The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-10-07
could scarcely walt for

ulating and exclaiming. All the Ia
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 inqulsitiveness, and it was felt
more strongly than ever now. He
thanked them pleasantly. Yes, 1t 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 Windham 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, baiIled and a little over-awed.
During the next few days, however,
in spite of the request,N several we'll
meaning ladies insisted upon lust
running in to see their pastors wife.
But they were me by Mrs. Kim
bal and the unchanging 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
walk before the house, leaning on her
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 parried them as skill
fully with that guarded manner now
become habitual.
Mrs. Kmbals invariable reply was
pithy-and almost belligerent:
81 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-
lenging cordiality while the lady re-
mained standing by 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. Kimbal 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-
emptorily waving back the deacon,
who, thoroughly appalled, at the dis
astrous consequences of his intrusion,
beat a hasty retreat toward the gate.
There, glancing back, he could see the
unconscious, black-clad figure being
carried tenderly toward the house.
Instead of being solved, the mystery
had only deepened. Even the twilight
promenades were now abandoned and
no glimpse was caught of Mrs. Ban
croft during the fall or winter After
many fruitless efforts village curiosity
was, for oDce, Obliged to admit itself
completely bafIled, and the mystery
was reluctantly left to Time, the great
unraveller
Meanwhile, the Rev. Gilbert Ban
croft had been steadily at work rails
ing money for the building of the new
church. Since he had chosen to settle
lis own matrimonial future he had
been free to pursue his scheme, un-
hampered by the halo of romance
which had before surrounded him.
Public interest had shifted temporar-
lily from his own personality to his
wlfe's and the former zeal of his con-
gregation fer church work, abated
somewhat. But he worked on steadily,
his earnestness and perseverance
carrying him through moments of dis
courasemert and apparent failure un-
til, at the beginning of spring, he had
accomplished the seemingly impossi-
blc-the money for the new church
had actually been raised.
Then, one Sunday morning, he cleo
trifed his congregation by quietly
reading mis- resignation. He felt, he