The Huttig news., 1910-02-12


 stopped inviting friends to the hall; he shut her up like a bird in gilded cage, and gloated over her all to himself, in his cruel, selfish way. He loved to dress her up in jewels and fine clothes and pose her for different pictures that is one of them that you admire so much
 Then he took up his books again, and she must always be near by, curled up like a mouse in one of the lounging-chairs, ready to do his bid ding. She yielded to him, as she had yielded to her mother, without word Of complaint. Only once she rebeiled; that was when he scoffed at her devo- tion to her religion. Then she turned on him with a look in her eyes that told him he had gone too far. Per haps he came to the conclusion that religion was not the wort rival a man could have; that. on tle contrary, 1t was more than like.y to Ss ! a woman out of mischief. Anyway. 1t was plain enough to see. my mother said, that the poor, starved little erea- ture must have some outlet for her pent-up affection, so she poured out her soul in devotion st the sacred shrine of the Virgin Mary Perhaps she found there the mother love she had never known.
 Well. the master let her practice her whim undisturbed. so long as i did not interfere with his pleasure The unused chapel was opened and she spent hours at her ayes and paters, and many a day in penitential fasting. A priest came over from the adjoining diocese to hear her confe5- sion, though what misdemeanors such a saint from heaven could have to lay bare the Lord alone knew. That was how she happened to get the name Of Saint Elizabeth.
 Things went on in this same dull, prosy way for time. With the com ing of the cold winter season, Father Chapelle, who was getting along in years. found the journey too much to undertake, with all his parish duties, and sent one of the priests in his place. Mother said that young priest was a picture, with a voice to melt the heart of the most hardened sinner. He came into that gloomy house like burst of sunshine, and not one of them all but felt better for his com. ing. As for Lady Elizabeth, she got SO she leaned on him for comfort and advice at all times; he was her tower of defense in all Ter doubts and per plexities
 Tt was some light gossip in tho village that first started the rumol flying. How any one could have con. Heeted a thought of evil with such a. they God alone knows, but there are some weak bodies as will soil their lips with any idle tale, and i'll news travels fast The only fear was that it might get to the masters ears, ana he that unreasonable. He had taken no notice of the change, or. if he did one priest was the same as another to him; but no one could help seeing the improvement in my lady She had lost that listless look, and her whole manner was brighter and more hope. full She tried now. in her timid. childish way to minister to his hap. piness, using a thousand little fem mine devices to arouse his attention. She did not make much progress, foss once let man get settled in a groove of selfishness and it is hard to roo him out of it; but he used to watch her in a puzzled way, as if trying to find an explanation for the change.
 One day the crash came! Late in the afternoon the master dashed into the courtyard at a furious pace, his horses sides fiecked with foam. He threw the reins 10 the groom, who came hurriedly out to answer the summons.
 ''Send Hawkins to mel was his or. Hawkins lost no time in following, you may be sure. He found his master pacing up and down the room with that feverish glare in his eyes that boded no good to the object of his wrath.
 Where is your mistress? Send her to mel he thundered.
 She is in the chapel, my lord. Her orders were that she was not to be disturbed. Father Dominic comes directly
 Tt would not do, miss for me to re- peat the masters reply interpolated Mrs. Fairbanks, with a pious droop of her eyelids. At any rate, it was something terrible, and Hawkins shook in his shoes while it went on: but in the midst of it the master stopped short as if struck with sud den thought. An, l have it. just the thingi he shouted, and he rushed out into the hall toward the chapel, Flaw kins following, for he feared for his mistress safety. What was his hoT- TOT to see his master walk into the sacristy, take down Father Domiaic's robe and proceed to fling it on over his shoulders, drawing the cowl care fully over his face, Hawkins stood like a log He knew now what Master Rupert was about to do, before he saw him glide softly into the con fessional where my lady knelt, wait