The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-04-30

took her in a cab"
"a cab! Was she hurt, them"
The tall man laughed. mot hurt
at ALL" he answered. "Only very
much frightened. And promised 20
bring you on Immediately. But, of
course, as you know, you tainted and
l couldn't. If you are sufficiently re-
vived l will call a cab"
Hilda laid her hand on his gray
tweed coat sleeve She had already
decided in her own mind that the
Rev. Ronald should wear dark gray
tweed, when she suddenly remem-
Dered that he was clergyman
Don't call cab for me, please"
she said, imploringly. 81 can walk
quite well. 1t will do me much more
good than driving"
All right. Then | will walk with
you he answered, cheerfully.
Didn't / see you at the band con-
cert in the winter gardens the other
EVENING"" he asked.
Hilda nodded and smiled.
You saved an old clergyman from
tumbling off his chart" she said.
amusedly. Il saw you. Why is it
clergymen are such a stupid set of
men all round?"
He gave a slight start.
id-clergymen?" he
repeated obviously. as If he had not
heard Alright
Hilda thought him quite dense.
Yes she explained, merrily. I'm
afraid l dislike clergymen. It's very
wrong of me, know, because"
She paused and a brilliant flush
suffused her delicate cheeks as she
suddenly became interested in the
sea.
"Because?" he repeated, patiently
awaiting her answer.
'Because-oh! I'm supposed to be
going to-Oh! l don't quite know
why" she said, incoherently. "You
see-well, l daresay you will laugh
at me-but I've always been brought
up to expect that some day | must
marry a clergyman! 1t is very
stupid. Most probably If dad had
wanted me to marry an actor
should have felt a distinctly rebel
lious desire for the cloth But as
it is"
Human nature rebels, eh?" he
suggested, with a laugh. "And the
balance is in favor of the actor?"
Il don't know any actor, really"
she responded, naively. so l am
afraid there is no BALANCED"
And it's all dead weight against
the poor parson," he murmured,
taking side glance at her.
Hilda shrugged her shoulders.
POOR" she echoed. do you
like clergymen?"
II never thought didn't" he said,
slowly. II fact l used to"
But you don't?" she began mer-
rily.
"No-since knew you" he said,
boldly, I've altered my opinion!"
In such a short time" began
Hilda.
1t was fortunate that at that mo-
ment Mrs. Hunt, who had been on
the lookout for them, opened the
door. for Hilda had an uncomfortable
feeling that things were going too
far.
Mrs. Lely worshiped at St Peters
and duly carried Hilda off to that
church the following Sunday The
tall figure of the hero slipped into a
pew just opposite and fixed his blue
eyes nearly all the service through
just below HiIda's pretty chiffon hat.
The elder Miss Lely prayed for the
speedy return OF the prospective
bridegroom, and Hilda decided that
certain tall figures looked equally
we'll in gray tweed or black.
That Sunday was to live long in the
memories of both ladies'. The elder
Miss Lely actually sat down and vol
unteered to wait for the young people
If they cared to walk a little farther
before returning to the house. Hilda
glanced at her companion and met
his gaze with rash courage. Soon he
was speaking fast and passionateIy.
Don't think me mad-and don't
say 1 am presumptuous. But are
you really engaged to that clergyman
you talked of the other day? An
swer me truthfully. please, because
it makes all the difference in the
world to me-"
He turned his handsome face to-
ward her, and his eyes were lit with
an eager, passionate fire that Hllda
found disconcerting, albeit delight
full
u" She stopped. They sat
down, while she told him the whole
story. He laughed as he heard it,
And you intend to marry this man
this clergyman-whether you like
him or not?" he asked at the finish.
Htlda looked down toward the sea.
She had completely forgotten the
waiting Aunt Ellen on the esplanade.
II must see him 1rst." she said
simply.
But you have seen hint"
She smiled softly.
Not since I can remember any
thing" she answered "I couldn't
have the heart TO tell dad ] refuse be-
fore seeing him"
Suppose he Is ugly2"
IF / loved him, it wouldn't matter
how ugly he was!' the girl said i'm
her soft voice.
The hero jumped up suddenly and
knelt on the gravel path. scizing both
| her hands.
"Hilda. darling" he cried triumph
antly, ~ am Ronald Martynl only
you didn't know It, of course. Don't
q A