The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-14

1 cAS III Va AcAiti 70 fdtlOudl COufcfSlliOA
1t soon appeared that Fenwick's objec
in coming was to get Dobson to stay a
Fem Hall for a few weeks. / havs
several reasons for standing well with
Fenwick, and there appeared nothing
reasonable in his desire, so backed il
up; and as Dobson could not help feel
ing that he was really in need Of coun-
try air and rather less work, he finally
consented to temporary exchange ol
duty with the curate at the village
church, who was anxious to see little
of London parish. When / bad
likewise booked Dobson for my meet
ing, Fenwick and departed together.
As we went out of the door, a sheep
ish, halfgrown boy and an acrid old
woman went in. Fenwick called my
attention to them.
''That's the kind of foOlishness that's
working him to DEATH" he said, "that
and the fasts and the early services,
and dash lazy vicar who takes none
Of the work. Pm fond of the boy, and
mean to put a stop to il"
Indeed" said /, "but how? Dobson,
you know, is as obstinate as 3 pig,
especially about these things"
81 know, but my theory is that the
whole thing rests on this absurd celib-
acy idea If he had wife she'd make
him go slow and not knock himself to
pieces; and she'd feed him properly and
keep him warm, and he'd be another
man in six months. Besides, he's not
fit for London parish anyhow, and
he has great talents which are wasted
here. No, sir, have my plan"
Indeed, Mr.. Fenwick," said l ''yOu
interest me extremely" And so he
did, for / began to see what he was
after. ''Pray, what is your plan?"
''Simply and sufficiently this. You
know my niece, Amy?"
1 answered that knew the lady very
well-as indeed l did, though not so
well as wished.
"Well, if three or four weeks of
Amy's society in a country house don't
make him change his mind about eel
ibacy, I'm a Dutchman. The stupid
fellow has hardly spoken to a nice girl
since he went to school, / believe. Half
these young donkeys are woman-haters
out of mere Ignorance"
"a most excellent idea, no doubt, for
D1bson. But how about your niece?
Is she disposed to assist?n
"Well, you know" said Fenwiek
sits not really necessary that she
should. 1t will be quite enough to
cure Dobson If he falls passably in love
with her; then if she rejects him, or
even if he never proposes, he will go
and marry someone else. They always
do. Bat why shouldn't she, you
know? Girls are generally ready
enough to take curate, and you know
he's very fine fellow. Then l would
make him rector of Fenton, and he
should write book and be made a
canon and his preaching would soon
bring him to the front"
"You have il all cut and dried, / see.
Well, l wish you every success, but l.
think it's rather ticklish."
''Not bit You must come to the
hall and help me, though. Come on
Thursday week, won't your
To this | consented, and we parted.
j knew Dobson, and 1 knew he was
not the man to carry out Fenwiek's
plan by falling passably in love with
anyone, least of all with Amy. / was
much more than passably in love with
her myself, though l had never found
to inform her, or Fenwiek,
either, of that fact. Either DObson
would stick to his principles and sue
ceed IN resisting her attractions, or he
would fall very much in love indeed,
ia which case | believed, he would be a
wooer. did not, there
fore, look with any favor on Fenwick's
bat If it was to be tried 1t
was in every way better that should
be present.