Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-12-12
2 THE CHAPLAIH'S STORY.

Jim Bourn and we're boys to-
gether at Westminster, we went to
Oxford together-to Balliol; we
took our degrees together in the
Classical (Honors) School, and we're
ordained together by the Bishop of
L., as curates for his diocese.
Here our paths separated for some
years, and when next we renewed
our old friendship was the vicar of
the town, still stingle at thirty-four,
and Jim was the chaplain of the fa-
nous Jail Tin the same town, and
married.
We we're talking IN my study as
OF olden times Somehow the con-
versation drifted to the subject of a
recent newspaper article: "Ought
Married People to Have Any Secrets
From Each Other 2" | said "No;"
Jim said Eyes"
We both smilingly stuck to our
text. 1t was not often that we diff
fered in opinion, but this was one
case, anyhow
"Wby, JIM said I, "you would
have been the last person l should
have expected to take that line, for
| am sure from what | have seen,
that if ever two folks were happy
and loving, they are Ella and your
self. | can't conceive of your hav-
ing any secrets which you would not
want Ella to know"
"Ah," retorted he, with a peculiar
smile, "that's just it. Well, How
son, I'll tell you one, if you like,
though, :" he added, cit must remain
a secret between US two. I have
never spoken of it to anyone in the
world, and never shall, except to
| YOURSELF
"Thanks, jim, You need not fear
me, as you know. | am only eur.
ious to know the case" and I as
sumed an attitude of eager attention
to Jim's story.
II was the Chaplain at Lowmark-
ct, as You are well aware, before /
came here. 1t is pretty place. and
one wonders whatever made the
government build a Jail there. How
ever, there it is, and there was /.
| The amount Of society one got in
Lowmarket was perfectly astonish-
ing. Had | had the time and incli-
nation for it, | might have turned
out a regular society clergy man.
As it was, | had a full amount oil
lectures, soirees, parties and enter
tainments.
"Among the people | got in with,
none we're nicer than the Yorks.
Miss York, a maiden lady of fifty,
lived in large and beautifully fur
nished house called 1.-The Cedsrs, .
in the best part of the town
"She was known all over the dis
trict for her charity, kindness oil
heart and pure life. Every body had
good word for her. Nor was her
niece any the less popular People
in Lowmaiket fairly worshipped
them.
l was twenty-eieht when / first
saw Ella York, and at once succumb.
ed to her charms. For weeks her
praises had been in my ears, and now
on acquaintance, found her beauty,
her manners, her kindness of heart,
not one whit less than report stated.
II loved her.
"Of course / could not say so at
once; snd whether, after two or
three meetings in the course of my
work-tor Miss York, the elder, took
great interest in our sphere of labor
she guessed my love and 7; cipro-
Gated it, could not then say.
81 found upon judicious inquiries,
that Miss York-Ella-had lived
with her aunt from childhood; that
she was now twenty-four that her
mother was dead and her father liv-
ed on the Continent for his health ;
also that Sue was her aunt's sole heir
ess. These facts were of course
only learned by degrees, SIS one can
not go to The fountain head for such
information.
"After much heart searching and
debating within myself / thought /
saw that Ella York was not wholly
indifferent to me, and resolved to
ask her to be my wife / need not
go into details as TO how / did it,
beyond saying that it vas one sum-
mer morning rather more than five
years ago, when, having gone to see
| her aunt, who was out, ] met Ella 10
the grounds; and after talking as
we walked along en- various subjects
somehow it came out unexpectedly,
and almost before / could compre-
bend what il all meant Ella York
had promised to be my wife, subject
to her aunt's consent.
! "But her aunt didn't consent.