Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-01-04
The Minister'S Wife
By MRS. HENRY WOOD

lay" suddenly began Mr.. Baumgarten
who? The Avons do you mean? l
saw they were at church."
Not the Avons. What have they to
10 with me, Edith. Squire Wells and
lis wife, with a half dozen more, carpet
ID me in the vestry after service this
morning."
What about"
About the duties of the parish; sec
ilar, not clerical. l take care that the
latter shall be efficiently performed. The
DID women are not coddled, the young
)nes' households not sufficiently looked
np' and the school, in the point of plain
sewing, is running to rack and ruin"
Mr.. Baumgarten had been speaking in
half-joking way, his beautiful eyes alive
with merriment. Miss Dane received the
news more seriously. You did not say
anything of this at dinner time; you did
not tell mamma"
No. Why should tell her? 1t might
only worry her, you know. The school
sewing Is the worst grievance" he light
y ran on. Dame Giles Betsy took some
cloth with her, which ought to have gone
back shirt, but which was returned a
pair of pillow cases; the dame boxed
betsy's ears, went to school and nearly
boxed Miss Turner's. 1t seems to me
they could not have better governess
than she is. However, such mistakes, l
am told, are often occurring and the
matrons of the parish are up in arms"
But do they expect you 10 look after
the sewing of the schoolY breathlessly
asked Edith.
Not exactly; but they think 1 might
provide a remedy; some one who would
do So"
How stupid they are I'm sure Miss
Turner does what she can with such a
tribe. Not that l think she is partcu-
larly clever; and were there any lady
who would supervise occasionally, 1t
might be better; mamma can't, but"
That Is just it," interrupted Mr.
Baumgarten, laughing "They tell me I
ought to help Miss Turner to a super
visor by taking to myself a wife"
He looked at Edith as he spoke, and
her face happened to be turned full upon
him. The words dyed it with a glowing
crimson, even to the roots of her soft
brown hair. In her confusion she knew
not whether to keep it where it was, or
to turn it away; her eyelids had drop.
ped glowing also; and Edith Dane could
have boxed her own ears as heartily as
Dame Giles had boxed the unhappy Miss
Betsy's.
1T cannot be thought of, you know
Edith. Marry on two hundred a year
and expose my wife, and perhaps others
to poverty and privation? No, that
will never do"
The parsonage must be put in repair
II you marry" stammered Edith, not IL
the least knowing what she said
And great deal Of money it woult
take to do it. l told Squire Wells if he
could get my tithes increased to double
their present value, then l might venture
upon wife. He laughed and repliet
| might look out for a wife who had ter
thousand pounds"
"Such wives are not easily found
murmured Edith Dane.
mot by me-" returned Mr.. Baumgar
ten. "a college chum Of mine, never
dreaming to aspire to anything better
than | possess now, married rich youns
widow in the second year of his curacy
and lives on the fat of the land in pomr
and luxury. would not have done it,
why"
Because no love went with it; ever
before his marriage he allowed himself
to say as much to me; disparaged her
in fact. No; the school and the Other
difficulties, which are out of my line
must do as they can yet awhile"
"Of course, mamma would be the prop
er person to continue to look after these
things for you, as she used to do, if she
were not incapacitated."
But she is, Edith. And your time /:
taken up with her, so that you canno
help me-"
Miss Dane was silent. Had her time
not been taken up, she fancied it might
not be deemed quite the thing, in hel
censorious neighborhood, to be going
about in conjunction with Mr.. Baumgar
ten; although she was the late rector's
daughter.