Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-25
A CLERICAL ERROR
By FRANCIS LYNDE.

CONTINUED from last Wednesday,.
''This Is Father Penburton, I De-
heve." he began affably, producing q
cigar case. "Will You join meT
''Thank you, do not smoke" I re-
piled us severely as might be.
''Noi But you won't mind my mok-
ing, viii youf'
Certainly not. wish I might az
readily absolve you Of your weighder
offenses''
"Meaningr'-his eyebrows went up
in we'll affected surprise.
''Meaning your reckless defiance Of
the proprieties in eloping with that
sweet young girl in yonder-that and
your plot to delay her anxious parent, I"
said sternly.
His smile was more than half Q gri-
mace. "You don't know the circum-
stances. father. Hyou did. you wouldn't
blame us much. And as to the plot
well, that was rather a shabby trick
to play on the old gentleman, but it's
too late to repent Of that now"
"Too latei Howt What do you
meant
"Why, It's a matter of history, 90 to
speak. We managed among us to delay
him nearly an hour at Brownsville, but
he Is after us again now at the rate OF
q mile q minute.
"Do you mean to tell me that we
have already passed Brownsviller
demanded, unable to believe that my
abstraction had been 30 profound.
"Rather better than an hour ago.
This is Jornada," with wave Of his
hand toward the station at which the
train was then pausing.
The minor transgression being un-
preventable, ! was about to attack the
major, when brakeman came In and
handed the young man telegram upon
which the ink was not yet dry. Ghe
lighted cigar fell from his fingers as he
read and would assuredly have burned
a hole in the carpet had not promptly
set my foot upon it.
"Great murder, but that does settle
itp he groaned
"The way Of the transgressor"- I
began, but he broke In as one who
hears not.
"Say, Father Penburton, can q priest
Of the Catholic church marry pair of
heretics at pinchf"
The question seemed singularly ir-
relevant, but answered it to the best
"a
II know of no rule forbidding It.
Why do you asks"
"Read that" he said tragically,
thrusting the message into my hand.
"H you can't help rs out. we're done
for, world without end
read:
To Alan Roderick, ON Train No. z:
Everything O. z. ss ordered except the min
lister. He is out at Reservation. Have sent
COW puncher after him on best broncho In
town, but am afraid he can't reach before Z
O'Clock. Shall get justice peaoe' Answer.
It was signed "Hardwicke, and
there was footnote in brackets-evi-
IDENTIFY bit Of extraneous information
added by the receiving operator at Jor-
NADIA:
Bosty is overhauling you right. He passed
Ormsbee five minutes ago, running Ike tho
wild Irishman. He'd beat you Is minutes into
Lavarock II he could get by you.
"What have I to do with thisf" said
I. indicating the message.
"Why, I thought-that is, I didn't
know but you'd--well, you see. Father
Penburton. we've got to have minis
ter of some sort some way. It's no use
talking about justice Of the peace to
Eleanor. She won't listen a minute to
that. But she might consent to be mar
ried by Catholic priest. She is what
we call pretty high church, you know. 1"
"Still do not understand. am not
a-justice of the peace nor yet priest
of the Romish confession"
"You'r re notf Why, Graffo said you
were, and your-er"- he broke down
and finished rather tamely. 81 thought
you looked like one."
(Which ones" I asked, trying to be
as severe as the occasion demanded.
"The magistrate or the priestH"
"Don't hit me when I'm down." he
pleaded. II meant the priest. of
course.
"Ahl suppose should be aattered.
but am not.
He sat twiddling his watch chain
nervously while he tried to frame the
crucial question. -.
"Then may I ask. Would you mind
telling me what kind Of "a minister
you areH" he stammered finally.
~ am clergyman Of the church of
which Miss Bostwick seems by your ad-
mission to be communicant, said I.
''Oh. thank goodnessl" he exclaimed,
jumping up to grasp my hand elusive
ly. 1.-TWO young fools for luck every
timel You'll help US out, won't your"
It was my opportunity. and used 1t
unsparingly.
'Not by any manner Of means; quite
the contrary. shall do everything in
my power to prevent the consummation
of this unhappy affair" (My colleague
before referred to insists that my indig-
nation was merely an outburst Of pique
at being again mistaken for Romanist,
but the charge is too trivial to refute.
~ shall go at once to the young lady to
try if I may dissuade her while it is yet
time to withdraw
He dropped my hand and sat down
again. It was a coup de grace, but he
was manly enough to hide the wound.
"Do it," he said, hardly. "Go and
try it, if you like, and III give you a
clear field. But you are the most mis-
taken person on this train. Mr.. Penbur.
ton, if you'll allow me to say it. You
are going on general principles in an
exceptional case I do hope you may
have the Measure of meeting Miss Bost-