St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-12-12

-~n~a
Der the unknown sea to the unseen
-Lizzie Clark Harry. in Midland Monthly
THE CHAPLAIN'S STORY.
Jim Bcurn and were boys together
at Westminster; we went to Oxford to.
gether-to Balliol; we took our degrees
together in the classical (honorS)
school, and were ordained together by
the bishop of l., as curates for his
diocese. Here our paths separated for
some years, and when next we renewe ed
our old friendship was the vicar of the
town. Still single at "a, and Jim was
the chaplain of the famous Jail in the
same town, and married.
We were talking in my study as IN
olden times. Somehow the converse
tion drifted to the subject of a rece 1t
newspaper article: 'Ought Married
People to Have Any Secrets from Each
Other?" said NO." Jim said "Yes. "
We both smilingly stuck to our text.
IL
been the last person 1 should have ex-
pected to take that line, for I am sure,
from what have seen, that if ever two
folks were happy and loving. they are
Ella and yourself. / can't conceive Of
your having any secret which you
would not want Ella to know
"Ah," retorted he, with a peculiar
smile, that's jus. it. Well, Howson. Ill
tell you one, if YOU like, though" he
added, "it must remain secret between
us two. l have never spoken of it to
anyone in the world, and never shall,
except to yourself"
Thanks, Jim, you need not fear me,
rs you know. l am only desirous to
know the case," and assumed an at
titude Of eager attention to Jim's story.
Il was the chaplain at Low market, as
you are well aware, before I came here.
1t is a pretty place, and one wonders
whatever made the government build
= Jail there. However. there it is, and
there was l. The amount of society
that one got in Lowmarket was perfect
ly astonishing. Had had the time and
inclination for ii. might have turned
out a regular society clergyman. As
1t was, had full amount OF lectures,
soirees, parties and entertainments.
Among the people 1 got in with Lone
were nicer than the Yorks. Miss York,
a maiden lady of 80, lived in large and
beautifully furnished house called
The Cedars,' in the best part of the
town. She was known all over the Gis-
trict for her charity, Kindness of heart
and pure life. Everybody had good
word for her. Nor was her niece, Miss
York. any less popular. People in Low
market fairly worshiped both of them.
Il was 2S when first saw Ella York.
and ut once succrmbed to her charms.
For weeks her praises had been in my
ears. and now, on acquaintance. I found
her beauty, her manners, her kindness
of heart, not one whit less than report
stated. loved her. OF course, / could
not say SO at once; and whether, after
two or three meetings in the course Of
my work-for Miss York the elder took
great interest in our sphere of labor
she guessed my love, and reciprocated
it, / could not then say. / found. upon
judicious inquiries, that Miss York
Ella-lived with her aunt from child
hood; that she was now "a; that her
mother was dead. and her father lived
on the continent for his health: also
that she was her aunt's sole heiress.
These facts were of course only learned
by degrees, as one cannot 60 to the
fountain head for such information.
"After much heart-searching and Ge-
batting within myself, / thought saw
that Ella York was not wholly inditfer-
ent to Inc, and 1 resolved to ask her to
be my wife. I need not go into details
rs to how ] did it, beyond saying that
it was one summer morning rather
more than FIVE years ago, when, having
gone to see her aunt, who was out, met
Ella in the grounds; and after talking
as we walked along on various subjects,
somehow it came out Unexpectedly, and
almost before could comprehend what
il all meant, Ella York had promised TO
be my wife, subject to her aunt's con-
sent. II
But her aunt didn't consent re-
ceived . dainty note that night-how
tenderly regarded it, Howson!-from
Ella, saying that she had spoken of my
visit to her aunt, and had told her was
coming tomorrow for her approval;
Miss York mad been very kind, but acted
rather strangely, and said she would
see me. but she could not consent, as
she did not wish TO lose Ella. Ny dear
girl went on 10 say that she had in vain
tried to get from her any more than
this.
81 was in a curious state of mind as
i went next morning to see Miss York.
What could her objection really be?
Surely not to me! My position. my
family, my life here were, hoped, be-
yond reproach. Even were il a qncs-
tion of money, had enough private
means, as you know. As for Miss York,
well, Of course, it would be lonely wit!;-
out Ella at first, after So many years.
companionship. but surely she didI't
expect her never to get married! Itwas
pIepOSteIOue.
Il was destined to know her objec-
tion. As approached the lodge the
portercss. met me.
oh; Mr.. Bourn, this il shocking!"
81 was more puzzled than ever! Why
my engagement to Ella should he
shocking 1cQgldn't see; and I no doubt
exprei M NY lookA
81 sfddens too, sir!' said the wom-
an. 41todt Expected it,
g 'W0kteverS the matter? sid /.
"WS h~eu't you heard that Mics
York Is dead? MOL oh. dear! Poor
thing; had st in the night doctor
says; was quite unconscious when Miss
Ella got there, and died at nine o'clock
this morning
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