The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-29
The Fall Of the Elect.

BY DOROTHY coNYRRs.

80 ~hcp Win "A tnOuBhttui air, anu
Mrs. Carberry poured out his tea with a
hand which absolutely shook with APP
prehenslcn. Chichester was a cathe-
dral town which had not Travelled apace
with the rest of the world. The CHR
chestsians prided themselves on their
conservative ideas; they disapproved
even of tennis, except when played
mildly on private grounds, and had
played croquet steadily when croquet
Was dead, with lordly disregard as to
their guests amusement. Now that il
had come in again, they played IL Joy.
fully, but still with the old light mall
let's and wide hoops of their youth.
The mothers of Chichester read the
new library books with horror-striclSen
looks, and little triclxles of guilty en-
joyment. Cricket, hunting. and \ the
new 'biloing" were things their daugh-
tors might not do; riding gently along
the roads was ladylike and permissible,
but the archdeacon's wife actually
blushed when thoughtless person
asked her what safety habit her daugh-
ter wore, for Louisa Holroyd's pretty
figure was hidden in an ample gar
ment made by the Local. tailor, the
skirt of which came well below her
deepest grievance, her tiny buttoned
boots. The archdeacon's wife was the
sternest and most unbending of the
Select" as the country people dubbed
the church circle.
The bishop and his fat, merry wife
had no children, and were given to
laughing leniently at the vagaries Of
nrchdeacon and the dean TO keep the
select circle together. and, though
there was a twinkle in the handsome
deans eye and a swing of his broad
shoulders that limited he had sometimes
played brighter games than croquet,
that, as Rudyard Kipling would say,
was another story and, so far he
and the archdeacon had been equal TO
their task.
To-day the dean was disturbed as
he looked on an open letter on the table
The letter was from a cousin who was
obliged TO go abroad for an indefinite
time on business, and had written ask
ing the dean IL he would give his only
daughter home during his absence.
"A bright, pleasant, girl; 1 feel sure
you would like her as n companion To
your own girl" and il the dean consent
ed she was TO come in week. How
was he to say no? He was TO be LIBERAL
ly paid for his guest, and her father was
an old friend. lie must write to say
he would be delighted.
81 am glad" said Mrs. Carberry, ner-
vously, chat Cissie Is away; very glad.
More tea, dear?" And IN sheer absence
OF mind she watered the teapot from
the hot milk jug and handed n cup OF
the strange liquor to the dean, who
looked at 1t resignedly and rose, for he
was an equally tempered man.
YES he said, sit is an excellent
thing, for then, IL the girl is at all adj
vanced, there will be time to get her
out of our way before Cissie returns"
A week later. The dean and Mrs.
Carberry stepped nervously forward
as the mail Numbered i'm from London
and discharged it's living freight on
the platform; then their eyes lit joy
ously on a girl clad in the quietest OF
travelling costumes, who was evidently
their guest.
Are you Helen AdairP"
"Ah, yes, and you are Mrs. Carberry?'
The girl held out her hand, dexterously
evading the affectionate peck which the
elder lady would have bestowed on her.
She was a tall, slim girl, with big, mis-
chievous gray eyes and peculiarly
dainty hands and feet
"Such q tiresome journey" she said.
'Would you see to my things for me,
Mr.. Dean? Here is the list" and she
vanished In the crowd. The Dean made
his way to the luggage compartment,
and had just finished his task when
Helen's voice sounded sweet and low at
his elbow.
''Everything's there, I see. Would
you get n special messenger 10 wheel
this up, or shall ! ride it?" She had
her hand on smart bicycle, which she
was rolling tenderly through the crowd.
III the box next to him had not been
a wicker one the Dean would have sat
on IL and gasped; as II was he gasped
ettihuAhb.
'My dear, bicycle" he said, weakly.
A bicycle In the innermost circle of the
selectl
Helen Adair caught the stony despair
in Mrs. Carberry's eyes, and saw the
Deans flushed cheek, and her eyes
danced suddenly as she took In the sit
uation.
Don't you ride one, either OF your"
she said, sweetly. Perhaps I'd better
ride IL up; I'm very precious Gift"
A girl on n bicycle following the
Deanery carriage! The Dean gasped
again and gave some hasty orders to
porter, and Helen was bundled into the
wagonette. her eyes looking somewhat
anxIously back at her precious wheel.
Between hcrnatural kindlness and her
horror az receiving a new woman into
her home. Mrs. Carberry spent a rest
less evening, for they soon gathered