Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-13
The little CQrate.
BY J. j. BELL.

The curate and Miss Edmiston were
walking down the main street of the
village engaged iu 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 le-complexioned, and was much
troubled in his daily work with cer-
tain unconquerable shyness. That he
should have won the heart of hand
some Nancy Edmiston was matter
for surprise and discussion among the
residents in Broxbourne.
''Such very uninteresting young
man," said the maiden ladies over
their afternoon tea.
$50 ridiculously retiring! How did
he ever come to propose?" remarked
the mothers whose daughters assisted
in giving women an overwhelming and
not altogether united majority in
Broxbourne society.
The men on the other hand, voted
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 en-
gagged in chastising a small boy with
weapon in the shape of stout lea
ther belt The child screamed, and
the father, presumably, cursed.
''Stopp' cried the curate.
The angry man merely scrowled and
raised the strap for another blow. st.
John laid OBTAINING hand on the fell
lows arm, tine temerity of which
caused the latter such surprise that
he loosened his grip for moment, and
the youngster fled bowling up an
alley.
''What the'' the bully,
dancing round the curate, who seemed
to shrink nearer his sweetheart.
''Let us go, DEAR" he said. He had
grown white and was trembling.
At this iuncture two of the work
mans cronies appeared at the door of
the alehouse opposite, and, seeing how
matters stood, crossed the road, and
with rough hands and soothing curses
conducted their furious friend from
the scene.
"Horribler' sighed the curate as the
lovers continued their walk.
Il al
trife higher ''If l were man, "she
said, 81 would have thrashed hint
would indeed!"
''You think should have punish ed
him, then?" said the curate mildly;
she was much larger man than 1,
you know"
Nancy was silent. She was vaguely
but sorely disappointed in her lover.
He was not exactly the hero she had
dreamed of. How white and shaky he
had turned!
''You surely did not expect me to
take part in street row, Nancy" he
said presently, somehow suspecting
her thoughts. He knew her romantic
ideas. But she made no reply.
$50 you think acted in cowardly
fashion?" he questioned after chill
pause.
'I don't think your cloth is any ex-
cuse, anyhow" she blurted out sud-
denly and cruelty; the next instant
she was filed with shame and regret.
Before she could speak again, how
ever, the curate had lifted his hat and
was crossing the street. An icy
Goodbye" was all he had vouchsafed
her.
Mr.. st. John was returning from
paying visit of coincidence some dis
tance out of the village md he had
taken the short cut across. the moor.
1t was clear summer afternoon, a
week since his parting with Nancy. A
parting in earnest it had been, for the
days had gone by without meeting or
communication between them. The
curate was sad young man, though
the anger in his heart still burned
fiercely. To have been called a coward
by the woman he loved was thing
not lightly to be forgotten. His recent
visit, too, had been particularly try
ing. In his soul he felt that his words
of comfort had been unreal; that, fol
all he had striven, he had failed in his
mission to the bereaved mother. Sc
he trudged across the moor with SLOW
step and bent head, giving no heed te
the summer beauties around him.
He was about half way home wheI
his sombre meditations were suddenly
interrupted. A man rose from the
heather, where he had been lying, ani
stood in the path, barring the curate's
| progress.
''Now, Mister Parson," he said
with menace in his thick voice ant
bloated face.
"Good- afternoon, my man." returnet