The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-20
Parsons Duty.
On Three Parts.)
PAPT T

/ halves; he raised the creechy glpSy-table
placed 1t by MS wife's bedside, and upset
the Cruel to the last existing drop.
A broad, milky rivulet ran down his
clerical vest on to his shabby trousers; a
soft laugh greeted him from the bed, but
somehow, his heart was too heavy 10 re-
spond- Only an unnatural, sickly smile
forced itself round his mouth. as he pro-
duced a huge silk square. dabbed up the
offending liquid, and returned the handker-
chief a soaking, shiny mass into his
pocket.
His comment was serious, and strictly
| practical
You must have some more cruel,
| Met"
Then he turned and investigated the
| room, and there was a perplexed pucker
| on his forehead.
The furniture was cold and severe. A
| couple OF cane-bottomed chairs, a painted
| chest of drawers with glass handles a
| wash-stand, and a dressing-table, with a
| glass that would turn wrong side about
BY the bed, another table full of bottles,
and the gruel-or rather the Cruel basin.
Beneath, thin, thread-bare carpet
HIS eyes rested for a moment uneasily
on this, and then they wandered TO the
| empty CRATE, and the frown cleared from
his forehead. a happy thought had struck
| him,
| Meta, you must have fire."
And Meta laughed, for It was as hot as
| summer.
Suddenly the sound of bells broke upon
| the air, and rang in through the narrow
| slit, where the lattice window was open.
Dennis started, and turned towards the
| bed again.
| goodbye now" his voice had a curious
| little quaver in it.
| Meta had raised herself with a plucky
| smile upon her face, but il vanished sud-
| denly; there is something unpathetic about
| a big, strong man in trouble, she hoped
he would not take long II say it.
Now, don't you bother. Dennis. dear.
Nurse will see to all want"
Meta, 1 can't bear leaving you"
"Humbug! I am all right now. II was
only the journey yesterday upset me, and
that was very silly-such a tiny distance"
Yes, but"
Yes, but you'll be back by one o'clock.
and the landlady is very good, and nurse;
why, the doctor lives next door; now what
can 1 want?"
He took her small face in his big bony
hands, and raised it to his own; there was
a strange look on his rugged, irregular
features.
You may want me, Meta
She pushed back a lock OF his thick,
black hair and did not smile this time.
Come. Dennis. don't be nervous. You
must do well this morning; wish 1 could
come with you. I shall pray for
The peal of bells went abruptly out Of
harmony and stopped, he laid her back
on the pillows.
And for you, my precious little wife.
Good-byel God bless you. darling
That ives all. He could not trust him.
self to speak again, he only rose and
shook himself, like some great collie dog.
Then the door opened, and closed-snd he
was gone! And Meta buried her head un-
der the bed-clothes. She was only a child.
after all, and she was lonely.
That Sunday began well, anyway.
The sexton had determined that II should
DO so, and Abijah Andrews, the sexton,
generally got his way; ne was an import
ant man in S,lminster-under-Hill. With
the new vicar there should be a new be-
ginning.
Therefore, the day before, he had insist
ed that his wife should wash, as well as
dust and sweep the church. Truly a novel
institution, for Martha Andrews suffered
from what she termed 9TH abnormal
beobsity." That nothing should be want
ing, he had himself rubbed up the brasses
the first time in his life. And now this
morning, everything being ready, the
hymn-boks and the foot-stools arranged TO
his entire satisfaction, he was vending his !
way to tie vestry door, contented, and |
faultlessly attired, his body loosely draped |
in clerical garb, belonging TO the late de- |
parted, placid smile on his lemon tinted |
complexion, his wf1iskers well combed out. !
AS he radded along the aisles in a pair |
of noiseless canvas shoes new for the oc- |
cas:on), he hummed a hymn of doubtful |
origin, like great Tom cat purrins with |
unctious complacency.
AT the big west door a group OF aristo- |
Gratis were gathered, surrounding and lis J
tening to a tall, gaunt lady in their midst. |
Il have my doubts" Lady Skincross was I
saying, observation-disclosures" she shook |
her head gloomily-her head consisting of |
a combination of silk (no feathers, feath-
ers were an abominat;on, badge of I'M
Christianity to Lady SkincrossD grey,
sleek hair, some bony prominences, one
conspicuously larger than the rest, two
sharp, shifting eyes and huge slit of |
a mouth, formed one unprepossessing OBJ
long, and posed on giraffe-l:ke neck, re-
sembled one thing only-a cocoanut on /
stick.
in the first place, his letter was suspi-
cous"-the voice was firm and ominous-
''he dated It st. Luke's Day, no 18th of
October near it. Now, I call that most
expressive; it shows a strong tendency TO
Ritualism, in fact, 1t is decidedly extreme
in itself, decidedly" The large mouth shut
with a clap Ike mouse-trap. then, as no.
body spoke it opened again. But he is
the most likely applicant have had. They
are terrible in these days, 1 am sure, what
with their e. P.'s' and their"
Yes, we want the old vicar back, in
spite OF his many failings," the colonel's
wife sighed: her husband added quietly:
Yes, Thompson was as good a hand as
any one-especially at whist and port"
Lady Skincross had not heard him.
Otherwise he certainly wrote nicely-a
thoroughly Christian letter. One thing
have made him promise, an Improvement
on the poor dear old vicar-he had his |
faults-but his theology was un!mpeacha-
bic. the services and prayers shall never
be curtailed. The queen, the royal family,
and all"
The Hon. Mrs. Augusta Flitvorthy be- |
gan to fidget. and put up her parasol.
''Bless met DR.. Tracey broke in. He's
sure to be Al. Why, he was the cham
pion bowler three years ago, when I was
al the Oval
Her ladyship started nervousiy. and
the fan she had begun TO unfold. fell
TO her side.
All. 20 think of thatl he never men,
toned it! He knew it would tell against
him. the base 6eceiver, A thorough world
ling, then. Still. he may have been con-
yeIted since; anyway, I have the bsncfce,
l shall show Inn 8 truly earnest pastor
The doctor con era tulated himself ne had
il in his power 10 arrest this interesting
exposition.
There he goes
Lady Skincross broke of abruptly.
NO. That's no: hs-surelyi How awful