The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-14
THE LITTLE CURATE

Il
The curate and Miss Edmiston were
village engaged in conversation, which,
being that of recently affianced pair.
need not here be repeated.
Miss Edmiston carried herself with
an air of pretty dignity, made none the
less apparent by the fact that she was
| fully two inches taller than her lover.
the Rev. John st. John. He was thin,
wiry little man, dark haired and pale
complexioned, and was much troubled
in his daily walk with certain uncon-
querable shyness. That he should have
won the heart of handsome Nancy Ed
miston was matter for surprise and
discussion among the residents in Brox-
| bourne.
''Such very uninteresting young
mani said the maiden ladies over their
afternoon tea.
$50 ridiculously retiringi How did
he ever come to propose3" remarked
the mothers whose daughters assisted in
| giving women an overwhelming and
not altogether united majority in Brox-
bourne society.
ST. John good sort, and his parish
toner's, in their rough ways. owned to
his many qualities.
"You're dear little girl, Nancy, +"
the curate was stammering, looking up
at his beloved. when they were both
stopped short on the narrow pavement.
| A burly workman was engaged in chas-
tising small boy with a weapon in
the shape of a stout leather belt. The
sumably cursed.
"Stopl" cried the curate.
The angry man merely scowled and
raised the strap for another blow. st.
John laid OBTAINING hand on the fell
low arm, the temerity Of which caused
the latter suchsurprise that he loosened
his grip for moment, and the young.
ster fed bowling up an alley.
"What the spluttered the bully,
dancing round the curate, who seemed
to shrink nearer to his sweetheart.
''Let us go, DEAR" he said. He had
grown white and was trembling.
At this juncture two Of the work.
mans cronies appeared at the door oi
the alehouse opposite and, seeing how
matters stood, crossed the road and
with rough hands and soothing curses
conducted their furious friend from thu
scene.
"Horriblel' sighed the curate as the
lovers continued their walk.
Miss Edmiston's head was held 6
trifle higher. ''If I were a man, she
said. 81 would have thrashed him.
would indeed.
"You think l should have punished
him then2' said the curate mildly
"He was a much larger man than
you know"
Nancy was silent She was vaguely
but sorely disappointed in her lover. H.
was not exactly the hero she had dream
ed Of How white and shaky he ha(
turnedi
"You surely did not expect me t.
take part in street row, Nancy" b.
said presently, somehow suspecting he,
thoughts He knew her romantic ideas
But she mac no reply.
$50 you think acted in cowardl,
fashion e. he questioned after a chill
pause.
81 dom think your cloth is an excuse
anyhow" she blurted out suddenly an,
cruelty. The next instant she was file,
with shame and regret. Before sh
could speak again, however, the curat
had lifted his hat and was crossing tn
street. An icy "Goodbyp' was all b
vouchsafed her
MI. st. John was returning iron
, paying a visit of coincidence some dis
tance out of the village, and he ha,
taken the short cut across the moor. l
was clear, summer afternoon. weel
since his parting with Nancy. A part
+ ing in earnest it had been, for the day
= had gone by without meeting or com
munication between them. The curat
, was sad young man, though the ange
in his heart still burned fiercely T
have been called coward by the WON
an he loved was thing not likely to b
forgotten. His recent visit, too. ha
| uecu pdi tiSuid1lJ u Ing LII lis sOuI II
, felt that his words of comfort had bee
I unreal; that, for all he had striven, h
had failed in his mission to the bereave
mother. So he trudged across the moo
with slow step and bent head, givin
! | no heed to the summer beauties aroun,
him.
, He was about half way home whel
!, | his SOmber neditationS were Suddenl'
a interrupted. A man rose from tn
: heather. where he had been lying, an,
| stood in the path, barring the curate'
D progress.
"Now, Mister Parsonl" he said, witt
= menace in his thick voice and bloate,
9 face.
"Good afternoon. my man, returne
st. John. recognizing the brute Of