The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-01-15
THE CHAPLAIN'S STORY.

Jim Rourn and l were boys together
at Westminster: we went to Oxford to-
gcther to Balliol; we took our degrees
together in the classical (honorS)
school, and were ordained together by
the bishop of L., as curateS Tor biS
diocese. Here our paths separated for
some years, and when next we renewed
our old friendship l was the vicar of he
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 rs in
oldcn times. Somehow the conversa-
ton drIrted to the subject of recent
newspaper article: Ought Married
People to Have Any Secrets from Each
Othcr:' | said No Jim said Yes
We both sInilingly stuck TO our text.
why. Jim," said |. you would have
been the last person | should have "N-
pected to take that line. for l am sure,
from what hav" 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 Just it. Well, IIowson. III
tell YOU one, if you like, though he
added. lit must remain a secret between
us two. / have never spoken of it to
anyone il the world, and never shall,
except to yourself"
Thanks, jim, you need not fear me,
as 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 we'll aware. before | came here.
1t is a pretty place, and one wonders
whatever made the government build
Il Jail there. However, there it is, and
there was |. The amount of society
that one got in Lowmarket was perfect
~ aston shing. Had had the time and
inclination for it, | might have turned
out regular society clergyman. AS
it was, | had a full amount of lectures,
soirees, parties and entertainments.
Among the people | got in with lone
were nicer than the Yorks. Miss York,
a maid IN lady of so, lived in large and
beautifully furnished house called
The Cedars,' in the best part of the
town. She was known all over the dis
trct 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.
81 was 2S when | first saw Ella GoI X,
and at once succUmbed 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
tatcd. | loved her. OF course, | could
! Ut say 50 at once; and whether, after
| TWO or three meetings in the course of
| my wcrk-for Miss York the elder tool,
| great interest in our sphere of labor
| she guessed my love. and reciprocated
| it. | could not then say. | found, upon
| iudicious 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 hcart-scarching ana ,.c-
hading within myself. | thought | sav
tislt Ella York was not wholly iUG.fI D.
cnt to INC. and resolved to ask hcl T.
he my wife | need not go into details
! aS to how did it. beyond saying that
IL was one summer morning rather
mere than FIVE years ago. vhcn. hav i:C
-,ai-s- - SEQ lier aunt, who Was cut. mci
Fila ~ The grounds; and after talking
IS we walked :-l0?g on various subjects =
| somehow 1t came ont Unexpectedly, and
,Imos: before could com ,,Tch, II! What
il all meant, Eliza YorI, had Promised K
L., my wife, subject. to her aunt's con
sent.
"Iut her aunt didn't consent. | re
ceiycd Il dainty note that niCht-hov
tcndcrIy | regarded it. Uowson,-fIon
Ella. saving that she lad spoken Of my
visit to her aunt, and had told her W.
coming tomorrow for her approval
Miss York had been very kind, but aCIct
rather strangely. and sad she wOui,
see me- but she could not consent. "a
she did not wish to lose Ella My doa
= ri went on Ia say that she had in vail
tried to get from her any more thar
this.
u was in curious state of mind 4
| went next morning to see Miss York
What could her objection really be
Surely not to me, My position, M,
family, my life here were, | hoped, he
yond reproach. Even we're it a qucs
ton of money, | had enough privat
means as you know. As for Miss York
well of course, it would be lonely wit a
out Ella at first, after so many years
companionship, but surely she didr'
expect her never to get married. ltwa
preTOsterous.
: II was destined to know her objcC
ton. AS [ approached the lodge TIN
porteress met me.
oh, Mr.. Bourn, this is shocking!"
Il was more puzzled than ever! VIII
my engagement to Ella should L
shocking couldn't see; and no doCt
expressed ii in my looks
SO sudden. too. sir!' said the won
an. 'Norody expected it
'Whatcyer's the matter?' said |.
Why haven't you heard that Mis-
York is dead? No. Oh, dear! Poo
thing; had a fit in the night, doctc
says; was quite unconscious when Mi.
Ella got there, and died at nine o'cloc
this morning.
My heart sank: felt faint and gidd
1t was some minutes before l cou
I move. You will never know how
Z feels, Howson, unless you should ha'
= such Il blow, which | hope you new
will. But / am bound to say that n