The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-11-12

D
liar covered carriage, with a large
trunk strapped behind, ciattered up
| the village street, and stopped before
the parsonage gate. The Rev. Gilbert
| Bancroft alighted, and then, turning,
lifted out a slender, girlish figure,
| stylishly gowned in black and wear
ing a heavy veil. The two passed
slowly up the walk, beneath the
searching gaze Of half the village, the
lady leaning heavily upon her hus-
bands arm. Mrs. Kimbal met them in
the hall, the trunk was brought in,
then the door closed and the carriage
| drove away.
The village gasped.
The following Sunday all Windham
attended morning service. But its
curiosity was destined to go unsatis.
fed. The Rev. Gilbert Bancroft enter.
ed the church alone, and made his way
composedly into the pulpit. His eager
congregation could scarcely wait for
| the benediction to be pronounced be-
fore they crowded about him, congrat-
ulating and exclaiming. All the la.
dies, 1t appeared, had expected to see
the bride at church.
He met all inquiries with his usual
reticence. There had always been
something in his manner which check
ed inquisitiveness, and it was felt
more strongly than ever now. He
thanked them pleasantly. Yes, it had
been very sudden. Still he had felt
sure that his congregation would ap.
prove heartily of the idea If they had
known. But Mrs Bancroft was very
frail, and would have to be allowed
to do good in her own way, He had
! brought her to Win1ham only on the
condition that she might be sure OF
the same absolute quiet in which, for
the last few years, she had been COM
PEELED to live. He hoped she might
exert a great influence for good but
would beg the ladies to excuse her
from receiving calls. The flock with
drew, bafied and a little oyer.awed.
During the next few days, however,
in spite Of the request, several we'll
meaning ladies insisted upon "just
running in" TO see their pastors wife.
bal and the unchauging announce
ment that Mrs. Bancroft begged to be
| excused. No one succeeded in pene-
trating the impregnable wall Of priv
acy which seemed to hedge her in.
Occasionally, just at dusk, she might
be seen through openings in the shrub.
berry, pacing slowly up and down the
] al l. hot h. lao vi IN
husbands arm. She was always trim
ly gowned in unvarying black with a
white shawl thrown about her shoul.
ders. She was very stately, with
abundant brown hair, and in the twi-
light looked noticeably pale,
These infrequent and distant
glimpses of their pastors wife were all
that the congregation were able to OBJ
tain AS time went on she took no
part in the church work and attend
ed none of the services, Her exist
| ence became the mystery of the quiet
village life. Young Mr.. Bancroft was
! deXterously piled with questions on
all sides, but he parted them as skill
fully with that guarded manner now
become udDlludl.
Mrs. Kimbal's invariable reply was
pithy-and almost belligerent:
IL can't see as folks has any reason
to complain. She married him, didn't
she?-not the deacons an the whole
congregation"
One determined effort-and only one
was made to storm the lady's reso.
Lutte seclusion. Placid Deacon SaXton
was chosen for the task. Having been
carefully instructed and rehearsed by
his wife, he made his way ,docily up
the grand path to the parsonage one
evening when Rev. and Mrs.
Bancroft could be seen taking their
usual twilight promenade. At sight of
the approaching figure the minister
turned and led his wife to the far end
of the walk. There he left her and re-
turning greeted his visitor with a chal-
longing cordially while the lady re-
NAMED standing by a lilac bush, her
graceful back half turned. Deacon
Saxton, very much Disconnected by
the unexpected GOODNESS Of his recep-
ton, stammered out his errand. But
before he had half finished he was cut
short by an indignant exclamation
from Mrs Klmbal VINO sped past them
from the house. The lady by the lilac
bush lay PROSTATE on the grass.
Mr. Bancroft sprang TO her side, per-
emptoriI.- waving back the deacon,
who, thoroughly appalled, at the dis
astrous consequences Of his intrusion.