Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-01-14
H0V | CAmE TO TAKE v
FL UP CHURCH WORK
fCr1EaLl

nouaced down came the rain. The
weather had been 50 fine that few pSo-
pie had brought unSrclias. a s.rl
stood nee me in brand new hat and
suit Icoki e at the Sly dolefully. At
the moment | noticed in rack beside
the door ain umbrella. | seized it and
offered it ;oS Ser.
Cant we share it?' she asked.
| opened the umbrella. she gathered
up her skirts. and we sailed forth.
why. MIR. Sturgis," she said sudden
ly. Il thought you were OF on your va
cationr'
How did you know my name is
Sturgisg'' | asked, taken aback.
why, there IL is on the inside"
looked up and. sure enough, there
was Walter v. Sturgis" painted in
the plainest of white letters. Walter
Sturgis was assistant rector of the
church we had attended. | was any
thing but clergyman. l lived at
club and at the time was accounted
trife gay.
"And my umbrella has the honor to
shieldT"
"A guest of the Van Wrinkles. l
have heard a great deal about you
from Alice Van Wrinkle. They attend
your church. you know. This morning
Alice was In6isposed. and was obliged
to go alone. How is it that you are
not officiating todayf''
HIN -er well. you see, I'm sup
posed to be on vacation"
But your dress Is not clerical"
MY dress? I-why. don't wear
clericals when on vacation"
THAT is singular"
How far do you goT
"Only around the corner"
Around the corner was pretty near
for me. who. if seen by the Van Win
kles, would be in an awkward position.
Pardon me-" l said, looking at my
watch. Il had forgotten an engage
ment-a bit of parochial work. Take
my umbrella | must leave you" And
despite her protestations / thrust 1t in
to her hand and took my departure.
In few minutes | was in my club en-
deavoring to compose my somewhat
unsettled feelings with a tumbler OF
amber liquid.
81 don't see what harm can come of
it." / solaced myself. IF | hadn't
done it, the girls clothes would have
been ruined" Nevertheless it occurred
to me that trouble might come.
One evening | attended a ball at the
Academy. The men were bachelors,
and the women. while respectable,
were not "in the SWIM" In one of the
boxes We're some society people look
ing on, and as | walked by, with my
hat on the back of my head and ci-
gar in my mouth. looked up and saw
the girl of the umbrella. Fortunate
iy at the moment she was not looking
my way, and | turned my back in time
to prevent catching her eye. Later !
reconnoitered the box from q distance
and saw that she was not with the
Van Wrinkles. but with the Grosvenors.
That's lucky" | said to myself.
THE Grosvenors don't know either me
or the curate; the Van Wrinkles know
US both. However, doubt if the girl
saw me-"
This all happened in June. In July
I went abroad and did not return till
the following November. Sauntcring
into my club the day after my arrival,
took up paper. The first item that
caught my eye was this;
The trial of the Rev. Walter v. Sturgis
for conduct unbecoming the cloth will
take place this morning In the vestry
room of st. Marks church.
Great Scottr' cried, springing up
I'm at the bottom of this!"
Hastily pulling out my watch, saw
that it was II O'Clock.
"Waiter! A cab! Be quick!'
In ten minutes | drove up to St
Marks church and, making my way
back to the vestry, entered. There sat
grim array of ehurchmen and lay
men, the Rev. Walter V. Sturgis among
them, the picture of despair.
Gentlemen" l said, Twill you please
tell me what's up? Perhaps l can
throw some light on this case"
The rector looked at me over his
spectacles and frowned.
Our young brother, Mr.. Sturgis," he
said, has been accused of returning to
town from his vacation without max
ing himself known: also attending a
ball of questionable character. The
principal witness is unfortunately i'll
and cannot testify, but
| walked up to the Rev. Mr.. Sturgis
and grasped his hand. Il have con-
fession to make" | said. I've evil
IDENTIFY bees raising merry thunder
without knowing it." Then, turning to
the others, | told the story of the UNI
brella.
"And now" | added, "Mr Sturgis.
before | leave ! want your forgive
ness
ut is granted on one condition"
Name it"
ATTEND this church regularly here
after and give me an hour day for
charity work"
That's a pretty steep penalty"
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