Endacott's character was
something of a colOrless sort.
On II point he was particularly eau
tious. No doubt he had reason. Bach
elor curates are the acknowledged prey
of amOrOus spinsters. A bachelor vicar
was still more splendid game. The
revenues of Lynedon We're considera-
BILE, the gl:ebe lands were broad, the
vicarage was a charming house, Just
the ideal residence for a lady with
good taste. low pretty l could make
that drawing room,' sighed one to her.
self. What tennis parties 1 could give
in that dear old garden" thought an
other. 1T would be so nice to be
taken by the bishop at the confirma-
ton luncheon" felt a third. But the
vicar had no desire for matrimony.
He was not susceptible. He much pre-
ferred the independence Of bachelor
hood. Not that he was q m~isogyniSt;
quite the reverse. A true Christian, he
loved all wOmen-as sisters. 1t m ght
even be said that he adored the whole
seX-in that capacity.
Many mothers with marriageable
daughters, and many, too, with daugh-
tiers who, from any but the despera-
da's standpoint, were the reverse of
marriageable. tried to stalk the vicar.
His caution defied them all. They
could not get up a compromising stu
alton. The vicar declined to be COM
mitted. 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 min
utes. When he did give them that five
minutes it vas in his study, a room
with large French windows opening
upon the lawn. And the gardener gen
orally managed to be lowering about
outside. There were those who aver
red that the man was paid extra to do
so. At last most of the ladies aban-
doned the chase as hopeless. 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" TIE vicar would
have been better pleased with a hea-
thenish despair. He was heartily sick
of living in a state of siege.
The most indefatigable of those who
still invested this impregnable fortress
was Miss Cecilia Dolce. Miss Cecilia
Dolce was a lady of numerous expert
ences. She had in her time played
many parts, from that of the fast fllir1
to hat of the slow saint. But II
neither role nor in any of the inferno
diate had she achieved success. L
was not her fault. There were facia
disa bilities. AS a flirt she could no
make her ~physiogomy fascinating; al
a saint she could not make it celestial
l at does not matter" said some lad,
friend of hers, what poor dear Cecil;
does with her face. 1t will always b
4 like a current dumping" So it al
ways was. No cosmetics could alte
4 that dough-1ike complexion.
: But Miss Cecilia ~persevered. Moth
ing put her off from her APPARENT
desperate pursuit. She lay in wait TO
the vicar around street corners, an
when he appeared always %happene
: to be walking in the same direction
At district visitors meetings she wa
G invariably the first present, and too
the seat next to his. She fixed hi
= with intense glances in h pulpit. 81
Il worshiped him with admiring eyes
- the reading desk. She wedged hi
I, into corners at social functions. l
u short. she ran after him so conspic'
- ously that her conduct was a standlr
e I, Joke with all the gossips of the plac
I'll The vicar was intensely annoye
'e But he did not know how to stop
5, Had he been a stronger man he mig
,r have gone to Lawyer Dolce, the youl
a. lady's father, and suggested to hi
ID in confidence the propriety Of his pa
id entail interference. But he was WEI
d and vacillating; he had a nc
in ror of anything like a scene, and
i'd constitutional inability to say unplea
T. ant things. Consequently, he did VIII
IS weak men generally do in difficulties
~ he let things slide, contenting himse
with avoiding Cecilia Dolce as far
Mt he possibly could.
At length he had the satisfaction
m seeing hat young lady begin to rel
in her affections. The vicar breath
il again. After two years his contlnu
rk snubbings were now really taking
pd feet. He had been wise to wait a
of trust to time for assistance. Even
"a rhinocerine hide must be penetrat
"a if YOU only go on at it long enous
no The vicar felt ten years younger. !
had actually not set eyes on Gee.
W. DOLCE for a week. On Sunday la
-, when he preached. there had been
"a Cecilia's face to worship him from
~ front seat of the pulpit. At the G
W trict visitors meeting neXt day,
., Cecilia had beer present to supp
Is him. The vicar was sangulne.
en- unite believed that Cecilia had bt
~ choked off.
MS Rut a surprise was in store for n
ed Even the boldest generals. now a
I'm then. make a strategic movement
the rear while planning a fresh alta
a Cecilia Dolce. after this short w
ties dra wal of her forces, renewed the
to ycnturcd to adopt. 1t was on FeD.
that the vicar sustained the shock
tack in a holder way than she mad
SG. her sudden assault.
The mornings post ouG IL
Ky among other communications, a lei
and a packet. The letter was in
ella Dobee's handwriting. He OPP
h"' II with a groan. and read as follow
Dear Mr.. Endacott-I hope you
zen deicn to accept the small Offer
which l am to-day having sent to J
tvu This season of st. Valentine, With
ule extra liberties, must be my excuse