The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-09-21
,esn her x,ve . c,,,ci III, IA .,n..

seen her give . quick look, and sometimes
smile. Of recognition to Quintin. He
treasured up those glances. goodness knows
why. except It might be that he was 10
much in love. And he actually grew
jealous.
1t CHANGED one summer evening that
young Ralph Plummer, the miller's son.
Was waiting ut the lych-gate at the time
that Quintin was expecting the coming Of
his ladylove. When Ethel saw Ralph 1t
tho gate she blushed and almost decided to
retrace her steps. But she overcafne her
little attack Of majdenly. bashfulness. and
went along the path and met him. The
young gentleman colored up and went red
out he was man enough to be decided, 90
he took up a position by her side and
marched away with her. ~. st.4es
Quintin. the gargoyle. saw this. and would
have gone green with jealousy had his con-
stitution allowed him. He tried to ,gnash
those dogs teeth that the sculptor had given
him. And all that night his three stone
eyes stared up at the staring stars in mute
complaint.
1t is extraordinary how frequently and
regularly young people can meet If they
have mind to. Next day. and the next.
Ralph met Ethel at the lych-gate. and day
after day they left the gravestones behind
them and wandered OF hand in hand by the
side OF the wheat and the peoples. And
poor Quintin's state was bad indeed.
Just at the fall Of the leaf, Ethel and
Ralph fingered little longer than usual at
the verge OF the old churchyard. And the
poor' neart-broken, fearless gargoyle saw
the young man 8 arm steal around the
maiden's waist. and she was drawn closer
to him. and the swain showed her a pretty
ring set with tiny garnets, and she purred
for Joy. And he placed it tenderly upon
her finger, and then he kissed her and she
kissed him.
That was what the gargoyle saw. few
weeks later he heard something A couple
of old cronies. bent double with age. totter
Ing, and leaning on their sticks. passed
along the path beneath him. s-<
These young folks be fules, a-dreamin'
o happiness In this world. She's a white
and-red- faced lass. and he a big. manly
boy. but they'll ha' their share O. trouble
though things do seem so bright for their
weddin'.'
"Ah. Ethel, be beautiful enough, and
Ralph he be smart 'un. but they be
couple O. precious fules, as We be a-sayin'.
An when's 1t goin' to be-"
Come Sunday week, it'll be done and
gone. All, and the dinner and the nips'l
be gone with it,
And the old couple hobbled on
Poor Quintin So Ethel was to be mar
ried in fortnight. The gargoyle's stony
body shook and shook again. The agony of
his straining eyes was intenser, and he
yearned to curse Ralph. humanity in gen
eral, the skies, and the sculptor who had
fashioned him. But, most of all, he longed
to curse Ethel, the whilom dream of his
lonely days and lonelier nights.
The afternoon wore on to dusk, and the
twilight crept over the fields The scarlet
peoples and the blue cornfowers turned
black In the shades of evening, and the stars
came out and blinked at the gargoyle up
there on the corner of the chancel
And the hinges of the lych- gate creaked.
and little lissom lass came through and
turned her face with a smile toward Quin-
tin. And he could see that it was the sweet.
pretty face of Ethel, the face that was
soon to be nightly pillowed side by side
with Ralph's. e.....,
And Ethel's gaze was withdrawn from the
gargoyle. and she came slowly along the
narrow path that skirted the chancel wall.
and Qintins poor heart seemed to be burst
ing within him. and he strained to be free
and as the mortals are.
And Ethel's steps had brought her lust !
beneath Quintin. In another second she !
would have turned the corner. !
But at that moment the gargoyle toppled |
over
They said that the poor. sweet girl had
gone to join the bridegroom in heaven.
and that she who on earth was as the lily |
had died in her purity and Innocence. Per- |
haps 1t were best, said the preacher
And they said that the hand of time had |
cracked the mortar that bound the gar |
goyle to the parapet, that rain had loosened !
it, and that wind had finally blown it
over. And it was replaced and replastered |
INTO the old position. They said it was an
accident: sad one, but an accident all
the same.
But 1t was not.-London Leader.