Gilpin observer., 1913-05-15
BITABSENT-M|NDED
important Chapter in the Hum
Drum Existence of a Young
Rector.
BY MARY MARSHALL.

Being moderately absentminded
cast an interesting aura about the
personality of the new rector, the Rev.
Archibald Demarest, but when carried
to the extreme this trait had its draw
backs. and thereby hangs an import
ant chapter in the Rev. Archibald's
hum-drum existence. The fact that
he one day forgot to eat his lunch
an intelligence handed over the back
fence of the neat little rectory garden
by his faithful housekeeper Maggie to
Molly the Stevenson's cook. and thus
by way of the Stevenson's drawing
room through the neighborhood-filled
the hearts Of his feminine parishion-
ers with sympathetic concern. The
fact that the cause of the rector's pre-
occupation on this occasion was a
good run of trout in the little hillside
stream a few miles from the rectory
would not have added to the glamor
and Maggie. being woman of discern
ment, did not mention this fact to
Molly across the fence
One day, a fresh mild spring day.
the rector did not come in to dinner
till o'clock. and Maggie always had
dinner ready at 6. When she asked
MIN why he was SO late as she stood
at his side, as he hastily ate his soup,
he looked up In surprise at her. Then
he drew out his watch and whistled.
by Jove!" he exclaimed, "how the
afternoon fiew!" and when Maggie
waited for an explanation the rector
offered none.
After dishes were washed Maggie
fastened to the back fence to tell
Molly, but Molly had something to say
| herself
Il don't know what ever is getting
into Miss Hprtense," she said "She
never came in to dinner till o'clock,
and we always have 1t at half past six.
And the funny thing is that she didn't
know she was late. She said she had
been walking but she didn't say who
with"
Maggie looked knowingly at Molly
Il have suspicioned 1t all along" she
said. Il won't say anything that isn't
my affairs. but will say that the Rev.
Archibald didn't come In himself till
and whistled when I told him he was
two hours late. You can draw your
own conclusions"
Maggfe's suspicion was before long
making Its way through the parish
There was little room for doubt that
Hortease and her neighbor the rector,
we're much together, and there was no
one in the parish who seemed to keep
such good run Of church affairs as
Miss Hortense who until the new rec
tor had come. had been lukewarm, II
not positive backslider.
But in spite of Hortense's Interest
and help Archibald grew even more
absent-minded. On one occasion he
read morning prayer at Sunday YES
pers, and a week later he announced
the hour of the ladies' missionary 60
ciety as O'Clock In the morning in the
rector's study But such slips could
be overlooked.
1t was three hours before vespers
on the following Sunday afternoon.
Archibald was lazing in his comfort
able little study and Maggie was out
for the afternoon. A small boy from
the country came breathless to the
rectory door and between gasps ex.
planned:
Mamma sent me for the doctor and
he is away for the day. Baby's got
fit and papa has gone up the river.
But guess you can help II you hur-
ry."
Archibald stopped long enough to
reflect that vespers was not till and
that 1t was about o'clock then, and
that he could go straight from his
visit to church. He put the notes for
his address in his coat pocket and
with admirable forethought remem.
bered Observation-Disclosures kit from
his study desk-one that he used
when taking his choir boys camping.
He did not know much about fits. but
still he might need It so he put it with
roll of bandaging and a medicine
case into a neat black leather bag that
he used to carry his vestments In to
weddings and funerals.
About fifteen minutes later when
Archibald had reached the small two
room cottage by the riverside about a
mile from the rectory he found
scene of confusion. There we're four
peevish children. smoky fire. tired
worn mother and a vigorous-lunged
baby whose "fits" proved to be merely
case OF bad temper. Archibald fixed
the fire, humored the children, con-
soled the mother and managed to feed
the baby some warm milk. Fifteen
minutes before church time he made a
break to leave. He could Imagine
what confusion his absence from
church would cause. and yet as the
poor mother begged him tearfully to
stay lust while longer" at least till
the baby's father got back from the
river where he was fishing. Archibald
didn't have the heart to leave.
Archibald knew that 1t was not a
case of life and death. but still the
mothers tears made 1t impossible for
| him to 60 He remembered what Uor.