Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-01-04
CHAPTER 1.

miles oil, was altogether different at
fair, for the parish there was more aris
tocratic than rustic, and the living was
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 Grea.
Whitton. 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 If some
of the Great Whitton families ignored
their old rector and came to listen to the
eloquent Mr.. Baumgarten.
A small open carriage, the horses drv-
en- by a boy, waited at the church door.
The boy was in 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 it unassisted. 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, Urace,"
began the elder lady.
81 think he did, mamma"
But it is long way to come-Aor me.
] can't venture out in all weathers. If
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 heightening of color might pass
unnoticed. 1T is impossible that Mr..
Chester should last long, and you could
get Henry to give him the living"
Grace, you talk like child. Valua-
BILE livings are not given away 50 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 muff Of a curate,
and take on Baumgarten in his stead"
The young lady threw back her head.
'Rectors don't give up their preferments
" SuUSlte lulO CuTdlt5,
UNLESS it 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"
II am not speaking Of age so much as
of failing faculties"
The young lady received no answer to
this and they went along in silence.
Mamma ~ she exclaimed, when they
were about a mile on the road, 1--WE never
called to inquire after Mrs. Dane.
shall go back again. James, when you
come to the corner, drive down the lane
and go back to the cottage"
You might have consulted me first,
Grace" grumbled the Countess of Avon
"And why do you choose the longer way,
round by the lane?"
THE lane is shady, mamma, and the
afternoon sunny; to prolong our drive
will do you good"
1t would have taken one deeper in pene-
tration than the Lady Avon had ever been
to divine that all had been done with a
preconcerted plan; that when her daugh-
ter drove from the church door she had
fully intended to proceed part Of the way
home, and then go back again. Lady
Grace Carmel had rather strong will,
which had been fostered by indulgence,
for she was an only daughter.
Another of the congregation had left
the church by a different door. 1t was a
young lady Of two or three-and-twenty
she had less beauty than Lady Grace,
but a far sweeter countenance. She
crossed the churchyard. and opening one
of Its gates found herself in a narrow
sheltered walk, running through a corner
of Whitton Wood. 1t was the nearest
way to her home, Whitton Cottage.
A few PAGES within it, she stood
against tree, turned and waited; her
lips parted, her cheek flushed, and her
hand was laid upon her beating heart
Was she expecting any one to join her?
Little doubt of it; and that 1t was one
all too dear to her the signs betrayed
The ear Of love Is strangely fine, and she,
Edith Dane, bent her ears to listen; with
the first sound Of approaching footsteps,
she walked hurriedly on. Would she be
caught waiting for him? No, no. rather
she would hide herself forever than be-
tray aught Of the deep love that lay in
her heart for the Rev. Ryle Baumgarten
1t was Mr.. Baumgarten who was fol,
lowing her; he sometimes chose the near
way home, too; a tall, graceful man, with
pale, classic features, and luminous
brown eyes set deeply; but in his face
might be seen somewhat Of irresolution
He strode on and overlook Miss Dane.
How fast you are walking, Edith !!
She turned her head with the prettiest
air of surprise possible, her cheeks bright
with loves rosy flush. "Oh-is it you
Mr.. Baumgarten? l was walking fast
to get home to poor mamma"
Nevertheless, IL did happen that theiI