Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-07
THE SAGE BRUSH PARSON
BY A. B. WARD.


defense of the young Methodist and his
methods.
To this chance meetii~ Haverford at
tributed her heightened color. The sus-
plcions aroused that night on Main street
were revived Ia him and grew. He with
drew sensisively into himself, and Kath-
airline. diverted from the subject and chilled
by his manner, spoke no more of Vaughan
or of the item In the Sentinel. They turned
to other. impersonsl themes. Much OF tho
time they rode without speaking.
There was awkward silence At the
door, 1t was Haverford who broke n.
II have felt for some THE. Mrs Chis-
hoim," ne said formally, that my work
In Eureka really eno.e years sgo.f l
have about made up my mind TO ask the
bishop to transfer me to another Held"
Katharine looked. as she felt. annoyed.
Why did he speak In that aggrieved tone.
as II she were to blame for his shortcom-
ings and disappointments?
I'VE should be very sorry TO lose you.
she returned: with equal for,nality. Per
haps you will reconsider IL. She gather
ed up her habit and left him standing
there
Mabel was in her room. She answered
Katharine's knock with a cheerful Gomez
and removed a pile of petticoats from the
big chair by the window by way OF invita-
ton to bs seated.
''rired?" she queried as her sister-in-
law threw herself down among the cushions
with a sigh.
Yes" said Katharine YEARLY. II am. IL
isn't spring enough to be soothing anu
re stfui The air Is like a whip. You go
and do things and suddenly realize
you've gone too far. l don't think shall
ride again until IL Is settled weather" She
picked up her riding crop and drew her
Don't 60" said Mabel. She was dress
ing for dinner with the painstaking caro-
she devoted 10 this daily ceremonial, ner
offering TO Arthur. Don't 60" she re-
peated lit never takes you long TO dress:
and ] want to ask you something" hath-
arine sank languidly back again In tho IN
vIting recesses of the great chair. What
Is it7' she inquired careiessly.
II wonder why Arthur Is SO out OF sorts
with Eugene Winslow.' Mabel paused IN
the act of thrusting among the masses or
her dark brown hair the teweied comb
which went through the fiction Of contin-
ing IT. ,.
I'm sure l don't know.
II think" said Mabel mysteriously, her
brown eyes round chid's. that 1t has
something to do with that item in the Ser
tinel this morning
Katharines languid interest aYcke.
What makes you think so?' she inquired,
suddenly sitting upright.
"Oh. / don't know l just feel that IL
has. I'm going to ask Arthur when lie
comes home. know he won't tell me, but
I'm going to ask him..
You absurd child!' laughed Katharine.
How very, very pretty Mabel was, In that
tangie of lace and ribbons she called y
neglige 1t was no wonder Arthur adore,i
her. And she was quite content to remain
with him. here In the widernessl Low
little difference Il made where woman
lived, if she had the one she loved beside
herr
II think the Reverend Gentleman was
'C.V.,' pursued Mabel. employing the chill
drens name for him. because OF some-h hing
Arthur said when he read the notice"
What did you say?" demanded Katha-
rine She had quite forgotten her own ia
tigue and Mabels prettiness.
Something about Methodis,s. I've really
forgotten what. SO when CIV. called this
afternoon"
HAS Mr.. Vaughan been here7" cried
Katharine. sharply. What did he sayY
Did, he ask for me?''
He didn't ask for any one Katharine.
He just stayed for half hour more,
playing with the children. and then went
away. / didn't know, until Arthur should
tell me something about II. how ! was to
act So / didn't go down"
The little airs which Mabel assumed of
"the obedent wife" would have touched
Katharine's sense of hunor at another time
and In relation to another subject. At
present they irritated her. II do WISH"
she said pettishly, that you could some-
times think for yourself and not wait TIL
Arthur tells you what ideas are suitable.
OF course, Mr.. Vaughan knew there must
be some of us In the house. Where was
Emmeline?"
Reading in her room. She has a novel
she is crazy to finish. Marguerite says she
reads 1t while she combs her hair. / don't
think he expected to see any OF US, Kitty.
I questioned Nora afterward, and she said
he didn't ask for a soul.
IF find out anything I'll tell you" she
added, as Katharine arose to leave the
room. I'll do what / can with Arthur.
OF course. don't know what sort OF
mood he may be In.
She did her pretty. coaxing best when her
husband came home. but for once her
dainty wiles were Intellectual.
Child" he said at length. ut Is some
thing don't care to have you hear. Isn't
that enough, little one?'
HIS voice had in It the note OF reproach-
full tenderness which invariably sent Mabel
into fits OF penitence for having called II
forth. Forgive me-" she muFmured, with
her lips against his cheek.
She avoided Katbarine's inquirfng glance
at dinner and when they met In the nali-
on their way TO bed she whispered in her
sister-in-law's ear, Its OF no use, Kitty.
He simply doesn't want to have me Know
I'm afraid It's pretty bad
What was pretty bad2 The challenge or
the manner in which 1T was accepted HOW
was Eugene Winslow implicated ~
Vaughan had said or done anything he was
n ashamed Of he surely would not have ca4ied
that afternoon. But evidently HaNerroru
and even Arthur thought he ought 10 De
a shamed Was the lack in him or IN them.
that they misinterpretec, perhaps. an lnno.
cent even a praiseworthy, motiVeH These
were some of the things which hathafihs
would very much like TO know
Go be continued tomorrow