Lewiston evening teller., 1907-10-07

ting me to the examination and stood
It for me-"
The rector sat upright and gave az
unministerial whistle.
'You poor little girl!'' he said COM
prehensively.
II have come to argue with you as
to whether l can accept the appoint
ment," the girl continued. Il want it,
and / need it badly. There is no doubt
that 1 could have passed the examina-
ton as cordially, or even more so.
than Rose did. We We're in the same
classes at school, and my marks were
always higher than hers
The rector indulged in the--to him
unusual luxury of fidgeting in his
chair and mopping his forehead with
his handkerchief.
"It is an involved pOint of ethics
Miss Marion" he said feebly.
II want you TO clear it up for me,
but I'm afraid want you to see II
my way she acknowledged.
you have come to fortify yourself
by getting me to substantiate your
opinion that you are justified in ac-
cepting the appointment" he asked
slowly.
1--WE will accept the premises that
there was no fraud premeditated, that
there was no reason for your preferring
Miss Lawrence to take the examina'
ton except that you were temporarily
too i'll. You are by education entirely
qualified to fill the position, and
think we may also claim that you
have n more practical business mind
and a stronger physique than Miss
Lawrence, both of these being recog-
nized as desirable business qualifica-
tions"
The girls face grew brighter, ana
she nodded her head eagerly.
You don't see how you could posi-
bly, be injuring any one. If you filed
the position satisfactorily, you can't
understand how you could be defraud-
ing the government l don't see that
either" the rector concluded musingly.
The girls face beamed upon him.
"Then you think l may take it?
need it so badly" she spoke with rapid
intensity
The rector leaned over and took her
hand.
do you think you could feel happy
and satisfied little girl? he asked,
looking her squarely in the eyes.
Her eyes wavered and finally turned
away from his.
81 thought perhaps l could, if you
told me 1t was all right" she said
family.
II don't know how to explain 1t to
you-it is proof that is powerful, yet
intangibly abstract. 1 can logically
see no wrong in your accepting the
position, yet / could not be happy to
do so, and feel sure you could not
either"
"But / need it so badly" she fal-
tered. 81 only have $50 year of my
own, and 1 can't expect Uncle James
to take care of me forever. I'm old
enough to be self supporting"
The rector's countenance commenced
steadily growing redder and redder.
"There are other things you could
do" he said finally, with no trace of
his usual brilliancy of speech.
"WhatT' she asked, her young voice
stern with the responsibility of giving
up something upon which her heart
was set.
81 wish you would come and make
| the rectory homelike for me-" he STAN
mered.
"a minister couldn't marry a fraud
and cheat" she whispered, her face
paling.
Little girl, you are not cheat-you
simply met with a temptation, Will
you go to Washington or will you come
to the rectory?'
She picked up the official envelope
that had fallen to the floor and looked
at him hesitatingly.
II don't think I'm good enough fol
minister's wife, but you can be the
judge in the case"
He caught glimpse of her eyes
and pronounced his sentence:
Imprisoned for life, little woman
he said. taking her In his arms.