The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-06-12

main with her for an hour and 10 MIN
utes?"
"Eh? What on earth do you mean?
To whom are you referring?" cried the
curate, in astonishment and indigna-
tion.
Don't pretend ignorance, sir. You
know very we'll" retorted the vicar.
witheringly. Whom should / mean
but that abandoned creature who calls
herself Mrs. Robinson-a woman
whose name is a by-word in the town,
and whose house no self-respecting
person would be seen to enter-much
less a minister Of the gospel, like your
self?"
The curate looked much taken
aback. Mrs. Robinson a bad charac-
ter? Impossible That she was viva
cious had been obvious enough to him
during their hours agreeable tete-a
tete. But that there was anything
seriously amiss with her he could
scarcely believe.
Il did happen to go and see Mrs.
| Robinson yesterday, under rather Pc
cular circumstance" he answered.
Very peculiar, l have no doubt"
interposed the vicar, with biting sar-
casm.
My ealing upon her, however, was
the purest of accidents"
ooh! of course" said the vicar,
more and more sarcastic.
will do ha ;tct Of
hearing me out" rejoined the curate,
his color rising. And he told the vicar
the exact circumstances.
The vicar listened with offensive in
credulity. "a very pretty and ingeni-
GUS stocy, Mr.. Bisgood. | really don't
know which to commend the more
your ingenuity in concocting it, or
your effrontery in telling it,
do you mean to say you don't be-
lieve me?" demanded the curate, be-
ginning to grow hated.
The vicar laughed. Il wasn't born
yesterday" he sail and even of | had
been, should still have thought your
story rather thin-especially your hit
ting on the womans name accidental
ly, without any previous knowledge Of
her"
Robinson is common enough
name. And, likely, or not, it is pre-
cisely what happened" answered the
curate.
Again the vicar laughed his scofIing
laugh. you must have heard of so
notorious a person." he said "a wom-
an who is constantly visited on Sun
days by fashy acquaintances-mostly
men-in motor cars, and who enter
tains them in the small hours with
music and feasting and reveling. Why,
sir, the goings on are the talk Of the
town. And you expect me to believe
that you had never heard Of her. No.
no. Mr.. Bisgood. Try that story on
somebody few years younger than |
am"
The curate was by this time in a
white heat of passion.
You're the first man who has ever
dared to call me a liar; and I've a
good mind to thrash you for the in
suit, you-you-smug Pharisee!" he
cried, in a voice that trembled with
rage.
The vicar slipped hastily round to
the other side of his study table. He
was not warrior, except linguistical-
ly.
you are not improving your posi-
ton by insolence, Mr.. Bisgood. Had
you been penitent and contrite,
might have given you another chance.
But the sooner you leave Tootham, the
better"
"Tll go today" circulated the cur
ate.
The pious vicar was so much upset
that it was some days before he re-
covered his equanimity. However, an
encouraging letter from the patron of
the living of st. Peters, which the
vicar received on the third day after
the curates departure, did much to
soothe his ruffled feelings. The letter
ran as follows:
Dear Sir-Your application for the
living of Tootham has been sent on
to me by Mr.. Jenkins, the gentleman
from whom l purchased the advowson
some months ago.
"Will you, if possible, call on me
here the day after tomorrow-any
time between and in the afternoon
and We c2n then discuss the mat
ter. | am, yours faithfully.
IN. de Bracey.
''10O1 Eaton square, S. W., Jan. 10,
19-."
The vicar lost no time in writing to
say that he would, with pleasure, run
up to London and see Mr.. de Bracey,
as requested. He saw himself already
rector of Toothsm.
When he arrived next afternoon at
1901 Eaton square, he asked the but
Ter whether Mr.. de Bracey was at
home.
Mrs. de Bracey, sir" the butler
corrected him. There is no Mr. de
Bracey; my master has been dead
some years. Yes. sir, the mistress is
al home. She is expecting you,