Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-01-06

disposed of by the bishop this young
man, Henry Stockbridge. was very
kind to me, making my miserable life
as little miserable as possible Indeed
1 came to contemplate life with him
even with such barbarous surround.
ings, as quite endurable. and by the
time my new assignment was expected
1 had come to the conclusion that i'll
were allotted to him | should not per
NIT him to serve the Lord In any field
where there were cannlbals.
One day a ship was sighted making
for the island and was soon recognized
as the one that would bear the bishops
message. Oh, that 1 might see her
strike a rock and go to the bottom!
Henry Stockbridge was with me while
1 was looking at her. and expressed
my thought to him. Instead of receiv-
ing my wish with horror he asked:
why are you SO averse to matri-
mony?"
I'm not averse to 1t with the man OF
my choice"
"Have you choiceE
was so desperate that l had lost all
maidenly shame. | was ready to go
down on my knees to him and beg him
to save me by marrying me himself.
"Yes." ! said doggedly, II have"
He knew well enough what would be
the result of further questioning and
spared me.
Heaven knows" he said after a
brief silence, that If were the man
Of your choice how gladly / would save
you from being assigned to husband
In this unromantic fashion"
Brutal fashion, you mean"
Unfortunately in my case" he went
on. there is a barrier in the way"
l had the decency to let him tell it
without asking MIN.
You know" he continued. that
am very high church"
l remained silent, but my bosom was
heaving.
IL am resolved to celibacy."
An inspiration came to me, an inspi-
ration to act at once and to the point
l threw up my arms with wall and
fell against his bosom. He clasped me,
and remained passive till thought
heard a chuckle. Then / looked up
into his face and saw the most wicked.
merry, tantalizlng spark l ever saw in
the eye of a man. | was about to dis
engage myself when he tightened his
arms about me and covered my face,
with kisses.
you wretch" | exclaimed. You
can remain in celibacy, and will
marry the man to whom ! am as
signed, IL he is first cousin to Satan"
''Then | will wait for you till the
cannibals get him. as they did your
first betrothed. By the bye, this as
slgnment business has been a put up
Job. was informed that a young
woman was coming out for husband
and told by the superintendent that
might meet her and, if liked her.
WOO her in my own fashion. Adoni-
ram Nudge is myth. 1t was at my
suggestion that the superintendent
spoke to you Of sending to the bishop
for another assignment. That ship
never took message to him. and there
Is no reply from him on her. ! have
given you time to learn to love me.
AS for me. my mind was made up the
moment | saw you
| stood looking ont at the coming ship
through tears. this time happy tears.
Are you weeping for Mudge?" ask
ed my tormentor.
turned and saw that same taunt-
ing look in his eye and sympathetic
smile on his face.
threw my arms about him and
buried my face on his breast.
As the wife of Henry Stockbridge
remained on the island two years and
was contented Then he was called
to church in America. where my pO-
sltion as the wife Of the rector was
by no means unpleasant was and
am thankful that escaped what
most dreaded. lie of solitary labor.
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