Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-02-11
LOST %ELOQUENCE.

was 10 uOuOb hUOub III llttAe uOMNy
creature, barely Eve feet high, with a
small face and a big forehead and visit
full gray eyes that always seemed TO be
asking questions; such a contrast to her
brother, the big, handsome ~archdeacon,
who gained nii hearts with his charm
ing manners and winning smile and
won golden opinions from everybody for
his eloquent sermons.
His sister lived with him, and people
rather pitied him on that count. Miss
Merrifeld WAS so shy, so difficult to get
on with. She never had a word to say
for herself and apparently had no ideas
beyond district visiting and needlework
One Of the greatest Of tho rchden-
cons many admirers was the deans
daughter. Ella St Glare. Ella was a
beauty, and she knew 1t.
Moreover, she was an heircss, for her
mother, who had died when Ella vas
quite u child. had left her IA consider
able fortune, which was to come INTO
her sole possession as soon as she at
tanned her majority.
She had enjoyed the command Of this
money for some three years row and
had hitherto shown no inclination to
share il with anybody else.
Artillery officers from the neighbor-
ing garrison had come aud gone und
had laid themselves and their gorgeous
uniforms at her feet in vain. Ella was
nothing if not strictly ecclesiastical, al
though. Of course, ordinary vicars and
ourates were as little eligible AS artil-
lery officers. Moreover. sho w~orshiped
intellect. and the average man lie, gen
orally speaking, hardly to be described
by tho term intellectual.
The hero of Elias day dreams was
one who would sway the hearts Of thou
snnds with his ~eloqucuce and gain q
world wide reputation by reason Of his
brilliant and unusual talents.
1t was unfortunate that she could moi
get on with Miss Mortified. With
youthful impetuoEity Ella had decided
after her very FIRST interview with the
archdeacon's sister that the latter wal
IAN impossible old person" whom II
was not worth taking the trouble tC
know. Ella thoroughly understood the
art Of dressing we'll and could not IN.
derstand or sympathize with poor MisI
Merri6eld for never having acquired IL
The gear after the Merrihelds cam
TO Roxton the bishop lost his younl
wife under very sad circumstance
They had only been married a short
time. and she died of a rapid decline.
On the Sunday following the funera
the ~nrchdeacon was announced Il
preach, and IL wa generally expected
that he would make some illusions Il
the sad event. Nor were these expecta
lions disappointed. The text was. "AI
one whom his mother comforteth, &c
will l comfort thee" and from thil
the aTchdeacon preached q sermon
which went straight to all hearts.
There were no hne phrases In II. nc
vague speculations on the glories Of the
hereafter, no quotations from the poets.
The words he spoke were very simple
and direct and such as the poorest
could understand, but their pathos and
tenderness thrilled and touched thos,
who listened till the whole eonRrega'
tion seemed 20 have but one heart
t~hTobbing with keenest sympathy.
As the aTohdeacon came out through
the cloisters afterward ON his way T.
his own house groups outside mad
way for him in reverent silence, and
was almost q shock 10 them to hear th
came ringing, musical voice which haI
Just thrilled them In the cathedral ad
dressing Miss St. Glare with a requef
that she would come to tea with him
self and his sister the following after
noon.
Less than q fortnight afterwaTd he
A. A.. .-.Ll.,,., 80. ~
nounoed, a piece Of news which gay
unusual satisfaction, as it justihe
~eVerybody's expectations.
Poor little Miss Merriheld, who hs
seen what was going ON from the veI
first and had shed many secret tears
the thought Of parting from her lido
lied brother, schooled herself TO +
oaive the announcement with the requ
site manifestations Of pleasure, and,
Ella declared afterward, really CO.
graduated me quite prettily."
A few days after, however, Ella 81
prised her in tears, leaning over her II
tie old fashioned davenport, with
bundle of manuscript paper before be
which she thrust away from her VIII
abe perceived her failure sister-in-law,
II believe ycnr sister IL writing
novel,, " Ella said to her betrothed aftG
ward.
The archdeacon started and frowne
Impossible. " he said cuTtly.
Ella laughed. why impossible
she demanded gayly. But as Mr.. Mer
field made no reply. with her usual q
she changed the subject
The wedding came on In due couI
and was as brilliant and successful
could have been wished.
Mias Merriheld was for oDce In b
life nicely dressed. Ella herself havi
chosen her costume and aupeTintend
the making thereof. but she look
msller and more fragile than ever. &
made no violent dsEonstratiorsof 81
ri parting Fer biz handsome hfl.A'
lis llcs radiant with Lsrp.nCss. Q3t