The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-01-20
THE CHAPLAIH'S STORY.

together in the classical (honors
school, and were ordained together by
the bishop of l., as curates for hi
diocese. Here our paths separated fo
some years, and when next we renewed
our old friendship was the vicar o
the town. Still single at 81, and jim
was the chaplain of the famous Jail il
the same town, and married.
We were talking in my study as in
olden times. Somehow the converse
tion drifted to the subject of recen
newspaper article: ''0ught Married
People TO Have Any Secrets from Eacf
Other?p ] said mo" Jim said "Ies. ,
We both sinilingly stuck to our text.
"Why, Jim,n said l, ''you woulC
have been the last person should hav'
expected to take that line, for ! au
scre, from what / have seen, that i
ever two folks were happy and loving
they are Ella and yourself. / can
conceive Of your having any secret
which you would not want Ella tc
know"
"Ah," retorted he, with peculiar
smile, "that's just it. Well, Howson,
III tell you one, if you like, though u
he added, ait must remain secret be-
tween Us two. | have never spoken oi
it to anyone in the world, and never
shall, except to yourself"
Thanks, Jim, you need not fear me,
as you know. | am only desirous to
know the case" and / assumed an at
titude of eager attention toJim's story.
al was the chaplain at Lowmarket,
as you are well aware, before / came
here. 1t is pretty place, and one
wonders whatever made the govern
ment build Jail there. However,
there il is, and there was |. Tire
amount of society that one got in Low
market was perfectly astonishing. Had
had the time and inclination for it,
might have turned out regular, 'socie-
ty' clergyman. As it was, / had full
amount of lectures, soirees, parties and
entertainments. Among the people
got i'm with none were nicer than the
Yorhs. Miss York, maiden lady of
so, lived in large and beautifully fur
nished house calie,. The Cedars,' in
the best part of the :own. She was
known all over the district 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 Lowmsrk-
ct fairly worshiped both of them.
s'I was 2S when first saw Ella York,
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
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
EIla-lived with her aunt from child
hood; that she was now "a; 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 We're of course only learned
BY degrees, as orc can not go to the
fountain head for such information.
after much eart-searching and de-
batting within myself, thought / saw
that Ella York was not wholly indifier-
en-. to NE, and | resolved 10 ask her TO
be my wife. need no; 80 into details
a. to how did it, beyond saying that
il was one summer morning rather
more than five years ago, when, hav-
ing gone to see her aunt, who was out,
met Ella in the grounds; and after
talking as we walked along on various
subjects, somehow il came out unex-
pectedly, and almost before / could
comprehend what il all meant, Ella
York had promised to be my wife, sub
lect to her aunt's consent.
"But her aunt didn't consent. l re-
ceived a dainty note that night-how
tenderly l regarded it, Howson.-from
Ella, saying that she had spoken of my
visit to her aunt, and had told her
was coming tomorrow for her approv-
a.; Miss York had been very kind, but
acted rather strangely, and said she
would see me, but she could not con-
sent, as she did not wish to lose Ella.
My dear girl went on to say that she
had i'm vain tried to get from her any
more than this.
Al was in curious state of mind as
/ went next morning to see Miss York.
What could her objection really be?
Surely not to me. My position, my
family, my life here were, l hoped, be-
yond reproach. Even were it ques-
ton of money, had enough private
means, as you know. AS for Miss
York, well, of course, il would be lone
" without Ella at first, after so many
years companionship, but surely she
didn't expect her never TO get married.
1t was preposterous.
81 was destined TO know her objec-
ton. AS approached the lodge the
porteress met me.
"'Oh, Mr.. Bourn, this Is shocking"'
al was more puzzled than ever
Why my engagement to Ella should
be shocking 1 couldn't see; and l no
doubt expressed it in my looks
$50 sudden, too, SIR said the wom-
an. Nobody expected it,
sWhatever's the matter: said IL
"'Why haven't you heard that Miss
York Is deade No? Oh, dear, Poor
thing: had fit in the night, doctor
saws; was quite unconscious when Nis'
Ella got there, and died at nine O'Clock
this morning.