The Newtown bee., 1899-11-10

toms brother, who, in his travels about
the world had outgroWn the simple
Broadmeadows faith and was indeed OF
no religion. Did the parson seek to re-
claim him, did he point out the evils Of
northumberland Acct rdiDg to Oswald
Shaw's own testimony, "Che parson had
not talked shop" The conversation had
Deens mainly of foreign countries, bits Of
experience out of the travellers
listened with avidity; he had on
ly spoken to tell some pretty stiff
stories about the intelligence of the small
TERROR at his feet.
Then there was that day-that gray,
misty Sunday in early June-when he
mad encountered Judge Dana and his
guest, the noted lawyer from the city,
Goth of them in old clothes, taking the
short cut past the parsonage, the short
cut that every one in Broadmeadows
knew led to North Brook. He had actu'
ally stopped to speak to them, and Miss
Cornelia Slater, WALKING slowly by on
che opposite side of the way, had hea I'd
the entire conversation. Not mention
Of church, not even q word OF warning
or espostulation, only genial inter
change of greetings. Miss Cornetla
could hardly believe her ears. She could
|
rods the two men carried; still there
were people in Broadmsadows who main
tanned that age was dimming the clerics
eyes, and the remark the old man lei
fall as he turned away convinced the
listener that this infrmity was account
able for his neglect of duty.
"It's fine day." he said, then he re
peated half wistfulIy, "a fine day"
Miss Cornelia cast quick glance al
the soft, gray sky. The air was danny
and cool against her cheek and sweet
with the fragrance OF June, yet theirs
was the hint Of coming rain3i in It's breath
| A sunless dAy-and he had called 1t fine
Poor old Parson Medlicottl Her pity
lessened considerably when the lens OF
masculine intelligence disclosed the hid
den meaning of the phrase. The defect
on the delinquent's part was what Dl
Aldham pronounced "a case OF mora
strabismus," but Miss Cornelia herself
called it winking at ain.
Meanwhile the charges against the
parson were accommodating with lament
able rapidity. His fondness for move
| reading, his delight lin joke, and, more
| than all, his attitude toward the children
convicted him on every side. 1t wat
supposed, by those who knew, that q
minister should so comport himself that
the youth In his charge should regard
him with sentiments Of awe and rever'
ence. But Parson Mediicott, with his
laughing, CHEEKY words and his faithful
dog, inspired No such feelings among the
children of Br charlottesville was their
friend and more, he was one OF them
The climax of his misdemeanors.
however, was reached when little Tony
Dana was rescued from dro wning by the
Judges great dog, Don, at'the expense
of the latCer's life.
The boy was inconsClable at the loss
Of his friend, and the Judge himself
openly sorrowed with him, but he could
give no satisfactory answers to the vol
ley of anxious questions with which he
was assailed. He had not been ashamed
of the mist in his eyes when the noble
old fellow lay deaf and still for the first
time to the sound Of his voice, and the
child's piercing cry, sis this the end p
had awakened q similar one in his own
breast.
go ask the dominic" he said at last