The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-23

now hustled forward 20 eagerly that her
tight stays clicked.
They do say, ma'am. that he has q wife
In London. and because he loves flowers he
deserted her to come and live in the coun-
try"
l felt ~troubled. Adelaide said
You know that's only gossip. Virginia:
I for one don't believe II. Mr.. Stonor's q
good man: he pays his way. and he goes to
church whenever it's open"
That don't prove nothing" Virginia
laughed: the scribes and Pharisees surely
paid their way. and they were always in
the Temple. You mark me. Addie. there's
plenty of hypocrites abroad"
I thought the elder sister looked genuine
ly distressed. and I talked Of something
In the evening Raymond asked how I
had spent my afternoon. and I told him.
There seems to be some mystery at
tached to the verger." he said. MY prede-
cessor told me he believed the name story
was . sad one-domestio trouble Of some
kind. stonor himself - thoroughly respect
able. though he does not wish his past IN
Quired into. He has been hero ten years or
%. I fancy Mr.. Collins knew more. but
was not free to speak Of II. He went % far
a. to recommend the poor fellow to my
special care: he said he only wished there
were moro like Stonor in III village"
Then ! suppose he's not popularr'
Hes not disliked. Both Markham. at
the Brook MIL. and that Jolly blacksmith
told me Stonor was q very good fellow: .
triie melancholy Harry added"
Miss Mason praised him."
"Ah. but you should have asked Mrs
Stubs: she is full Of his praises. He's fond
Of children. II seems, and Stubs says he
doesn't spoil them. but bid them hurry on
to school II he sees them tagging by the
way"
~
80 much for my wisdom: I fancied she
would not appreciate his refinement"
'-She's his nearest neighbor. and she's no
fool: she observes more than you would
think"
We found. however. that Just q few Of
the Wills gers disliked the verger. shook
their heads and looked mysterious when he
was spoken about: but as there was moth
ing to Justify this sort Of prejudice. we
paid no attention to the half-uttered warn
ings. and became attached to the quiet.
solitary man.
The ground of Tryphena Woods dislike
to the verger was that IL he were really
good he'd put . shilling now an then in
a honest woman's pocket as I'D clean his
floors an that. which faint in natur a man
can do hisself same way as a female: he
didn't oughter try"
! longed to say that Stonor's floor was
always scrupulously clean. but I was I'M
willing to offend Tryphena. and held my
peace.
Later in the year. when / took Stonor the
plants Of sea holly and OF white evening
primrose he wished for. I asked him how
he managed to do without help. My ques-
ton seemed to amuse him..
Il don't mind telling you. ma'am, but /
am helped now and again. There's a poor.
bent old creature. with a vagabond son.
and he's seldom at home. Sometimes she
goes tramping about with him. but when
she's in her little hut. up there. ma'am, be-
the wood. she's n to earn a
meal or 80. She won't take money lest
Luke should find II and spend II In drink"
Il did not know any one lived there.
Would she like US to 60 and see herr
Il think not. ma'am. She says her son
won't have a soul but herself in his cot
tage. 90 I've never been there. She's a
kind. harmless old body. and"-hs added.
with q smile OF content-'she knows no one
to gossip with" He flushed as he ended.
! could not help wondering what he had to
hide from gossip. He quickly turned my
to the nowers.
And you Say. ma'am. that lovely white
blossom only opens at 6 o'clock! It's won
derful. the dutiful way Of plants and now
ers. I thank you. ma'am. for the gift Of It,
and because you have given me a help with
the little ones: twill be q living text for me
to preach from when I see them going late
to school. II you'll kindly place yourself
here. ma'am"-we were in his Garden, and