Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-04-27
CHAPTER I.

worth nine hundred year; Little Whit
ton brought Its incumbent In only two
hundred, all told. The livings were both
In the gift OF the Earl of Avon, whose |
seat was near, on the other side Of Great |
Wilton. The incumbent Of Great Whit |
ton was an old man, almost past duty |
the incumbent Of Little Wilton was an |
able and attractive man scarcely thirty, |
the Rev. Ryle Baumgarten. Therefore,
little wonder need be expressed II some
Of the Great Wilton families ignored
their old rector and came to listen to the
eloquent Mr.. Baumgarten.
A small, open carriage, the horses driv-
en- by a boy, waited at the church door,
The boy was in a crimson jacket and
velvet cap, the position livery OF the
Avon family. The sweeping seat behind
was low and convenient; therefore, when
two ladies emerged from the church, they
stepped into 1t unasssted. The one look
ed about fifty years of age, and walked
slowly; the other was a young lady OF
exceeding fairness with somewhat haugh-
ty features, and naughty eyes, blue as the
summer sky. The boy touched his horses
and drove on.
HE surpassed himself to-day, Grace"
began the elder lady.
81 think he did, mamma"
"But it is long way to come-for me.
l can't venture out in all weathers. II
we had him at Great Whitton, now,
could hear him every Sunday.
"Well, mamma, nothing is more easy,
observed the younger, bending down to
adjust something in the carriage, that her
sudden frightening of color might pass
unnoticed. ut is impossible that Mr.
Chester should last long, and you could
get Henry to give him the living
"Grace, you talk like a child. Valua-
BILE livngs are not given away so easily ;
neither are men without connections in
Quoted to them. never heard that young
Baumgarten had any connections; he
does not speak of his family. No; the
most sensible plan would be for Mr..
Chester to turn off that muf of a curate,
and take on Baumgarten In his stead"
The young lady threw back her head.
"Rectors don't give up their preferments
to subside into curates, mamma"
"Unless 1t Is made we'll worth their
WHILE" returned the elder, in a matter
of-fact tone; "and old Chester might
make it worth Mr.. Baumgarten's."
"Mr. Chester ought to retire. For my
part l cannot imagine how these old
clergy can persist in remaining in their
livings."
The clergy must grow old as well as
other people, my dear"
81 am not speaking OF age so much n.
Of failing faculties"
The young lady received no answer I,
this, and they went along in silence.
Mamma !" she exclaimed, when the,
were about a mile on the road, I'VE neve
II
shall go back again. James, when yo'
come to the corner, drive down the Ian
and go back to the cottage"
you might have consulted me first
Grace" grumbed the Countess Of Avon
'And why do you choose the longer way
round by the lane?"
The lane is shady, mamma, and tn
afternoon sunny; to prolong our drlv
will do you good"
Lady Grace laughed as she spoke, an
It would have taken one deeper In penl
tration than the Lady Avon had ever bee
to divine that all had been done with
preconcerted plan that when her daugt
ter drove from the church door she ha
fully intended to proceed part Of the wa
home, and then go back again. Lad
Grace Carmel had rather strong will
which had been fostered by indulgence
for she was an only daughter.
Another of the congregation had lei
the church by different door. It was
young lady Of two or ree-and-twenty
she had less beauty than Lady Grac
but a far sweeter countenance. 81
crossed the churchyard, and opening oil
OF its gates found herself in mario
sheltered walk, running through a corn
Of Wilton Wood. 1t was the neare
way to her home, Whitton Cottage.
few PAGES within il, she stos
against a tree, turned and waited h
lips parted, her cheek flushed, and h
hand was laid upon her beating heal
Was she expecting any one to join he
Little doubt Of 1t; and that it was o.
all too dear to her the signs betraye
The ear of love is strangely fine, and 81
Edith Dane, bent her ears to listen wi
the first sound Of approaching footsteI
she walked hurriedly on. Would she
caught waiting for him? No, no rath
she would hide herself forever than
tray aught of the deep love that lay
her heart for the Rev. Ryle Baumgarte
1t was Mr.. Baumgarten who was +
lowing her; he sometimes chose the ne
way home, too; a tall, graceful man, wi
pale, classic features, and umlno
brown eyes set deeply; but in his ia
might be seen somewhat of irresolutiC
He STROBE on and overlook Miss Dane.
How fast you are walking, Edith
She turned her head with the pretti
air of surprise possible, her cheeks brll
with loves rosy flush. "Oh-is it y
Mr. Baumgarten? l was walking f
to get home to poor mamma"
Nevertheless, it did happen that tn
pace sackened considerably; in ia
they scarcely advanced at ALL but sal
tered along side by side, as If to en-
the beauty of the summer afterno
"They have been taking me to task
day." suddenly began Mr.. Baumgart
"Wbol The Avons do you mean?
saw they were at church"
mot the Avons. What have they
do with me, Edith. Squire Wells
his wife, with a half dozen more, carl
ed me in the vestry after service I
morning"
what aboutT
about the duties Of the parish;
ular, not clerical. l take care that
latter shall be efficiently performed.
old women are not coddled, the 20
ones households not sufficiently loo
up, and the school, In the point Of pl
sewing, Is running to rack and ruin.
Mr.. Baumgarten had been speaking
half-joking way, his beautiful eyes a
with merriment. Miss Dane received
news more seriously. you did not