Middletown transcript., 1904-11-05

~ llOpC VIC NAi-
week and rest. What, with ms vista
tions and the pickering OF the clergy ana
the Jenkins Institute and the Old Ladies
Retreat to look after, it's wonder to me
that he maintains sufficient strength te
keep his spirit from soaring to its rewaru
It's only sense of duties unaccompllsheo
that prevents his translation. ;,
"He doesn't look very fragile, aunt,
said little Miss Peters, flippantly. I'M
agine Elijah with double chin"
"Hush, child y retorted Mrs. Jenkins
much scandalized, as she noted the fur
tive amused glances Of the matrons'
fear YOU will never be formed."
"The Bishop is, at any rate on' !
that too solid flesh should melt J ianghec
the girl, quite unabashed.
"Ghristinal you forget yourself
must insist that in my presence, at least
Won shall show fitting respect for ths
head of our diocese. Remember, he II
your uncle's friend and mine. Besides
think how solicitous he has been Of yonl
nurture and admonition since You nave
lived with US. Why, he is your spiritual
father"
cpd rather be spiritual Topsy," pro-
tested little Miss Peters, with a look OF
defiance which comprehended the circle.
"I don't care. l detest your Bishop. !
don't believe in him. There's an incon'
sistency between his tongue and his eyes,
his manner and his habit. shrink from
the touch of his hand and the liquid roll
of his MY dear child He's too young
to be nv father, and too fat to be spirit
nal. Yes, fat FAT" and away she
tripped to the other end OF the piazza,
where some companions of her age were
gathered.
Mrs. Jenkins gasped and famed quite
energetically for one who was elegantly
languid, while her dear friends sneereu
with their eyes and sympathized Win
their lips, as friends will do when the
citadel Of ones pride is attacked. Mrs.
Jenkins knew their sentiments. so she
moved to the relief of her forces.
ooh, dearr' she sighed, 81 told poor
sister Fanny what the result would be II
she married Western man, no matter
how prominent. Still, the child now has
the advantage of being with US, and much
must be forgiven an orphan, SO young, So
rich and SO very pretty"
The laughter died from their eyes, the
prim lines relaxed about their lips. Yes,
little Miss Peters was undeniably pretty
and with the Dry Creek Mine as dowry
and the Jenkins influence to prop her up
what chance did any OF their daughters
have, even if the hoyden should choose
to repeat the creed backward?
''I really must be going" continued
MIS-. Jenkins, appreciating her triumph
"One can't be comfortable even in
cottage when ones own servants are tax
ing their vacation. mnst be on the
watch from morning until night. Jen
kins, of course, is so very particular and
the hotel housekeeper is worse than i'll
competent" f"
And with an impressive rustic of skirts
Mrs. Jenkins swept down the piazza steps
and through the shaded walks to the one
cottage within the enclosure, the pride oi
the proprietor and the envy Of the guests.
"The plain truth is," said Mrs. Wyley,
a matron much given to speaking the
plain truth in friends absence, "the
plain truth is that ridiculous Ann jenkins
is bound to marry her niece to a bishop,
and her niece don't see it that way. /,
for one, don't blame her. There's more
truth than poetry i'll tie little ones in
tuition"
"Why, my dearn' expostulated the
chorus.
"Oh, yes, know. The Bishop is the
fad Just now and it's sacri!ege to say he
has legs, despite his CATERS. He is very
deliberate and stately and Anglican, and
assuredIy has magnetic eloquenee, but
there's something queer about him. You
see, I'm an old acquaintance of his. His
parents were plain, hard-working people
of Debsville, the place where | was born.
His father, a blacksmith, his mother, a
farmers daughter-that's how he gets his
shoulders and calves. Good people, they
were members of the First Baptist Church
and highly respected. So, when they
died and left young Samuel penniess,
the congregation held a meeting and re-
solved to educate the lad for the minis
try. He was big and conely and dull
witted, but he could distinguish the but
tered side of bread, and he was profuse
in hopes that he might some day occupy
that pulpit under which his parents had
sat. Well, those kind people put him
through school,, college and the theologi-
cal seminary, and then just when they
were expecting the first payment OF ill.,
terest from him in the shape Of good,
old. fashioned, orthodox sermon, they
received instead letter stating that it
would be impossible for him to continue
in their denomination, as his religious
views had undergone change, and lie
was convinced that the Episcopal church
was the true gate to heaven. You see.
old jenkins had taken fancy to the
young man, aud, had promised him the
nreferment, which he quickly received.
Well after the fashion Of converts, lie
outritualized the most ritualistic. l at
tended the Jenkins Institute while he
was rector in charge. Que day he was
lectnring us girls on the history Of the
church, and he assured. us solemnly that
tbronyh it alone could salvation be found
ana that those who sought other Ell.
.ronces we're as thieves and robbers So
+ recalled what | had heard about his
r,arents, and ! was 90 indignant that ]
inst dared to ask /: How about your father
snd mother, DIR. Goodieigh?' 2
ale drew his handkerchief across his
avas and his voice faier d as he an
s...arad. i must trust tl.en to the mercy
Il f;od. my child.