The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-03-21
A VALENTINE:

LyneGan, Bucks He was bachelor
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 Il
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 or him in negative kind of
way. If he had no very dear friends it
was certain that he had no very bit
ter enemies. Many spoke we'll of him
none enthusiastically. Some spoke DIS
paraglngly OF him; none abusively.
From this it may be inferred that Rev.
Stephen Endacott's character was
something of colOrless sort.
On one point he WAS particularly cau-
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-
bic, the gl:ebe lands were broad, the
vicarage was charming house, just
the ideal residence for lady with
good taste Low pretty I could make
that drawing room," sighed one to her.
self. What tennis parties l could give
in that dear old garden" thought an
other. 1T would be so nice to be
taken by the bishop at the contil1ml-
uon luncheon felt third But the
vicar had no desire for matrmOny.
He was not susceptible. He much pre-
ferred the independence, of bachelor
hood. Not that he was a misogynist;
quite 1he reverse. A true Christian, he
loved all Women-aS sisters. 1t m ght
even be said that he adored the whole
SeN-ln that capacity.
Many mothers with manageable
daughters, and many, too, with tlaugh-
ters who, from any, but the despera-
das standpoint, were the reverse of
marr:ageable, tried to stalk the vicar.
His caution detied them ALL They
could not get up compromising stu
alton. The vicar declined to be COM
united. 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
utcs. When he did give them that five
minutes it was in his study, a room
Will 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,
hope tn all things" Te vicar would
have been hpttor cod Will, q l,o,
thenish despair. He was heartily sick
OF living in Il state Of siege
The most indefati gable of those who
still invested this impregnable fortress
was Miss Cecilia Dolce. Miss Cecilia
Dolce was lady of numerous expert
ences. She had in her time played
many parts, from that Of the fast f1li1t
to that of the slow saint But in
neither role nor in any of the interme-
diate had she achieveu success. It.
was not her fault. There were facial
disa Dilfties. AS firt she could not
make her physiogomy fascinating; as
SAINT she could not make it celestial
ut does not matter" sad some lady
friend Of hers, what poor dear Cecilia
does with her face. 1t will always be
like a current dumpling.' SO it al.
ways was No cosmetics could alter
that dough-li1e complexion.
But Miss Cecilia persevered. Moth
ing put her off from her apparently
desperate pursuit. She lay in wait for
the vicar around street corners, and
when he appeared always happened
to be walking in the same direction
At district visitors meetings she was
invariably the first present, and took
the seat next to his. She fixed him
with intense glances in the pulpit. She
worshiped him with adm:ring eyes in
the reading desk. She wedged him
into corners at social functions. In
short, she ran after him so conspicu-
Ously that her conduct was 4 standing
joke with all the go:sips of the place
Inc vicar was intensely annoyed
But he, did not know how to stop it.
Had he been a stronger man he might
have gone to Lawyer Dolce, the young
lady's father, and suggested to him
in confidence the propriety Of his par
entail interference. But he was weak
and vacillating; he had nervous hor-
ror Of anything like a scene, and a
constitutional inability to say unpleas-
ant things. Consequently, he did what
weak men generally do in difficulties
he let things slide, contenting himself
with avoiding Cecilia Dolce as far as
he possibly could.
At length he had the satisfaction of
seeing that young lady begin to relax
her affections. The vicar breathed
again. After two years his continued
snubbings were now really taking ef-
feet. He had been wise to wait and
trust to time for assistance. Even a
rhinOcerine hide must be penetrated
if you only go Gu 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 of the pulpit. At the dis
trict visitors meeting next day, no
Cecilia had been present to support
him. The vicar was sanguine He
quite believed that Cecilia had been
choked off.
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 with
drawal Of her forces. renewed the at
ventured to adopt. 1t was on Feb. II
that the vicar sustained the shock of
tack in a holder way than she had yet
her sudden assault