The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-12-09
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embarrassed me; but, as usual. he
was serene and apparently quite un.
disturbed. as II he were az accus.
toned to granting audiences hers a
in the stately rooms below.
"They are doing over my suite
while my sister IS away" he ex.
planned, land I have taken possession
here. Sit down, if you can find room
for the pillows. Such trifing pillows
as they are" with a smile. "Tor SO
sensible a woman as my sister, she
amazes me with her furbelows."
Il suppose she would call them
comforts" I suggested.
"Oh, doubtless" said he. ''They
are more like little pink and yellow
cotton puffs than anything that might
give real comfort" He tossad a
couple of them out of a brocaded arm
chair and, indicating it, drew up an
other for himself.
II hope my summons did not incon
v%enience you, arriving at such al
hour?" he remarked. "But my msad
has been greatly p%erturbed, and 1
wished to have it put at peace one
way or the other. The matter upon
which I wish you to advise me is one
of exceeding delicacy and unusual
ness" NJ -.7.
I bowed.
Perhaps you know Mrs. Anson
Mnes," he remarked, by way Of begin
ming.
II have the misfortune not to-"
said 1.
well, I don't know that I shelld
put It quite like that, Mr.. Twining,'
he said, with a smile; "but she is GER
tainly a most estimable person, OIL
think / may truthfully say-the most
original and startling ideas, particu.
! larly as to-but we shall touch upon
that later. Mrs. Dimes has long been
a friend Of my sisters"
"Ah, SO I recall" I Interrupted.
Mrs. Dimes vas the widow whom /
heard Miss Winstanley speak of to
the bishop the evening at the opera
when his glasses had been SO per.
sistently leveled where she thought
they ought not to be. I imagined
something interesting was about to be
unfolded, but I was in no way pre-.
pared for what came.
"You have-ah, seen Mrs. Dines?"
the bishop asked.
"Once," said I; "a somewhat stout
lady with ~copious-"
"Chins," supplied he gravely.
Dear me-" said l..
The bishop nodded solemhly.
"A trife elderly?" I ventured. en-,
ccuraged by something in his eyes.
"a trifle! She is 60"
CAN, is it possible""
"Mrs. Dimes admits 60" he replied.
"she may be more. But Co.'s
enough"
l nodded, not quite understanding,
and waiting for that which I knew
would make It plain.
"Mrs. DineA is a lady of very large
means and equally generous inclina.
tions," he continued. "a woman who
has done much good and should con
tinue to do more. Charitable work IL
her passion. She Is an enthusiast
along that particular line. My sistel
AAAuo III AO q OCdOkkxuk dAV Ok0
mendable character.
II have often. heard her called So
There r undoubtedly many I'd
mirable things about the lady"
LAS a young woman I imagine she
may have been attractive" I vertured
watching the bishop out of the tail Of
my eye.
"As a young woman" he repeated
"And clever" said I.
He smiled. "She Is still clever
enough" he commented.
There was a long pause, during
which his shapely fingers caressed the
tassel of his dressing gown.
Mrs. Dimes is in Africa at present.
he continued. "She says she desires
to remain there indefinitely. Wishing
to further to its utmost the work she
has undertaken, and to be entirely I'm.
hampered and embarrassed by restric.
lions, she has sent this most remark
able proposition to my sister, who in
turn has Endorsed it and sent it on to
me with all promptness. I wish you
to tell me what you think of it, sir"
He handed me a demonstrating
document, which I opened with much
interest. It was exceedingly direct
and simple-as unadorned and simple
as the lady who had indited it: Mrs.
Auson Dimes. for the privilege of us
ing the powerful name of Bishop
Charles Winstanley, would dedicate
her undivided effort and her undivided
fortune to the church which the bish.
op so brilliantly adorned, especially
to that portion of it which she had
taken under her special care and Low.
ing direction, there in a country 50
far from her home. The marriage
should be performed by proxy, and
Bishop Winstanley should continue,
then and always, at perfect liberty to
pursue his w helpful and shining
career in his own land, and in his OWL
manner, quite as if she did not bear
his name.
I finished what was so curiously
and SO plainly set forth, and looked
up to meet the bishops questioning
eyes.
"a most remarkable document" ,
i observed.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)