Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-22
The Argus Daily Short Story
An Easter Gift-By F. A. Mitchell
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary PresA

! have 1 accepted" he replied, walking
on beside her.
"why should a young man of your
age need to marry an old woman for
living Of She hesitated.
Zone hundred pounds" he supplied.
He told her that he was bound by hon.
er and sisters.
The girl walking in the same direc
ton as the curate, they continued to-
gether to the inn from which the
coach started. When they parted she
said to him:
Come and see me. 1 have a friend
who has at her disposal a living much
better than the one you have applied
for. You needn't marry her. but 1
can introduce you and will use my in
fluence in your favor. / think when
tell her that you are ready to sacrifice
yourself for your mother and sisters
she will be disposed to help you. Our
clergy, as you know, are chiefly inter
ested in gambling and cockfghting.
It's not easy to find a real true heart
ed man among them"
Wentworth, quite delighted with so
fortunate an encounter. smiled pleas
ant smile, and a day for the introduc-
ton was appointed.
Before the time for the introduction
came round he received q note from
the young lady-signed Alice Trelawney
saying that the person who had the
living TO dispose of desired to hear
him preach Would he do so in the
church at Twickenham on the follow
ing Sunday. and would he be guest
at her house between Saturday and
Monday?
Wentworth accepted with joy in his
heart. If he succeeded in this case
there need he no marriage with
venerable spinster. A roseate hope
huttered IN his bosom that he might
marry the girl who was endeavoring
to benefit him.
The following Saturday the after
noon coach stopped at the Oaks, the
curate alighted, and his portmanteau
was set down from the boot. He was
received by Miss Trelawney and intro
duced to her aunt. the head of the
house. for Miss Trelawney was an or
phan. He spent the rest of the day
and the evening with her, and. being
an open hearted frank young man,
Miss Trelawney within a few hours
knew more about him than he knew
himself At any rate. she knew him
to be a very lovable young man. a
matter of which he was entirely ig
norant.
But the next day when Wentworth
stood in the pulpit to preach Miss Ire
lawney discovered something else in
him. His heart was in what he said.
and he had the gift Of language TO say
what was IN his heart. He spoke ex-
temporaneously. his sermon being the
first heard there in many years that
had not been written. to say nothing
Of having been purchased by the in
cumbent from some more gifted per-
son than the preacher. Indeed. the
congregation was carried by storm.
When the curate, after the benedic-
ton, stepped down from the chancel
many people advanced to encourage
him by appreciative remarks. Miss
Trelawney waited for him at the
church door. and they walked to her
home together
"was the person who has the living
to dispose of in church p he asked.
'She was"
"And how was she pleased with my
effortT'
VERY much"
'eThen I presume there need be no
further delay to my meeting herr"
None whatever"
They walked on to the house, dined
and spent the rest Of the day together,
Wentworth expecting all the while to