The Monticellonian., 1904-12-01

! ter?"
 The sexton, hearing the voice, and thinking that the rector had called him, opened the door which led from the vestry to the church. The sanctuary was visible, and blue haze of candle smoke and incerse still hung high up where a beam of sunlight fell upon it, all afame with the color of the glass. 1 That was enough. The priest reassert- ed himself over the man. His hand in stinetively and mechanically sought the pectoral cross.
 "I do not need you, Jenkins" he said, and as the sexton withdrew, the scene was continued In fact. the three people had stood there in stiff rigidity, looking almost comical, as if they were l posing.
 Again the rector asked, this time 1 calmly and with an almost dangerous suavity: Where is my sister whom you married?"
 1 The light of battle came into the eyes l of the man. but he was evidently mysti- | fled by the question, and the clergyman i went on:
 You married my sister % years ago my sister, Marion PoindeNter. l re- member you was at the wedding. ?
 Yes. came the level answer. T mar riod Marion Poindexter. from whom have since been diyoreed.'
 "But why diyorced?9 asked the cler- eymaa
 T have told you that it was not my fault; that l was the innocent party. re- piled the man.
 The young girl kept silence. She had found the strain too much for her, and had seated herself and sat upright, look ing with sort of impotent surprise i upon the proceedings. Now and again she yentured to regard the priest. and troubled look came on her face, but when she turned her eyes upon the man, the trouble cleared and confident love . shone out in her whole attitude. How do know that?" asked the priest
 The man pulled out his pocketbook, rummaged in it for a moment, and then handed the priest letter.
 Here is the last letter that she wrote to me" he said, the letter upon which the divorce was granted.
 The priest read it gravely, and with out the slightest sign of emotion; then he handed it silently back Both stood still for moment. and it was noticeable that the hand of the priest again closed on the pectoral cross.
 Tt is a shameful story" he said, at last Where is she now?'
 She has left the man for whom she left me and is now in Denver with the yilest. he said.
 But you are responsible for this thing. She was innocent when she mar ried you said the priest; she was only 18."
 She was never innocent" the man replied, deliberately. She was never innocent" and he looked haggard man of 60. She was always the slave of her senses. Sometimes it was colors and perfumes. sometimes worse"
 The priest instinetiyely touched the smooth silk cassock, and his beautiful hand looked white and delicate against it. The breeze, blowing softly in, opened the door of the church. which the sex ton had not properly closed and the odor of incense, of lilies and candle smoke and the perfumes of the rich dresses of women penetrated the yestry, languereus and sensuous and sweet.
 The priest turned to the woman. You have heard us, he said. He mar ried my sister. He has made an outcaSt of her. Will you marry him?"
 Yes, murmured the girl. very softly, but very firmly.
 You will marry this man who took my sister at IS. and is leaving her amid the vilest? She was so pretty y'-and something like sob caught the even voice for a moment You will marry him?"
 Yes. will marry him. and the an- swer was firm. confident and strong.
 But he will throw you away, as he has thrown her" pleaded the priest
 What care l for the future? l love him now" said the girl
 50 did my sister, replied the priest.
 But l am not your sister" said the girl Your sister was sure of nothing. not even of herself. I am sure of my self"
 The words were spoken quietly and slowly, in an even level voice, without a touch of anger or of passion. She was strong and unfaltering. confident of her. self She had no need of outside stim- ulus. She was self-sufficient Even the man who had won her looked small and insignificant beside her, and the priest merely an epitome of eulture-hardly 2 man.
 Thera was another of the awkward pauses which the priest broke. T can not marry you" he said. You see, it is impossible; it is against the canon.'
 The man and the girl moved towards the door The clergyman raised his voice. T shall go to Denver" he said. flor my sister. If what you have said is false, the Lord will judge you"
 If what he said is false he will recll- on with me said the girl
 And the two went into the sunshine, where the roses hung thick in the l churchya ard The priest watched them up the path, then turned to the little l oratory which led off the vestry. entered 1 and closed the door-Oyerland Monthly.
 STRANGE HAPPENINGS.