Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-09-09
Copyright. by ]. b. Lippincott Co.,


man bent over his desk
Mrs. Percival knocked again, and
then, opening the door softly, peeped
into the room.
"Oh, Robert she said, gently,
please pay attention to me-"
The clergyman looked up, smiled
radiantly, and stretched out one arm
to her. The other hand still held his
pen. His wife crossed the room
with little rush and sat down on
the broad arm of his chair.
1T has come" she said, briefly, with
Uncontrolled excitement
What has?" The clergyman looked
a trifle startled. for-be it confessed
he had been dreaming, in the intervals
of composing next Sundays sermon,
of promotion and increased salary.
The bishops letter. And he has
accepted Robert"
The clergyman was puzzled. He
could not at the moment recall what
the bishop had been offered for ac-
ceptance or rejection.
Don't you remember, dear?" said
Mrs. Percival, patiently, accustomed
to her husbands tricks of memory.
"He has been asked to deliver the adj
dress at the church convention exer-
cises, and we invited him to stay with
us during his visit"
'Oh, of course remember, Connie"
exclaimed the clergyman, and they en-
changed knowing chances.
Sc doc i,.oh 10 .ot
of assistant to the bishop" said Mrs.
Percivay, wistfully. And it pays $500
more year than you are getting now,
Robert. I'VE could do great deal
with $50 more every month
She slipped her arm around his
neck as she perched on the arm of
his chair, and leaned her cheek against
the soft brown of his hair They
were lost in a silent revery for a few
moments. Then a cloud crossed the
clergyman's face.
How are you going to entertain the
bishop dear?" he asked, anxiously.
He is used to things so different.
Can you manage with our little estab-
lishment?-a maid-of-all-work, simple
cooking, plated silver
And ugly china and nodded
glass"
Yes, all those little hurts that we
have borne. | don't want you 10
suffer any humiliation by exposing
our poverty, Connie. If / thought
that"
Edith Bright suggested that |
hire another servant for just those few
days. She has offered to lend me sill
yer and-and things
The clergyman lower jow squared
itself.
THE monogram would not be the
same" was the only comment he of
fered, however
THE bishop might think them heir
looms II he noticed" replied Mrs. Per-
cival. sweetly. And Mrs. Jones. at
the poor farm, will let her Jennie come
at four dollars week."
"A week. The bishop isn't going to
stay a week, is he?"
NO" but Jennie could come a day
or two before. to get the house ready,
and stay day or two after to straight
en- up-and wash the borrowed linen
THAT is another suggestion of Mrs.
Bright's, daresay?"
Yes" admitted Mrs. Percival, slow
ly, as if unwilling to yield the origin
ality of so thrifty a scheme. And she
says l cant rent a very good-looking
Haviland china course set at Camp
BELLS"
Rented china in course sets. That
means course luncheons, course din
ners-perhaps even course breakfasts
of dishes we rarely afford as a lux
ury. Connie, dear, have you counted
the COST"
1T was only Ediths suggestion,
dear"
The clergyman restrained his imme-
date reply, WHICH though human,
might have been judged unclerical, and
said, after a moment:
Mrs. Bright has never had to count
the cost of things. She was only con-
sidering the feasibility of our raising
our mode of life to meet that of the
Bishops"
Mrs. Percival pressed her cheek
little closer to her husbands brow and
did not answer.
Il would rather you never had the
| bishop, dear-would rather give up all
hope of promotion" went on the cler.
gyman, earnestly, almost passionate
ly than to have you suffer any NOR
LITIGATION, or even embarrassment. in
your extending of Inequalities. This
plan of-of your friends sounds very
simple and feasible, but IL means in.
finite living up to- Connie, dear, have
| you counted the cost?"
He clasped his wifes hands and
turned in his chair to face her. To
his bewilderment, she was laughing
YES, dear, have counted the cost"
she said, gayly, and find it too high.
The venture would not be worth the
| price"
| She released her hands, and,
still balanced on the arm chair. she
caught his face between her palms
and kissed his mouth. Her sweet,
womanly face grew serious.