Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-02-16

II at first. but II seems as II you could
perhaps give me the best and wlsest
answer. Knowing me so we'll you
can best and naturally advise me.
Please don't consider the personal
side at ALL" He paused nervously and
then came to the point. do you
think ought to marry?
You see. | want eventually to de.
vote my life to my little mountain
mission. That's always been my am.
billion. and when | first spoke to the
bishop about 1t he advised me not to
marry until | had established myself,
because of the hardships of the work,
IL didn't seem hard then, for a year
ago | had never even considered the
possibility OF wanting TO marry. But
since have been here It has come
upon me very forcibly. OF course !
wouldn't want to marry a woman
who wasn't as devoted to the cause
as ! am; but a young woman like
you. little older than l, with her
whole heart in the cause, couldn't
help but be an inspiration to me-"
Matilda had listened to this studied.
but obviously heartfelt, declaration
with the color deepening in her
cheeks and her eyes lowered with
embarrassment IF only he liked
me for something besides my devo-
ton to the cause" she thought. and
then. after pause, she said:
-
perfectly am glad you have put It
as you have. Yes, do think a wife
would be helpful to you; one who ad-
mires you and would have your inter
ests at heart Yes, Stephen. | think
you are right" She spoke with hest
demonstrative behavior
Thank you from the bottom OF my
heart" said the curate. And then
some one. the sexton no doubt. came
into the room and ended his confes
sions.
Matilda went home that day with
a confusion of ideas, some pleasant.
some very disconcerting. To devote
herself to the mission of the neigh
boring wild mountain district might
be almost as absorbing as being an
engineers wife In South America
And then she thought with her cheeks
Nurning with annoyance that she had
hoped for a more ardent declaration.
Matilda kept her promise to her
sisters, and when she found her way
to their tea table that afternoon she
told them that the curate had pro-
posed. I'm way" she explained.
1T was a queer sort Of proposal,
but l didn't refuse him. The sexton
interrupted US, but 1t is settled. I'm
Mrs. Parson Cobb for the rest of my
life"
1t was while Matilda was waiting
for the call from the curate that she
was expecting that evening that q
Her heart sank within her as she
read, Il will be with you in two days.
Paul Meade" And as she re-read 1t
the vision of mountain missions and
curates vanished from her and in its
place came a thousand recollections
Of the old friend, Paul
Fortunately for Matilda's peace Of
mind, Stephen Cobb had been called
to his beloved mountain mission the
day after the telegram came and had
left Matilda with only a very kind
farewell, and did not seem to notice
the look of anxiety In Matildas eyes
as he promised to tell her all about
his plans on his return.
An hour before Paul's arrival
Stephen returned from the mountains
and FASTENED to the house of Matilda.
who had decided that whatever Paul's
reason for returning, she would stand
by her guns and marry the only man
she had ever really encouraged. II
she had made a mistake she would
suffer the consequences, she resolved,
but when she saw the curate'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
Ny little mountain deaconess has
promised to marry me as soon as her
pledge expires. | am the happiest
man in the world. She Is SO impa-
dent to meet you"
II came upon Matilda In a fash
and because the excited curate was SO
full of thoughts OF his beloved dea-
coness he did not notice the excite
ment in Matilda's voice as she con-
graduated him or the abruptness with
which she rose and bowed him to the
door.
Two days later Matilda announced
her engagement to Paul Meade, her
old boz hood friend, who had never
known till he left her that he had
loved her all his life