The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-27
HOW MATILDA'HELP-
ED THE CURATE
(Copyrtght, 1910. by Associated Literary Press,
Jane Osborne.

Copyright 1910, by Associated Literary fress.t
! She not at all pretty in fact some persons
thought Matilda was not even good LOOKING, bur Tor
and a nveiness in her little gray eyes that always
began by amusing and usually ended BY captivating
beauty her younger sisters say. I'VE wouldn't
30 much mind having Matilda walk on with all the
laurelB" And they perhaps took little sausIAcuon
In the fact that years after they had both
married, Matilda Grant was still Miss Grant-stiii'
to be sure, fascinating and amusing.
Every to think that Matilda would emo
by marrying her childhood playmate and compan-
IMAM once tnat there was an ensasenehs' Anu -
was also whispered. though Matilda MADE con.
long after Matdas twenty birthday. he went
off to South America big engineering scheme. ne
did not take Matilda with him.
Matilda acts exactly like disappointed spinster.
said her sister Clara one day. shes gone into
South America She's at church taking charge
of those tiresome guilds and she spends more
than half her time going about and visiting the poor
parishiuners"
Constance smiled and looked up from her sewing
Disappointed spinster" she said with laugh. Il
think you have forgotten our new curate It's nus
guild she's working for and his poor she's visiting ana
the end OF 1t all will be that he Will propose IKE
the rest and L almost think Matilda would take
him. too" ~
Cobb dt ycC! how perfectly ridiculous why
man like that couldn't even amuse Matilda. lies
mere boy and he hasn't had experience. 10 be
sure he's the most unsophsticated and dehghuul BOY
manage a girl like Matilda than one OF his own
A few minutes later Matilda came upon
Here" she exclaimed undoing package she nad
brought with her went you take some of this sew
ing? Stephen-that is, Mr. Cobb---wants TO get the
work OF tomorrow. 1t is for his ntssl IN the
mountains, where he supports a deaconass with MS
own money Isn't that generous of him? / promised
to finish these garments tonight and never could
manage by myself
Clara looked up in surprise. THE first thing you
know. Matilda, that little curate yours win be in
love with you,' she said reproachfully Il should
think you'd have more than to trihe with a
mans feelings like that"
why" laughed Matilda. Il think I'd make very
nice minister's wife, don't you?"
You aren't engaged. are you?" asked Constance
Don't get excited" Matilda assured her He
hasn't even proposed yet I'll tell yon when ne
does"
Before many days had passed 1t was quite obvious
to the two sisters that Matilda actually had
designs upon the affections of the honest-eyed Mr.
After ALL" said Constance. ''she says she would
like to be minister's wife, and / suppose she has
to marry some some time
Yes sighed Clara. but still think she is in
love with Paul. and she'll grow tired of poor Mr..
and break his young heart"
At the very time that the sisters discussing
Mttldas ailoirs ever their sewing she wes working
with her usual earnestness with the young curate.
DO You know. Miss Grant" he said looking at her
Matilda and made her feel for first time
force Of the young man, Il want to ask you
at first but II seems II you could perhaps give
the best and wisest answer Knowing me so well you
slider the personal side at ALL" lie paused nervousy
and then came to the point do you think ought
You Sec want eventually to devote my life to
my little mountain mission That's always been
ambition. and when first spoke to the bishop
he advised me not to marry until had established
myself, because OF the hardships of the work 1t
didn't seem hard then. for a year ago l had never
even considered the possibility of wanting marry
But since have been here it has come upon very
forcbly OF course. / wouldn't want to marry
woman who wasn't devoted to the am;
but a young woman like you. little older than ].
with her whole heart In the cause couldn't help but
be an inspiration to me-
Matilda had listened TO this studied. tut obvious'y
heartfelt, declaration with the color deepening
her cheeks a and her eyes lowered with emesrrsss
my devotion for the cause" she thought and then.
after pause. she said:
glad you have put 1t as you have Yes do think
you and would have your interest at heart. Yes,
Stephecns | think you are right She spoke with
hestancy and faitered because of his undemonstra-
Thank you from the bottom of my heart" said
the curate And then some one the sexton,
doubt. came into the room and ended his confess
Of ideas. some pleasant some disconcertinx. no
devote herself to the mission of the neghbor,us wild
then she thought with her oheeks burning viii, an
noyance that she had hoped for more ardent
Matilda kept her promise to her sisters and when
she found her way to their tea table hat
she told them that the curate had proposed. In
proposal but / didn't refuse him. The sexton In
terrupted us, but 1t Is settled I'm Mrs Parson Cobb
It while Matilda waiting for the call from
the curate that she was expecting that evening that
sank within her she read Il will be with you In
two days. Paul Meade" And as she reread it the
vision Of mountain missions and eurates vanished
from her and in its place came thousand recollec
tons of the old friend. Paul.
Fortunately for Matda's peace of mind. stephen
Cobb had been called to his beloved mountain mis-
sion the day after the telegram and had ieft
Matilda with only very kind farewell. and did not
notice the look of anxiety In Matildas eyes
he promised to tell her all about his plans
return.
An hour before Paurs arrival stephen returned
from the mountains and fastened to the house or
Matilda. who had decided that whatever Pauls rea-
son for returning she would stand by her guns and
marry the only man she had really encouraged.
If she had made mistake. she would suffer the
ourate's face before her she thought with guilty
conscience of the telegram and Paul.
"Oh. Matilda" said the curate with beaming blue
eyes. Il am going to marry Deaconess Gray in the
spring. My little mountain deaconess has promised
to marry soon her pledge expires. l am |
the happiest man in the world She is impatient |
to meet you"
1t upon Matilda in flash. and because the !
excited curate full OF thoughts of his beloved