St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-07-06

nothing formidable about the great
gabled house; yet, as he walked up
the drive his agitation increased
There was a glimpse of pink muslin
on the veranda that was most dis.
| quieting.
| However, he went on, and a bend
in the drive revealed Miss Betty Sheri.
dan standing upon a chair training
roses. The picture, which would have
agitated even quiet heart, caused the
rector to contemplate retreat. Instead,
being brave man, he stood at the
foot of the steps and said gently:
Good morning, Miss Betty"
| Betty looked down and nodded be
witchingly, and stopped to extend her
hand over the back of the chair.
You'll forgive my not getting
DOWN." she asked "This is critical
moment. Max, please find Mr.. Armory
/ q chair"
| From the uncovered piazza came
forth a big, languid figure, who gave
the final touch to the uneasiness of
the rector Since his coming to the
| parish of st. Luke's, three months be-
fore, and since he had first seen Betty
| Sheridan on the same day, he had felt
a secret and most un-Christian repug-
nance for this big cavalier, who SEEM
ed always within sound Of her voice.
How do, Mr.. Armory?" said the big
cavalier in fiannels, looking uncom-
| fortably handsome-uncomfor to
| the rector. Come up and be cool. It's
| a pretty warm morning"
Very" admitted the rector. "Ah-
very"
"You ought not to be SO busy this
warm weather" volunteered Betty
and Betty was never so alluring as
when she advised people for their own
good.
MY duties are my pleasures, said
the rector. This, for instance, Miss
Sheridan"
This big cavalier in fannels, with
hands that one instantly knew could
send ball over a net or across a
course with unerring stroke, was very
like what the rector himself dreamed
in his college days of becoming. This
cavalier was one of her world-of
Betty Sheridan's world. But to the
rector had come the struggle that had
ended in his taking orders, and some
way since his coming to this some
what distracted parish there had been
no time to lift either his golf sticks or
his foils from their long rest. Instead,
there had been a ceaseless round of
visits-which reminded him:
Miss Betty" he said. Il have come
to enlist your sympathy this morn
ing"
Poor Agnes has had a severe fall.
'She will be quite helpless. they fear,
for months"
The rose bough few up with little
puff of fragrance, and Betty stepped
down from the chair, and sat opposite
the rector.
"Oh," she said, "the poor girl!
What will they do? I'll go see her to-
day"
II thought that you would" said the
rector, with a little catch in his
breath. Betty's face was even more
beautiful when she was in earnest
than when she was mocking.
why, yes" said the big cavalier in
the doorway; "I'll drive you over after
luncheon, Betty. But you'll have to he
back for the tennis finals, you know"
yes, Max" said Betty, without
looking at him. And will you ask
your mother if we may have some of
her roses, too? am so sorry, Mr..
Armory. We will not fail you.''
The Reverend Mr. Armory was
ashamed of his sinful rebellion at that
we" The very fact that Betty did not
look at the big cavalier when he talk
ed, and that she ordered him about
and took him and his mothers roses
for granted, disturbed the rector's
peace of mind.
Sitting beside poor Agnes Chapman
that afternoon, the Reverend Mr.. Ar
mory experienced sore trials of the
spirit His heart, which went out to
the stricken girl, at the same time
bounded so suddenly at the lightest
football outside that he was deeply in
doubt as to his right to be there at all,
engaged in ministrations. When at
last Betty appeared in the doorway
with her arms filled with roses. not
even the memory of whose mothers
roses they were could put out the sud
den passionate joy in the rector's
eyes. He sat mutely near while Bet
ty bent over the sick girl, and Betty's
hair in the sun, Betty's little hand on
the coarse spread, Betty's wonderful
voice filled the shabby room with won
der. The Reverend Mr.. Armory walk
ed to the window to hide his emotion.
And outside, stepping leisurely in the
beating sun of the steep little street,
his eye fell upon a bay horse and
low phaeton and the big cavalier-all
waiting patiently for Betty.
The rector then turned from the
window, his eyes hardening.
Don't let us detain you too long,
Miss Sheridan" he said evenly. "It is
very hot in the street-for your friend
to wait
Betty looked up wonderingly.
''Who-Max?" she said. "Oh-Max"
Then she lifted her chin little iii
displeased surprise.
Very WE'LL Sne said, Il will come
some other time when / find Agnes
alone"
She was gone In a moment and the
room was stuffy and sunny and I'm.
bearable as before, and the phaeton
wheels were Gathering down the rough
street. Horror at his sinful jealousy
and petty speech possessed the rector,