Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-10-19

sir! cried the bishop, half rising
from his chair in his anger.
Mr.. D'Oyley looked at his diocesan
| with mild surprise.
Understand me, my lord" said he;
81 have not breathed a word of this
to your daughter. All want to ascer-
tain from you is this-would the posi-
ton of rector of Ditchley be such as
would satisfy you, in point of status
and means
you, Mr.. D'Oyley! Rector of Ditch
ley! Do you know what you are talk
ing about?'
81 hope I do, my lord,'' returned the
| curate with smile. EFAs it happens,
Lord Cuddesly is the patron; and his
eldest son was at Oxford with me-
(The curate said this in a quiet but
offhand sort of way, as much as to say
that is the least part of the bust
ness.) my real object in coming to
your lordship now is to ascertain
whether should be personally accept
able as sutton for your daughters
hand; and if so, whether the prefer.
ment of Ditchley would be considered
by you as sufficient
The bishop had been looking al the
curate with increased respect all this
time. Being comparatively stranger
in the diocese he knew very little of
Lord Cuddesly's character or senti-
ments.
my dear young friend" he began,
with his most paternal smile, you
can understand that while the ques-
ton of standing in the diocese and
that of ways and means are not unim-
portant, they are, after all, only Sec
Ondary considerations. My dear
daughters happiness is of the first
Importance with me. And if you win
her consent, you shall have mine, so
far as you are personally concerned.
Then, as to the ways and means, Ditch
ley is not a very rich living; and [
understand you have no private in
come. Still, it might be sufficient
By the way, Lord Cuddesly's solicitor
was speaking to me about Ditchley.
Several names yere mentioned, but
yours was not among them"
Il think Mr.. Debray had not seen
his father on the subject at that time"
said the curate with some modest con-
fusion.
''Probaly not. Well, now you know
my views. But remember, there must
not be-,a word of this. to Ernesta till
the matter is positively settled
The curate gave the required assur-
ance, and with respectful yet dignified
expressions of gratitude he went his
way.
Next day Mr.. D'Oyley betook himself
to Lord Cuddesly's seat, Neddiston
Park. Before going up to the great
mans door, however, he looked in at
the vicarage, hoping to pick up there
some scraps of useful information,
and above all hoping to hear of some
thing that might serve as an excuse for
| calling on his lordship.
The vicar turned out to be a good,
easy-going, loquacious sort of man.
He had no very high idea of Lord Cud-
desly, who, he said, seemed to have
but one object in life-the passing of
the deceased wife's sister bill.
Mr.. D'Oyley went up to the great
house, and by the help of liberal
brides succeeded in getting shown into
Lord Cuddesly's presence.
81 believe, my lord" began the
curate, that you are patron of the
living of Ditchley.'
"Wen, what of that? You haven't
come to ask for it, have you? For, if
you have, you won't get it,
Perhaps your lordship would kind
| ly hear me for one moment
81 don't know your name even. Who
are your
perhaps 1 had best describe myself
as the son-in-law of the bishop Of
Brampton."
''What! The bishops son-in-law!
didn't know he had another daugh-
ter. Why, how many has he alto
| gether?''
Five, my lord; but the marriage has
not taken place yet
''Oh, [ see! Son-in-law elect; and
the bishop doesn't like to give you a
living himself. Is that about it, eh?''
Mr.. D'Oyley smiled respectfully, and
looked down.
reason for going out of my way to
oblige the bishop"
1T is hardly going out of your way,
my Iord,'' suggested the curate. "It
| is as easy for your lor;1ship to present
one name to the bishop as another"
| Il know that well enough. But the
bishop-he has vote in the house,
hasn't hep
| --CeftalnIy, my IOfu; anu IL L Inlay
say so without offense, L am certain
that mere ordinary feelings of graft
tude for so marked favor bestowed
on one of his family would constrain
the bishop not to oppose your lord
ship on any public occasion.
''Hum! That's true. Couldn't ask
for a promise, of course. You're to
marry his daughter. are you%'
Il hope so, my lord. That is, the
particular tine of the marriage de-
ponds on whether ! am presented to
the Ditchley living or not"
You couldn't marry without d liv-
ing. eh?'
FRANKLY. my lord, we could not
| Lord Cuddcsly pondered for mo-
ment or two.
by the way, Simmons, my lawyer
and man of business. had talk with
your father-in-law in posse about this
very subject, only a day or two ago.
Your name wasn't mentioned at ALL
.,Of course not, my lord. The bishop
could hardly put forward a claim on
/