The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-07-10
GOT A

Of ourse Mr.. Stone never for one
moment imagined that any Of the par
ishioners would object to his riding a
bicycle.
st. Johns, Runniford, was a large.
struggling parish, and as he made a
practice Of calling once a fortnight upon
every member of the congregation he
rightly judged that it would save him
q great deal Of walking. Pleasure had
nothing to do with the purchase.
AS i'll luck had it, however, he en-
countered Miss Mcddlebury the first
time he rode ont. Although no tyro, he
was out of practice, and he dared not
let go a handle to lift his hat, SO he
went by with a nod and a smile.
Miss Middlebury stopped short. Turn
ing about, she glared after the curate's
flying coattails until they disappeared
in the distance, then marched straight
to the vicarage, whittier she had been
several times before On Mr.. Stones ac-
count-visits concerning which he was
b~lissfully ignorant. +.
1t is necessary to explain that Miss
Prudence Meddlebury was a very i'm
portant parsonage III the parish of St.
John. For the sake Of his poor the
vicar could not ignore her opinions.
She had an income of SIS, coo a year.
and one-tenth Of that II a penny
more ard not a penny less-sho gave to
him to bestow as he thought proper.
By reason of her confidence Mr.. Arm
itage shut his eyes to her austerity and
narrow mlndedness, but the truth must
be told here. Miss Middlebury was
stern and ~forbidding in appearance and
disposition. Every form of enjoyment
she considered baneful, if not a deadly
sin.
From the first she objected to Mr..
Stone. After his opening service, which
had greatly pleased the vicar, she com
planned that he was too young, too tan
and too plain looking.
"AH the girls will be setting their
caps at him, she said at one of those ,
complaining visits previously men
toned. They will think a great deal
more OF the preacher than of the ser
mon 1t was very unwise of you to en-
gage him"
The good old vicar said he hoped net
and thought no more about it unless to ,
laugh quietly to himself.
In some u"naccountable manner she
discovered that Mr.. Stone had fallen in /
love with Nelly Armitage. It was true
enough, but at the time the wears
daughter was by no means sure of the
fact herself.
Miss Meddlebury was not aware that
the handsome, well set up young cler-
gyman possessed a private income large
enough to marry upon whenever be
thought proper, but she would probably
have acted just the am in any case.
"You know l warned you that Mr..
Stone would not do" she told that
young lady's papa. "Unless you wish
to be entangled in a very undesirable
love affair you will get rid of him."
The Rev. Mr.. Armitage looked rath-
sr b~ewildered, but not ct all displeased.
Glove affair? Nelly?" he exclaimed.
"She hasn't said anything to me, ncr
has Mr.. Stone"
"No," said Miss Meddlebury, with
her vinegary smile. II don't suppose it
has gone SO far as that. / thought it my
duty to put You on your guard in time"
II am very much obliged, I am
sure, rejoined the vicar.
And there is no doubt he was very
thankful for the information. st. Johns
was rather a poor living, and he had
given too much away to be able to save
anything. His daughter being unpro-