, 1902-03-19
Among the Lilies.
r. n. LANCASTER.

r. II.
Copyright. 1902. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
When Carson Taughn took charge
of Trinity church and of its congre-
cation he did not dream of the rocks
that lay in his apparently smooth path.
In fact, the rocks did not develop IN
til after the Christmas holidays. The
trouble began in a small difference of
opinion concerning Christmas decora-
tons. Some wicked girls bent upon
shocking the more sedate members
was twined around the altar. Rev.
Carson Vaughn had sided with the
| sedate ones and the mistletoe was Sc,
aside. Everybody had treated the mat
ter as a joke, that is everybody ave
the ringleader Of the wicked ones. a
pretty young society reporter. She
took the matter not only seriously
but vengefully. and forthwith proceed
ed to make the Rev. Carson's life a
burden to him. Taking down his SER
mons in shorthand and criticising his
English afterward in open scorn, was
M Of the favorite vents for her dis
pleasure, but there were others.
Vaughn felt himself sighted and ridi-
culed at every turn. He was a reso-
Lutte man and held steadily on his way
but he could not help knowing that
Mable Anderson was at the bottom OF
all his trouble and he would have had
more mildness than the average strong
man possesses IL he had not once or
twice heartily wished her out Of his
parish. For instance, when Mable per-
suaded the young people to boycott the
fair he held for the benefit of the Old
Woman's Home. The sedate ones sym
pathized with the harassed preacher.
but as they were chiefly business men
Of little practical assistance. Sym
pathy alone will not get up a fair. The
home was relieved by subscription and
the war waxed warmer. The climax
came when . In the beginning
Of lent Vaughn preached from
the text: Little children love
one another" Those who we're
unprecedented declared it the best
sermon he had ever preached. but
Mable bit of the end of her report
ing pencil and left the church. After
that her pew knew her no IhoIc, and
when any one attempted to sound her
on the subject she would respond with
eloquent disdain:
Don't mention him."
Carson vas relieved. He could
write a sermon now without concen-
trating his whole attention upon its
deliver il without feeling that he was
watched by eyes keen to criticise. He
would perhaps not have said openly
with his lips that he was glad to have
shaken of one member of his congre-
cation but he was. and there were
more than enough to notice his free
dom from restraint.
Il do believe, Nab. he is actually
glad to get rid of you." one of her girl
chums conflded sweetly.
mo doubt he is, my dear" Nab re-
piled smoothly, but he can't be half
as glad to get rid Of me as l am to
get rid Of him" Still the hit hurt, as
the girl chum knew 1t would, and Miss
Anderson began to feel that her dig
nifty demanded demonstration.
The very next Sunday morning found
her wheeling out toward Trout creek
with basket and rod. To an old gentle
man who piled her with inquiries she
explained that she was going fishing.
But on Sunday, my dear young
lady! Why. what will your preacher
say to your"
"Oh. my preacher doesn't care what
I do so long as I do not come to
church." she replied gayly.
OF course poor Carson heard all
about 1t before the week was two
days older and Saturday evening