The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-08-22
A PHILANTHROPIST.

"Whom do you think saw driving
with Gerald Morton this morning?"
asked Mrs. Morris of her great friend,
the doctor wife, as the two ladies were
enjoying 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. must
say was astonished! 1t is well known
that young Morton bears the character
of being the fastest man in the neigh
borhood.
81 have long ceased to be surprised
at anything Beatrix Harcourt does,"
the other lady answered Significantly.
eff Mr.. Kenrick does not mind, I do
not 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 hersp'
And that is our future wears wife!
Well, shall take care my daughters do
not see much of her." And Mrs. May
nard drew herself up with kind of
lofty indignation as some fresh visitors
were shown into the room.
Poor Beatrixi Her numerous delin-
quencies We're the subject of many aft
ernoon tea gossips, and had been ever
since she came to Hillchester, four years
ago. She certainly was unlike other
girls, for in addition to being "blue
stocking" and having taken her degree
at Oxford she had most unreasonable
interest in the working classes-not a
mere ladylike interest, which contented
itself with calling at their cottages with
a few words of good advice and track.
All, no; she had always some plan or
'craze, as the good people of Hillches-
ter called it, for their benefit on hand
classes for the young girls, ambulance
lectures, concerts, teas what not.
For the conventionalities of society
she cared not at all. She never attend
ed 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 passage fit
! for 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 So
ciety in Hillchester remarked with omi-
nous sighs, wonders would never cease
Nevertheless it must be confessed
that Rev. John Kenrick was in no very
| enviab1e frame of mind as week later
he wended his way somewhat slowly
toward his ladylove's abode.
The gossip which had begun in Mrs.
Maynard's drawing room had spread all
over the parish, until 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 a 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 (an-
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
thing have heard today has troubled
me greatly"
"About me?" Trix asked gayly. "OI
what fresh enormity am l accused,
John?" and sudden gravity crept into
the sweet voice. Il thought you said
that you minded none of these things. -
II do not" the vicar answered quick
ly. Indeed, gently stroking the soft,
yet strong looking hand, 81 love you
all the better for them; butt is bet
ter to speak out. Trix, have you been
driving with Gerald Morton lately?''
The neSt moment Mr.. Kenrick would
have given much never to have asked
the question. for Trix turned to him
quickly, a whole world of scorn shining
in her blue eyes.
'And SO, John, this means that you
) cannot trust me, and you choose rather
to believe any idle story people may
tell.'
"Tel1 me there is no truth in it,
Trix, Mr.. Kenrick said quietly, though
his eyes had clouded with deep lool
of pain beneath her implied rebuke
"and promise you I will believe it."
But Beatrix had removed her hand
and all the sunshine had died out of hel
t bonny face as she said wearily: "Mr
Morton has driven over to Castlefeld!