The suburban citizen., 1902-08-16
THE MAN AND HIS
CHANCE.

u morning room of a country
vicarage a girl was sitting
pen in hand. Young-not
more than twenty-two--she was pretty,
with delicate, thoughtful-looking fea'
lures. There was a sheet Of paper
before her, but she had not written q
word. She sat gazing at it in abstract
ed fashion, apparently deep in thought
At length, as If unable TO arrive at
any decision, she rose with sigh, and
made her way across to the window
and looked out. 1t was a cold, bright
afternoon, and the view showed q
stretch of country denuded Of every
trace of green covering. In the dis.
tance, some two miles away, the small
town of Sonningford could be seen,
the roofs Of the houses glinting in the
dying rays Of the winter sun.
The girls eyes drifted to where a
down stretched high away. On the top
were some old stone ruins, and. her
glance resting on these, thoughts of
some bygone hours spent there crowd
ed back to her mind. AS she medi-
tated the tears came to her eyes.
I'VE weren't so far apart them" she
murmured; now, it is different"
She turned away from the window,
and caught up newspaper from the
table. A gleam came into her eyes as
she looked at it.
Two columns and q halfr she ex.
claimed, softly. She read stray SEN
tence here and there. "Cheers-cheers
prolonged ministerial cheersw
There was a tap at the door, and she
laid the paper down suddenly,
A servant entered the room.
"Mr. Mantell has called, missw she
announced.
ASK him to come in here, please"
the girl replied. She walked rapidly
TO her writing table and shut the cover
of her case.
The next moment the door opened,
and Mr.. Mantell was shown in. He
was kindly faced old man, with white
hair and bent shoulders He had a
bundle of newspapers under his arm,
which he put down on the table be-
fore holding out his hand to the girl.
As she turned to greet him there was
a tiny flush on both her cheeks.
"Ah, my dear; needn't ask how
you arer' he cried, as he clasped her
hand. Your looks tell their own tale.
Fathers writing his sermon-mustn't
be disturbed on any account; of course
noty So We two will have our chat
together ia here, eh?"
Margaret pulled forward a chair To-
ward the fire. The old man warmed
his hands at the blaze.
And when did you get back?" she
asked.
'This morning. Such a week, my
dear Margaret! And directly l re-
turned felt / must come over and
tell you all about It,"
She bent down and arranged the
cushion for him.
Very nice of you," she said, in an
even tone And how did you leave
Laurence"
"He was in splendid condition" cried
the old man. "And, of course, sent all
sorts of kind messages to you"
The girl turned away for a moment
"Ah, my dear! he went on, enthu.
Iiastically. Never have l been so
proud of my boy as have this week.
You would have been proud OF him.
too, Margaret" he added, looking
round at her fondly.
"Yes," she assented; Il am quite
proud Of him. He halls from Son
ningford, you known she added,
forcing a smile.
The old man was still looking at her.
yes" he said, musingly; Il wished
you had been with me. Somehow.
Margaret, you, Of all the others. are
the one 1 most like to talk to about
him. You never seem to tire of my
enthuslasm-you take as much interest
as I do You are almost as a sister
TO himw
The girl was staring out Of the win
dow.
"Yes-but your week, your splendid
weekT' she said, suddenly.
"Ah, yes, my splendid weekr be
cried, rubbing his hands. He took
me everywhePe-seemed proud TO in.
troduce me as his father! They talk
Of him as the coming man, Margaret
the most promising of the young onesr'
That's what the newspapers say"
she put in.
"And it's true-qulte truew he said
eagerly. 'If you could hear what the
people l have met this week think
Of him! They say his brain is mar,
velous-that the country sorely needs
men with reasoning faculties devel
Oped as his arew
The girl picked up the newspaper
Il read the full account of his
speech" she said. did you hear
hiln?"
He nodded his head excitedly.
Yes; l was in the gallery. It was
wonderful speech, my dear And
the House, accustomed as It is to won
derful speeches, was fairly electrified
A thrill went through me as 1 gazed
down on his straight young figure. his