Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-02-09
The Minister'S Wife

By MRS. HENRY WOOD

They had always been good friends,
these two, from the time when the boy,
Henry Oarmel-for it was before his faith
er came to the title-would fall into no
end Of outdoor random scrapes, and the
little doctor, as far as he could. shielded
him and brought him out of them. The
earl then reigning was valetudinarian,
Henry's uncle, and the boy spent three
parts Of his time with him at Avon
House.
when did you come down." asked
Mr.. Brice
only this morning. Ny mother seems
pretty well, l think7"
YES" assented the surgeon, with
slight hesitation. she would be much
better, though, IL she'd let the world wag
It's own way and not trouble herself try
ing to set 1t to rights"
Meaning the new parson and his new
waysT' laughed Lord Avon, who talked
more freely with the surgeon than he
would have done with any one else, She
has been treating me to history OF the
nonsense"
well, and 1t Is nonsense just that,
said Mr.. Brice. 81 ventured to say a few
words of remonstrance to Mr.. Elliotsen
one day. Oh answered he, good natur-
eddy, but these new ways are all the rage
In the fashionable world now Maybe
So sir said | but what suits fash
ionable congregation does not suit rus
tic parish Not all at once he readily
answered. but they'll get used to it, Brice
they'll get used to it Perhaps they
may"
II am sure my mother never will"
spoke Lord Avon.
'"To begin with, she dislkes Elliotsen.
At least, she disliked his coming to Great
Wilton. She wanted Mr.. Baumgarten
to have tt
Lord Avon looked surprised. did you
know of that, Brice|
Most Of us knew of It down here.
For several days. | think, it was under
stood that you had actually given him the
living"
"What-understoo publicly"
Publicly and privately, too. Baum
garten began to make preparations for
moving into the rectory; he arranged
with old Mrs. Chester to take over some
of her furniture. 1t was the certainty
ne had shown which made it SO mortify-
ing for him when the upshot came
To Judge by Lord Ayon's face just now.
some of the modification had Travelled TO
himself
IL was sorry myself" said Mr.. Brice.
LADY Avon talked to me and Mrs. Dane
talked to me, lamenting your caprice
II | may presume to say it, my lord"
he added, with twinkle. 1T tried Mrs.
Dane much
ut was not caprice, Brlce. | did give
Mr.. Baumgarten the living; that is, I
gave my mother a promise il should be
his, which is the same thing; and | af-
terward retracted the promise and gave
1t to Elliotsen. OF course it looked like
caprice, and very shameful caprice but
but" Lord Avon hesitated. you will be-
iieve me, | dare say, when l tell you
was not to blame
"In my own mind | could not at the
time think you were. 1t was not like
you. How was it?"
1T Is a thing which | cannot explain,
Brice, even to you. A mistake was made
in--well, let US say in more quarters than
one. II has been put down to my score
hitherto, | find, and it can continue to be
90. l am very, very sorry IL it tried Mrs.
Dane"
Mr.. Brice recounted the past circum-
stances in a few words. Lord Avon list
ened.
$50 Baumgarten and Edith married on
the strength of possessing Great Whit
ton - he remarked. II wish--I wish"
mo; they got engaged on the strength
of possessing It, and were married all the
same when they knew they should not
have it." interrupted the surgeon. Their
prospects are not grand; the living is
small. as dare say you know, and there s
no habitable house"
Lord Avon nodded, Little Wilton
was in his gift, but he did not personally
know Mr.. Baumgarten.
Naturally Mrs Dane feels anxious
about their future. When she dies, her
income dies with her. And two or three
months will about bring the end. | have
Just left her sitting under the pear tree
in the garden; she is out-of-doors most
fine days. And upon my word, must be
going on" concluded the doctor