The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-08-29
Tempered
ithWerey
by ELIzRsHTR MOON.

lie closed the hall door behind
him and stood for a few min
utes-a bewildered-loolingl little man
in his long, clerical cOat-trying to
realize all that had happened since
he had passed through that same
doorway a short half-hour before.
He had entered radiant with hap
piness-firm in his belief in the fdel-
ity Of the woman who had promised
to be his wife; now he had left the
presence of his lately affianced wife
with his faith in women blighted,
staggering under the sudden blow,
and with a queer, cold feeling about
his heart that had beaten so joyful
".
He took of his soft hat as though
its weight oppressed him, and thrust
his finger wildly through his stub
bly,, fair hair. As he did 50 he saw
Jacynth.
He waited for the child to come up
to him. his face strangely gray and
old. The intimacy with the child had
led him often into the presence of
her mother, and love inevitably fol-
lowed
Was it only now, when the beauti-
full widow had owned with almost
baby petuIance that she was mis-
taken in imagining that the feeling
she entertained for him was warmer
than that of friendship, that he saw
a vain and shallow soul shining in
! those wonderful turquoise eyes?
And yet-he loved her stiIl-fOr such
love as his, tardy in coming, was
hard to destroy.
A hideOus din uprOse from the VII
lage, and the curate suddenly re-
membered, with a grOan, that an en-
! terprising Snowman had visited the
place with some wonderful steam
| gaIIopers, and on this afternoon he
had promised to take Jacynth him
| self for a ride on the horses. Then
| the better nature OF the little man
asserted itself. If he were miser-
able, what right had he to thwart
the happiness Of others?
'Teu your mistress that Miss ia
cynth is with me-" he said to the
servant.
Yes, sir"
The crowd parted to let the thin
figure in the long black coat and the
/ flushed, pleased child pass through.
The few who could spare time from
their enjOyments to notice the ac-
| tiOns of others smiled broadly at the
sight of the whirling figure Of their
little parson, the tails of his long
| coat shrOuding the headquarters Of
his steed-
When the curate had kissed her
and left her at her own gate, she
called after him with gleeful little
laugh:
1T was eight times. We had eight
whole rides. 1t was IOvely-Iovelyl"
For a few days he avoided those
haunts where he was likely to fall
across the widow or Jacynth. The
wound was stin bleeding, and his day
of simple duties had become a day OF
misery and torment.
But at the uttermOst end Of the
parish the squire's dogcart flashed
past him into a narrow lane, almost
forcing the pedestrian into the ditch
and he caught a glimpse of a face
| saucily smiling recognition under an
airy tOque Of white tulle, and her
gay little laugh came floating back
to him
For an instant he almost hated her
/ for her heartlessness. The next min
ute he had found extenuatiOn fo1
her; the man she had chosen was q
filter mate for her-he had wealth
position and good looks, and perhaps
he had rePented Of his wild ways and
would prove tender husband after
all
He would be a coward no longer;
he would take up the threads Of his
life in the old way and weave the
/ pattern that God had set for him
But, notwithstanding his resolution
he shrank from meeting Jacynth fo1
many days He wondered often thai
the child did not come to him. and Al
last he put himself IN her way.
When he turned down the road and
came in sight OF the green gate, Z
naughty little Scotch terrier darteC
out TO bark at the heels of a passing
errand boy, and JacYnth ran In pur
suit Of her pet.