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

But subty and and by degrees a con.
Viction seemed to have inslnuated Il.
self among his congregation that one
OF the very qualifications which had
at first recommended HIM to their fav-
or was, perhaps, after all. proving
somewhat of drawback. It began TO
be quite generally felt, and even deli.
cately limited, that a bachelor clergy
mans usefulness was necessarily linn
tied. Several kind, motherly ladies,
who were possessed OF daughters or
nieces of a marrlageable age, admitted
TO him (confdentially) that they sigh
ed whenever they thought of the lone
illness Of his ..fe in that great par
sonage, One or two even playfully re.
monstrated with hin-there were so
many sweet, sensible girls in his con.
gregation who we're in every way fitted
to be ministers wives.
The Rev. Gilbert Bancroft was at
first puzzled, then disconnected, and
finally genuinely annoyed at this so.
licitude shown on his behalf. He
found 1t humiliating to admit that the
interest and enthusiasm which he hon
estly believed he had succeeded in
arousing in the building of the new
church were, in reality, only the thin
cloak to various sentimental schemes
for inyeiging him into matrimony
against his will. Hi young confidence
and belief in mis- congregation were
severely shaken, and he passed
through a period of marked depression
and encouragement, which Mrs Kim
bal noticed with an experienced eye,
Hes beginnin' to lind out what they
are a-drivin' at" she unused, IAN he's
a tryin' not to have any un-Christian
thoughts agin' EN-, poor man, Seems
as If they was efraid they wasn't a-get-
in their moneys worth, hirin' a single
man"
At first Mr. Bancroft had thought
to put an end to these embarrassing
suggestions by announcing firmly that
he did not intend to marry. But he
was bafiled and enraged to observe that
this was indulgently regarded merely
as the first step in mis- inevitable sur
render. There was no apparent abate.
ment in the futile schemes to ensnare
him, and he continued to find himself
an unwilling, but outwardly courteous
guest, at tea-tables graced by the pres
ence of some demure and blushing vii
lage maiden whose virtues and accom-
plishments were sue TO be made the
subject of many covert allusion for
his benefit. The herts OF his parish
toner's were evidently set upon his
marrying, and they could give their
attention to nothing else The new
church, in the minds of the ladies at
least was a secondary consideration,
and could very well afford to wait.
The thought OF failing in this, his
first ambitious undertaking, was in
tolerable TO him, but after six months
of unavailing protest he found HIM
self reduced to a state Of unholy eX'
ASPIRATION, and realizing that his
patience was exhausted, he determined
to seek refuge temporarily in flight,
And so, having secured an old time
friend of his seminary days to occupy
the pulpit during his absence, he ar
ranged with the committee OF the
church to be away flom Windham for
three weeks.
The departure occasioned consider
able surprise, and a number of theories
were advanced to account for 1t salts
factorily-the most complacent and
widely credited being that he had gone
away to get the ring. No one felt eX-
actly in a position to supply particu'
lars, but a feeling of pleased expect
ancy spread through the village. There
were so many vacant third fingers up
on which that ring might tittingly be
placed! Gossip and speculation in
creased as the time for his return drew
near. A sensation was confidently eX'
pected, and 1t came.
The unguessed truth burst with the
paralyzing suddenness Of bomb
among the startled congregation. The
Rev. Gilbert Bancroft had been mar
ried quietly, and was bringing home
his bride!
The news was received with mingled
feelings of incredibly and dlsmay
Mrs. Kimbal was appealed to on all
sides for confirmation. Scant salts
faction. however, was to be obtained
from her She would neither affirm
nor deny.
ANYWAY, it's just what you've all
been a-hopin' an a.prayin' for, amt
it?' she demanded.
81 wouldn't De so upset about it,
though. If | were you. Il don't look
iust -ortbodox-bein' so surprised to