The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-10-13

! vaunted liberality. Secretly
6 soon writhed at the mere mentio
>f that testimonial.
. One person he could not fail t
II note took no part il the propose
7 oenefaction-a principal inhabit
ant, too, of Langton Bishops.
Il lady who inhabited Gray's Court
chlldless widow of the late owne
, OF this, the largest property in tn
parish. A quiet, reserved woman
y some five years younger than him
self. Mrs. St. Quentin mixed bu
little with the village upper ten
Her husband had been somethin,
OF a bear, nlggardly and unap
proachable. Before his death the,
had been much abroad. Now
though her help was always read,
tor whatever object he asked it
the curate only met her rarely
BY chance he encountered her Wis
ltlng some old servants who were
devoted to MISTRESS Once
when laborer at the Court was
badly hurt, he had gone hastily
and found her tending the suf-
ferer, not the least like a grand
lady, but with q helpful womanli-
less that he never forgot. Her
regular presence in the big pew in
the pulpit always made him get
through the service better. The
refinement Of her still fair and
rather wlstful features was agree
able for the eye to rest on. In her
he had always one attentive lis
tener. Her voice was very sweet,
too, and he liked to hear her sing
ing. Generous she was, and to
him invariably kind, but some-
how it worried poor Mr.. Ferrers to
think of her in connection with
that terrible testimonial. At the
very back of his thoughts he was
constantly wondering whether she
knew, and what opinion she had of
the whole begging business.
Mrs. ST. Quentin knew of it, GER
tainly. The church-warden SHADY
called and explained it all with
charming candor: Poor Mr..
Ferrers would literally, I do be-
lleve, ma am, almost starve, if we
didn't do something for him. We
think he might have put by
"Oh, pray don't blame him for
that. he couldn't possibly,::' in
terrupted Mrs. ST. Quentin.
''Perhaps in your position it
seems impossible" assented the
canvasser, with fattering smile;
''but others think he might
Still, however much he may have
been to blame, we don't wish to
turn him off without a farthing
in his pocket. Several have prom
lsed u.s." running volubly over her
subscription list, "and we hope
perhaps you would head us with
something handsome"
But Mrs. St. Quentin did not
Use to the occasion. She would |
ldd her contribution at the end,
'he said. There was little awk-
vardness in these presentations.
Perhaps she would send it to Mr..
Ferrers privately. And she backed
'ut of any immediate step SO
irmly, that the industrious collec-
or went away disappointed. Mrs.
st. Quentin appeared lukewarm
IN the whole proceeding, or rather
% dislike it. The annoyed lady
net the object of her charitable
xertions as she went out of the
court gates, and told him this.
The curate turned him and went
o his little home sorely depressed)
Then she went to her afternoon
ca committee and told them the
anne. 1t seemed to damp every
'ody's fervor. The presentation
vas to have been fussy and fash
enable. 1t was dropping into a
affair after all. Sub
1anguished, interest
7axed faint.
"After all, poor Mr.. Ferrers has
lways been paid for what he did
lere," said one churchwarden's s
7ife.
-HCh, dear, yesl just q little
nemsnto OF HIS is all we need
ffer,' said another.
'I understand that the people
n Chapel Row are offended now 4
t what Miss Scott said, and won't
i've q penny" said the doctors
ady. cts pity they weren't
damaged little more carefully,
ny husbandssays."
"Then it's pity your husband
idn't manage them for us him
elf said Miss Scott, tartly. To
,hich- 4
"Oh, of course, we thought it
,OIIl Id ho oruo1 tn to1,o ,-I.La,I