The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-11-18
The Rector Of
Saint Gabriel'S

| jacket. On his small round head was
battered straw hat. as lncongruous
as the rest OF his outfit. With this
grotesque simplicity of attire went a
scrupulous neatness.
/ Embarrassed by the fooling of the
boys and the smokers of the girls, he
had edged away from the crowd of
/ children so bent on emphasizing his
variance from themselves and courted
the lesser evil OF solitude, In his Is
olation. through whatever impulse, he
drew small green catechism from his
pocket. and sought to distract himself
with It's questions and answers. Re-
ligion has its soothing for the bruised
spirit.
The ringleader In the balting-one
OF the largest boys--had small respect
for this shy withdrawal With an
elaborate grImace to his fellows he cir
cled near his butt with too palpably
simulated indifference with suspi-
cious foreboding the odd boy divided
his attention between his book and the
ehcroaching tormentor. All at once
the latter dashed forward, snatched
the catechism from the small brown
fingers, and with n laugh OF derislon
flung II to some OF the others. This
horseplay was applauded by the young
yokels. to the added discontinue OF
the childish neophyte.
Throughout this petty drama the
new rector Of Saint Gabriels had
stood watching the scene with what
seemed undue intensity OF interest.
The set look In his face hardly had
warrant in the trivial puerility of the
action. Once. when the brown face
had been lifted with sudden gleam
of apprehension in the round blue eyes
the Rev. Arnold Woodbridge had pres
sed his sinewy had over his eyes. and
murmured, "Ah." In a stifled way.
Now he went downstairs quickly. and
then, with more measured strides. out
onto the smoth-cropped lawn. He
was certainly striking enough per-
sonality to awaken all the interest the
two women had shown in him. Tall,
compactly built, broad forehead.
strong, well-cut nose, gray eyes with
a searching sympathy in their clear
depths. and the lower part of his face
concealed by a thick, curling beard
and mustache. both gray such was
the figure that approached the chill
dren.
The expression OF his face was
singularly riveting, but battling. De-
spite its material serenity, II breathed
of something within that was DOM
inant feature of his soul life. Some
thing had gripped his inner man with
a pinioning hold that affected the very
marrow Of his senslbility. As he mo-
we'd along the children the change
that came into that strange face was
like the Frightening Of a landscape
under the sun just emerging from ov-
erhanging clouds. His winning,
serious, smile: the light. caressing
touch of his hand, and the CHEEKY
words of greeting dispelled the severe
restraint of his repose by a singularly
attractive suavity.
Quite naturally he arrived at the
little boy who stood meekly aloof in
his artless rainment. The rector's
heart gave a throb as he felt the di-
minutive figure stifen into grateful
response under the magnetic hand he
laid upon the close e-cropped head.
"Children," he said in his rich clear
voice ut is so pleasant out here in the
open air, that if you just sit down on
the grass l will tell you story before
we go into chapel for the confirmation
instruction"
He walked toward a rustic bench,
as the young ones settled on the
sward expectantly, still holding by the
hand the childish martyr. When he
seated himself he lifted the little chap
to a place by his side, and threw his
strong arm lightly across the small
shoulders. He looked over his juVe-
nile congregation, drew long breath,
and began. Miss Easton and her COM
panion who had halted in the edge Of
the lawn, now drew nearer and dis
posed themselves on the velvety sward.
This Is true story children, and
I am going to tell 1t to you for your
good. I happened to see when you
were playing, and Of course I saw bet
ter than you did that your fun was at
the price Of Peters peace and COM
fort. / do not suppose you had any
thought Of cruelty in this. You did
not reflect that Peter has not had
many playmates In the deserted part
Of the country where he lives, and ma
turally felt 1t strange to be thrown
with a lot Of children whom he didn't
know. He did not understand your
way Of making up to him. It wasn't
a very nice way to treat a stranger,
and little boy so much younger than
a good many Of you. Do you think
it was, Billy Stevenson? You meant
no harm by it; but want you to have