The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-16

WD GO
why is it that all clergymen get
themselves up to look such frights?'
The words were a defiant whisper,
breathed into the ear Of an elderly
: maiden lady, between one of the
pauses in a Faust" fantasia, and
then carried to the ears Of a tall, thin
clergyman, who Immediately flushed
and looked away.
"Hilda!"
The tone was one of reproof. 1t
came in a good second with the big
drum!
Miss Lely and her niece were
spending a few early summer weeks
at Bournemouth in pursuit of peace
and pleasure. A curious looking
parson had wandered in front of the
band-stand in search of a vacant
chair. He had a long, thin face, wore
an Inverness coat of ancient late and
carried a small, black leather bag.
Yet he was young, and should have
taken some interest in his personal
appearance.
"He has eyebrows like-like the
pause marks in music!" the girl muir
INJURED, in defense of her sweeping
criticism.
Somehow the younger Miss Lely
felt she had a right to a grievance
lust. at this time. Her family a
! lately been bent on coercing her into
marriage with a clergyman who, ac-
cording to all accounts, seemed to
have the virtues Of all the ages with
out any Of the vices.
Hilda had never seen him. 1t was
some family arrangement" which
the family, exclusive of Hilda, hoped
would come off" some day. The
Rev. Ronald Martyrs father and old
Mr.. Lely had always been friends.
The Martyrs %emigrated shortly after
ward to Australia, while the Lelys
stayed in the old country. Ronald
was due in England on a long visit
to some distant relatives, and the
meeting fraught with so much i'm
portance was to take place soon.
Il shall not go out again." Miss
! Lely- said, when they reached their
lodgings. eff you want to go and
hear more of the band this evening,
Hilda, I will ask Mrs. Hunt to let
her Mary take you"
Hilda's eyes s%parkled.
ST am never tired of listening to
that band!" she said. "And I'd love
to go. aunty!"
And she went. Alas, yet another
clergyman. caught her eye. 1t was
an old and decrepit one this time,
who seemed to be enjoying the music
so much that he went to sleep with
a rapt expression on his face and not
a thought about falling off the end Of
the seat. A tall, fair-haired mar OPP
posite, with limbs like Hercules and
the face Of an Adonis, strobe across
the grass and propped him up just in
time.
A day or two later the scene was
recalled to her. She and her aunt
were crossing Old Christchurch road
when a motor car whizzed round a
\ corner without warning. The elder
miss Lely gasped; the younger
pushed her with all her might out Of
the way Of the advancing monster,
and was in turn thrust out Of danger
by a mighty hand. There was a
:whizzing sensation in her ears; for
one awful moment the street ran
round, and the ground rose up be-
fore her and refused to stop-then
she found herself clutching a lamp
post, while some one muttered in her
ear:
by Jove! That was a close
shavei"
She looked up hastily. The hero
of a few nights before was standing
over her with an anxious expression
on his c~lean-shaven face and in his
deep blue eyes.
Aunt Ellen! Where is Aunt
ELEM" she asked, a little wildly.
Her rescuer nodded in a sympa-
thetic manner. "She is all right, If
you mean the old lady in the black
bonnet and spectacles," he said. Il
expect she is home by now. They
took her in a cab"
"a cab! Was she hurt, then?"
The tall man laughed. mot hurt
at ALL" he answered. "Only very
much frightened. And I promised to
bring you on Immediately. But, of
course, al you know, you tainted and
I couldn't. If you are sufficiently re-
Yived I will call a cab"
Hilda laid her hand on his gray
tweed coat sleeve. She had already
decided in her own mind that the
Rev. Ronald should wear dark gray
tweed, when she suddenly remem-
bered that he was a clergyman.
Don't call a cab for me, please
she said, imploringly. II can walk
quite well. 1t will do me much more
good than driving"
"All right. Then I will walk with
you" he answered, cheerfully.
Didn't I see you at the band con.