The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-07-25

new round to st. Matthew'S vlcarage,
where she had lnog private inter-
view. When the curate went next
morning for his days instructions, he
was greeted by his superior in the
sternest and most frigid of tones.
Come in here. if you please, Mr..
Bissood," said the vicar, leading the
way to his study. Il have something
very unpleasant to discuss with you"
The curate wondered.
BE good enough to explain to me-"
demanded the vicar, how it is that
you were seen to go into the house of
|. that bad woman yesterday, and to re-
| main with her for an hour and 1G min
utes?"
Eth? What on earth do you mean?
To whom are you referring?' cried the
curate, in establishment and indigna-
ton.
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-respectins
person would be seen to enter-much
less a minister CT the gospel like your
SELF"
The curate looked much taken
abacli. Mrs. Robin Jon 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 circumstances" he answered.
Very peculiar, | have no doubt"
interposed the vicar, with biting sar-
casm.
MY calling upon her. however, was
the purest of accidents"
"Oh! of course" said the vicar,
more and more sarcastic.
II beg you will do me the justice OF
hearing me OUT rejoined the curate,
his color rising. And he told the vicar
the exact circumstances
The vicar listened with offensive In
credullty. "A very pretty and ingeni-
Gus story, Mr.. Bisgood. | really don't
know which to commend the more
your ingenuity in eoncocting 1t, or
your eifrontery 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 land even of mad
been, | should still have thought your
story rather thin-especially your MT
ting on the woman's name accidental
ly, without any previous knowledge OF
her."
Robinson is common enough
name. And, likely, or not, 1t is pre-
cisely what happened" answered the
curate.
Again the vicar laughed his soothing
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-mos'iy
men-in motor cars, and VINO enter
tains them in the small hours with
music and feasting and reveling. why
sir, the goings on are the talk OF 'he
town. And you expect me to DelleVe
that you had never heard OF her. NO.
no! Mr.. Bisgood. Try that story on
somebody few years younger thah
am"
The curate was by this time in
white heat of passion.
you're the first man who has ever
dared to call me a liar; and I've
oood mind to thrash you for the IN
suit, you-you-smug Pharlsee. ne
cried. in a voice that trembled WIN
rage.
The vicar slipped hastily round TO
the other side OF his study table ne
was not a warrior, except linguisticai-
ly.
"You are not improving your posi-
ton by insolence, Mr.. Bisgood. hau
YOU been penitent aid contrite'
might have given you another chance
But the sooner you leave Tootham' the.
better"
"Tll 60 today" calculated the cur
ate.
The pious vicar was so much upset
that 1t was some days before he re-
covered his equanimity. However, an
encouraging letter from the patron OF
the living OF st. Peters, which The