The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-07-21
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. tLsi stNefst tellosisu gteeh PViue VI VIZ
). Gus blade. btesking the damp soil, made
's Tar prsliier picture than the hoes. ros'
d bush 10 foil bloom which be bad eyel
y seen. II vas strange lat and one b,
;. had rever discovered beiprs.
q Bat xhtn be had retained 10 bis ost
Q lonely domain aud entered bis s,udy b,
9 stopped aud thought seriously for . NIT
:. ute, Ih be ess, bis fat crowned mini,
teri,l h., upon the aoor with great en-
E ph.sis and exclaimed;
Il's my creed, tell you. that 8 man In
= orders should pol marry.
Nov, there was no one l.sible to srsss
! the question. and yet ihsr seemed to be
srsumen, in his own mind for The Rev.
wstherby Smiles smote palm with
his elipched fist sngriiy snd kicked the
d At crowned hat to the other end OF the
room.
For two days the rector OF 81. James
risidly stiff ID his interest in crocuses,
His interests 10 creeds. however, WAS mol
entirely satisfying, 90 Sunday after YES
pers he overlook on bis way home little
iswn oolored gown.
You must see my croouses. Mr.. Smiles
she ssid. The buds will be open before
Sunday.
The rector glanced gloomily at the dark
euing sky and thought that probably
there would be frost that night. But he
could not long think OF frost and other
unpleasant possibilities under the skillful
manipulation Of his charming little neigh
bor He hesitsted st her gate. and again
crocusces iriur.phed over creed. The
crocuses we're hourisbing finely. The
creeds took back seat indeed very un
obtrusiye seat in the recior's memory.
His interest in the crocuses continued
thst evening to so late sn hour that his
old servitor really thought he was not
coming to supper and cleared away the
repast
Never mind, said the rector kindly.
sm not hungry, And when the old man
bad dodIered of to bed he sat down be
fore the open window OF his chamber aud
stared out into the still night
He sat there for an hour. A light burn
ed behind the curtain OF one OF his neigh
bor's windows That was her light, he
knew. Finally it disappeared, but be set
op, bis arms folded upon the sill. his eyes
gl.ring 6xedly into the darkness. Greed
wss making 9 strong fight for life.
1t grew colder. and suddenly the Rev.
Wetherby Smiles swoke to the discom
fort OF the outer man. He shivered and
drew away from the window. There was
no breeze and no clouds. but sn increas
ing chill made him close the easement.
Then be slipped on 9 smoking jacket
and went to the door. There was light
haze upon the river. and a shimmer OF ,
frost was in the air. F;
A bad night for the farmers and fruit ,
growers, he thought. Theu his mind re .
verted to those crocures. They will be T.,
black by morning, be said. Too bad,
and the little woman thinks 30 much OF
them. He hesitated m oment and then ,
went again. resppesring shortly with sn ,
old macintosh.
Just the thing to spread over the bed to
defend them from the frost. be muttsred.
and with long strides be crossed the REQ
tory garden and lesped the hedge.
, Feeling good deal like night prowler
who had no business in the place. be !.
,rept through his little neighbors garden
md approached the crocus bed near the
porch. lie started st the slightest sound
md glanced about fesrlessly. Suppose !.
my body should see him -one OF his par
shioners even bis msjo domol He for
got the night was dark. 1t seemed to his v
Icited msgnstion thst any body passing :
'long the road could see him the rector
II ST. James proving about beneath = $
sdys window
Suddenly. jnst ss be spread the c5ver :,
ng over the crocus bed and was turning
hastily to fee, be hesrd sound on the
,orch. He started and bis eyes tbecsme
lied upon the vision before him. A fig
Ire, all 10 white and motionlesf, stood up
10 the lower step. o
Tue Rev. Wetberby Smiles was startled, q
mt he was not supersti,ions. For some OF
econds. however, be stared at the sppsri Il
ion before he recognized it. Then he Is
topped quickly forward, and began to b
make excuses in low voice. hI
Mrs, Scouitch LYDIA beg your par Il
lon. but ! thought 81
he got no further 10 bis fsliering re N
marks, With q shudderins little cry the rs
Igure tottered and would have fallen TO
be ground bad be no, sprung forward u
nd caught her 10 tis arms. th
Good Lord muttered the Rev. Mr.. VI
miles, the Precipitation starting on his o
row. Whist 3 situstionl Suppose any re
ody should see me nov. To thiak Of me bl
q clergyman 10 womsu's garden st VI
is h,, holding tha. woman 10 my srm.l 10
II was tempted to Icy her down upon o
be porch aud ron. Bot be looked down 10
ITO the little white face, revesled by the th
Amt starlight. The pale lids we're drawn N
yer the gre eyes. which be thought 80 br
lorious The poutius lips bad not en- 80
rely los, their redness, bot the cheeks ID
'ere without color. The loose fitting Vi
,rspper which she bad slipped on over SO
er night gown before coming down levi
entity, like himself, wi the crocus In pc
and, for shee, bad slipped from Ler I"
anh an Rhn LIN had iaIlea Away at The | 3 I