Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-11-05
THE CHAPLAIN'S STORY.

Jim BoUrn and were boys together
at Westminster; We went to Oxford to-
gether to BaIIioI; we took our degrees
together in the classical (horoTs)
school, and were ordained together bv
the bishop of L, as curateS for his
diocese. Here our paths separated for
some years, and when next we renew 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 n
olden times. Somehow the conyersa-
ton dTIfted to the subject Of a recs 1T
newspaper article: Ought Married
People to Have Any Secrets from Each
Other?' I said NO" Jim said Yes e
We both smiIingIy stuck TO our text.
why JIM said 1, you would have
been the last person I should have ex-
pected 10 take that line, for am sure.
from what l have seen, that if ever two
folks were happy and loving, they are
Ella and yourself. 1 cant conceive Of
your having any secret which you
would not want Ella to know"
All" retorted he, with a peculiar
smile, that's JUS it. Well, Howson. I'll
tell you one, If you ike, though" he
added, ''it must remain q secret between
US two. 1 have never spoken OF it to
anyone IT the world, and never shall.
except to yourself"
Thanks, Jim, You need not fear me.
as you know. I am only DESTROYS to
know the case" and I assumed an at
titude OF eager attention to Jim's story.
Il was the chaplain at Low market, a
you are well aware. before I came here
1t IS pretty place, and one wonders
whatever made the government build
Jail there. However, there it is. and
there was I. The amount of society
that one got in LOwmarIzet was perfect
Iy astonishing. Had ! had the time and
inclination for il. l might have turned
out 4 regular society clergyman. As
IL was, / had full amount of lectures.
soirees, parties and entertainments
Among the people L 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 dis
trict for her charity, kindness OF heart
and pure life. Everybody had a good
word for her. Nor was her niece, Miss
York, any less popular. People in Low
market fairly yvcrshiped both of them.
II was Is when first saw Ella York,
and at once succrmbed 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. / 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
il, could not then say. ] found, upon
judicious inquiries, that Miss York
Ella-lived with her aunt from child
hood: that she was now 24; 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 go to the
fountain head for such information.
after much heart-searching and &C.
batting within myself, / thought ] saw
that Ella York was not wholly indifTer-
ent to Inc, and 1 resolved 10 ask her to
be my wife 1 need not go into details
as to how J did it, beyond saying that
IL was one summer morning rather
mere 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 aGnt's con-
sent.
But her aunt didn't consent. I re-
ceived a 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 l 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. My dear
girl went on TO say that she had in vain
tried to get from her any more than
this.
Il was in a curious state of mind rs
1 went next morning TO see Miss York.
What could her objection really be?
Surely no. to me! My position, my
family, MY life here were, hoped. be-
yond reproaeh. Even were il a ques-
tion of money, L had enough private
means, as you know. As for Miss York,
well. of course, it would be lonely with
out Ella At first. after so many years
companionship, but surely she didn't
expect her never TO get married. TWAS
preposterous.
IL was destined to know her objec-
ton. AS | approached the lodge the
porteress met me.
"'Oh. Mr.. Bourn. this is shocking!''
IT was more puzzled than ever, Why
nv engagement to Ella should be
shocking couldn't see; and l no doubI
expressed il in my looks.
:. 80 sudden. too. sir!' said the wonl-
an. 'Sorody expected it
swhateyer's the matter?' sail I.
why haven't you heard that Miss
York is dead? No! Oh, dearI Poor
thing; had fit in the night. doctor
says; was quite unconscious when Miss
Ella got there. and died at nine O'clock
this morning
'.AiT heart sank; felt faint and giddy.