, 1898-08-16
A PHILANTHROPIST

NuoIn no you tnlnK l saw driving
with Gerald Morton this morning.
asked Mrs. Morris of her great friend,
the doctors wife, as the two ladies' were
enjoying 5 o'clock tea and the general
gossip of the parish together one after
noon.
"Beatrix Harcourt," Mrs. Maynard
answered promptly.
"Ah, you saw her, too, then. l must
say l was astonished! 1t is well known
that young Morton bears the characte,
of being the fastest man in the neigh.
borhood."
Il have long ceased to be surprised
at anything Bcatrix Harcourt does, ,
the other lady answered Significantly.
IF MIR. kenrick does not mind, l dc
no see why any one else should trouble
their heads about her eccentricities."
Certainly not" Mrs. Morris agreed.
but really, Rose, she was laughing
and talking in the most familiar man.
ner, and Gerald was bending toward
her until his face nearly touched hers!''
And that is our future wears wife
Well, l shall take care my daughters dc
not see much of her" And Mrs. May
nard drew herself up with ii kind OF
lofty Indignation a some fresh visitors
were shown into the room.
Poor Beatrix! Her numerous deiin-
quencies were the subject of many aft
ernoon tea gossips, and had been ever
siuce she came to Hillchester, four years
ago. She certainly was unlike other
girls, for in addition to being a 'blue
stocking" and having taken her degree
Mt Oxford she had a most unreasonable
interest in the working classes-not a
mere ladylike interest, which contented
itself with calling at their cottages with
. few words of coed advice and Il track.
All, no; she lad always some plan or
~'craze, as the good people of Hillches.
ter called it, for their benefit OH hand
classes for the young girls, ambulance
lectures, concerts, teas, what not.
For the conventionalities of society
she cared not Mt all. She never attend
cd the afternoon teas, therefore she
heard no gossip. She was not even par
ticular about being in the fashion-in
fact, the black serge dress she usually
wore looked, from constant exposure to
the weather, as if it had seen better
days.
She had been known even to take the
broom off the lame old crossing sweeper
at the corner of the road and work away
in earnest until there was a passage fit
for q queen to walk over.
And in spite of all the vicar of Hill
chester had asked Beatrix Harcourt to
be his wife. Well. as the leaders Of 60
NSRtv SO pi11chnsfnr ravno rFol Hrifh 1v,,t
nous signs, wonders would never cease.
Nevertheless it must be confessed
that Rev. John Kenrick was in no very
enviable frame Of mind as a week later
he wendell his way somewhat slowly
toward his ladylove's abode.
The gossip which had begun in Mr..
Maynard's drawing room had spread all
over the parish, until u version Of it,
highly exaggerated and colored, had
reached even the wears ears.
Beatrix soon discovered something
was amiss, and after the first greetings
were over she asked almost anxiously:
what is the matter, John? You do
not look we'll"
For o full minute Mr.. Kenrick did
not answer. Instead he looked down at
her as she stood with one small hand
resting upon his black coat sleeve, the
sunlight falling with loving touch upon
her fair hair, which was cut short IAN
other point which met with the disfavor
Of the Hillchester matrons), and curled
naturally all over her head like a
child's.
"Trix, it is silly perhaps, but some
H. z TO-. L.--l A.lrr hos ~ k11(
me greatly"
"About me?" Trix asked gayly. "Of
what fresh enormity am l accused,
John?' and a sudden gravity crept into
the sweet voice. II thought you said
that you minded none Of these things"
II do not, - the vicar answered luick-
ly. Indeed" gently stroking the soft,
yet strong looking hand, II love you
all the better for them; butt is bet
ter to speak ont. Trix, have you been
driving with Gerald Morton lately?"
The neSt moment MI. Kenrick would
have given much never to have asked
the question. for Trix turned to him
quickly, . whole world OF scOrn shining
In her blue eyes.
"And SO, John, this means that you
cannot trust me, and you choose rather
10 believe any idle story people may
tell"
"Tell me there is NO truth in 1t,
Ttix,"Ar. Kenrick said quietly, though
bis eyes had clouded with a deep look
q pain beneath her implied rebuke
'sSpd ] promise you ! will believe It."
But Beatrix had removed her hand,
and all the sunshine had died out Of beg
boany face a. she said YEARLY: M.
Morton has driven over 10 Castielisads
twios this week Il thers anything sass
you want TO aGk mel"
Ne thsss was scthing elsa NJ. Ken.
eick lalt Il Ma almost acrilege with
tAcss pure syes looking into his 70
hesathe TIA doubts which row sssmsd
70 hin % dhworthy.
Il WAS . month later, and Beatx1x
Harooart was walking swiftly along shs
aasty Euad lssding TO CAstledsldA caf-
ming . small basket containing scsne
idtuaey for ths dck women she Wa
uin6 peA Thseoand o1.wheeas made
hAf@k ~ hsad, ard tie nsxt moment
aAesA Rn1teal votcs nd pleasantly;
49, Naeengn - ~ a0nfn boand
atSMe.N1Of ~ - bf1