Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-06


than driving"
"All right. Then 1 will walk with
you," he answered, cheerfully, stepping
out by her side, "in case we should meet
any more motor cars"
For a few minutes neither Of them
spoke. He broke the silence as they
turned on to the sea front, where their
lodgings were situated.
Didn't see you at the band concert
In the Winter Gardens the other even
ing?" he asked.
Hilda nodded and smiled.
"You saved an old clergyman from
tumbling off his chair y she said, anus
edly. 81 saw you. Why is it clergy
men are such a stupid set Of men all
round? Perhaps you can tell me?"
He gave slight imperceptible start.
"So-er-stupid-c he re-
peated, obviously, as If he had not
heard Alright.
Hilda thought him quite dense.
EYES," she explained, merrily. "I'm
afraid 1 dislike clergymen as a race.
It's very naughty of me, know, be-
cause"
She paused, and a brilliant flush suf-
fused her delicate cheeks as she sud
denly 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
we'll 1 dare say you will laugh at me
but I've always been brought up to
expect that some day l must marry a
clergyman! 1t Is very stupid. l am
stupid They are stupid" she said.
"NIost probably If dad had wanted me
to marry an actor I should have felt
a distinctly rebellious desire for the
cloth But as it is"
Human nature rebels, eh?" he sug-
gested, with laugh. "And the balance
is in favor of the actor?"
81 don't know any actor, really" she
responded, naively. $50 1 am afraid
| there is no BALANCED
"And it's all dead weight against the
poor parson," he murmured, taking a
side glance at her.
Hilda shrugged her shoulders.
"Poor!" she echoed. do you like
clergymen?"
The sudden attack almost put him
off his guard. He made motion of
dissent.
81 never thought 1 didn't" he said,
slowly. SIN fact, 1 used to"
"But now you don't?" she began,
merrily.
'No-slnce 1 knew you," ne said,
boldly, give altered my opinionI"
SIN such a short time" began
Hilda.
1t was fortunate that at that moment
Mrs. Hunt, who had been on the look
out for them, opened the door, for
Hilda had an uncomfortable feeling
that things were going too far.
''The gentleman Is to go and be
thanked by Miss Lely," the old woman
said, ushering them both into the par
| lor.
And thanked he was, though Miss
Lely did not know his name. He po-
litely disclaimed any share In the days
doings, beyond the very smallest, and
withdrew after a pressing handshake
on the part Of both ladies. When he
got outside he remembered that the
lady had not invited him to come
again. While at the same moment, in
side the house. Miss Lely was wonder
ing to herself If she had seemed too
grateful-for the young man was GER
tainly very handsome. and, we'll, girls
(Hilda especially were so terribly I'M
practical. There was no knowing what
HiIda would imagine!
So for the rest of the day Miss Lely
instilled Australian and clerical
thoughts into her young niece's mind
as an antidote, and Hilda wondered
why any clergyman had ever been born,
and why anyone had ever taken the
trouble to discover Australia!
Miss Lely worshipped at st. Peters,
and duly carried Hilda off to that par
ticular place Of worship the following
Sunday. The Fates, however, were
against her, for they had not long taken
their places when the tall figure Of the
hero slipped into a pew just opposite,
and fixed his blue eyes nearly all the
service through just below Hilda's pref
ty chiffon hat.
The elder Miss Lely prayed with the
most intense vigor for the speedy re
turn Of the prospective bridegroom;
and Hilda, whose thoughts certainly
strayed further than her eyes, sat de-
murely by the side Of the austere little
spinster, and decided that certain tall
figures looked equally well in gray
tweed or black.
He raised his hat to the ladies as he
passed them on the way out, and Miss
Ellen, torn between a feeling Of ingrat-
itude and terror for consequences, smil-
ed at him so sweetly that he stayed his
steps