The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-27

the placeswere for the amelieration of in
valid widowers, and its young men rath-
er ladylike. 1t was a parish where it
seemed always afternoon, where the six
week days were but a torpid prepare
tion for demure Sabbath
The rector was a tall, slender man,
not yeC quite gray, somewhat dainty of
speech, yet not irs:pid of matter; writ
er of pleasing verse a preacher who
deemed his congregation of more i'm
portance than his prejudices, a graceful
listener when in the company of men of
the world; and beside these things, he
was gifted as only Genius and Indiffer-
enee aid Felmity are gifted-he was al
most mconsciously erudite in the sex.
He op NED his gate and entered his
garden Its walks lay along between
daffodils and tulips. A lofty pear tree
was the pltnctual resort of a thrush All
the swift magic of spring was in that
quick budding garden of flower and fruit
tree. He had debated the eligible spin
steers, one and all, with his customary
hesitation, and now resumed what was
rather mood than memory-the mem
cry of the days 81 his youth, of his first
wife Hannah.
Notwithstanding the discretion of his
parishioners, gossip had long been busy
with the former subject. His poorer ma
irons found in it tattle ever new and ami
mating. His grabbed sexton shook a
crazy head And the little clean girls of
the Sunday school looked pleased and
askanee, and each talked ever the
chances of her particular teacher, with
sneers for every rival. Quite young and
somewhat anaemic girls fretted with
widest day Dreams and quaked with
stitled heart at his approach OF these
Rebecea- Mills adored him cand:dly, with
out fear, retaining meanwhile a butcher
IN -her service, quite unjealous, and
staughterins busily for the sake of a
wife and home. Strangely enough it was
she who most quickly perceived the Sc
crets of her elderly and patrician rivals.
She had them one and all by rote. and
every detail of her passion, prospects and
prosperity. She was loves most obedient
weatherceck, nor ever wavered in point
ing whittier his influence babe. More
over, she was the eldest and favorite
pupil of Miss Alice Seymour, and her al
legiance and ardOr were beyond reproacll
Il was her desire and assurance that
since herself was fated butcherwards
Miss Seymour should become the rector S
second wife.
The rector had been not quite so sure
as he seated himself in his ivied arbor.
His bow had many strings; only polyg-
amy would secure him from all sy1npa-
thetic regret. The purple silk of Miss
Pugn, her cheerful, specialized counten-
ance, and perennial banter; Miss Mimic.
pale, austepe, antique, fine in wit ele-
giant IN mien, caustic in criticism; Miss
Daw, little round widow like a dove
in her pleasant house; all were variously
excellent-one only of these ladies. alas,
was allowable. Moreover, all were SINH
larry excellent in the primary matter of
means. The rector was not a 'mercenarv
man, but the one passionate and tragic
influence in his life had dulled his ewes
and secluded his heart from all other re-
membrane of romance He was intend
ed to be duteous and eockerel husband:
it was his vague intention to take a sniff
able lady to wife.
Miss Seymour lived rather beyond her
neighbOrs and their gardens. a lonely and
somewhat sequestered life. She might
walk over her little garden bridge across
a brook into a great wood of primroses
and here she would seat herself these
warm spring mornings to work or to read
or to muse. She was unaccustomed, per-
haps would have deemed it a somewhat
Vain and vulgar act TO analyze her emo
items. She was content rather to eniov
being than to veX herself with questions
OF becoming. Yet as she sat gazing with
clear blue eyes, not by any means with
out insight on the April prospect of
green and blossom, faint wonder was
waited through her mind, of her own
strange sense of felicity She was in
clined rather to attribute il to a ave
mereifully suffered to be spent in com
passion and patience than to any more
trenchant and disturbing cause.
Rebecca Mills came through the wood
gathering ptimroses in little wicker