The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-23
THE BEST
PRESENT
Given at the Church Christ
mas Gift Party
By CLARISSA MACKIE

w ueD SlldS I1eSS tOlu us plfllN
daughter Frances that she could not
marry the young minister because min
listers were proverbially as poor as
church mice and always remained so.
Frances merely nodded her sunny head
and said. Yes, father" in the obedi
ent manner she had been taught. II
she grew silent and sorrowful looking
after that and was the first one to siip
out of church and prayer meeting
when the services were concluded. it
was universally acknowledged to be
just the right thing for Frances to do
under the circumstances.
OF course everybody in Little River
knew about the minister's unSuccess-
full wooing of Frances Hegg His at
tentions had been marked enough be-
fore Silas Hegg put down his No. .
boot and declared Il veto on the matrl.
munial question. After that it was an
open secret that the reason Frank
Bradberry looked so grave and seem
ed so silent and preOccupied was be
cause Silas had said No" Perhaps it
was loquacious Mrs. Hegg who con
fided the secret to her nearest friend.
Certainly it was neither Frances nor
her unfortunate lover.
AS long as Frank remained in Little
River there was hope that Silas Hegg
might relent and perhaps that was
why Frances did not succumb to her
heartsickness. But when six months
had passed there was one dark sun
day morning when he arose and read
his resignation to the disappointed con-
gregaticn. Several deacOns turned and
looked open diSapprovaI at Silas Hegg
as the author of this change. but when
they saw how white Frances face was
and how startled she was by the an
nouncement they turned face about
again. not neglecting to deliver a last
bighting glance at Slas Hegg
Much Silas cared about their glances
friendly or otherwise. He was sutfl-
cient unto himself The mere fact that
he did thing made ii right in his own
eyes.
So Frank Bradberry went away to
distant state and tried to forget Fran
ces Hegg. 1t Is needless to relate that
he succeeded no better than does any
one else under such circumstances.
ForgetfulDess does not come at COM
mand or by choice.
AS for Frances she continued to be
a pale. quiet girl thereafter. quite un-
like the flushed and sparkling maiden
who had won the love of Frank Brad
berry.
number of things may happen
within the space of four years Among
other events in Little River Slas Hegg
lost his wife. and. strange to say, the |
man who was sufficient unto himself |
found that his main prop in life was
gone. He immC Cdately became a |
broken old man. dei ending upon his |
only daughter for sympathy in their
1ouble sorrow.
Another thing that happened was
he return Of Frank Bradberry to the
,hurch In Little River. The persistent |
all Of his former parshioners was at |
asst answered by his return.
There was much rejoicing in Little
River. and many social events were
planned In his honor His return was
shortly before Christmas, and
Christmas party. each attendant to
)ring a gift, was planned. to take
,lace at the parsonage where Ann
)ibble, an ancient spinster was await
ng his arrival Ann was to be his
lousekeeper until Little River folks
stopped when they got that far and
aughed suggestively. 1t was expected
hat the Rev. Mr.. Rradberry would
lot be long in choosing wife to pre-
ide over the pretty new parsonage
which had been built during his abb
ence in the west
No one seemed 10 think about Fran
es Hegg. She had developed into
uch pale nOnentity. and there were
ther and younger girls from whom he
night choose, some of them blooming
md beautiful.
The minister was to arrive on the
before Christmas. and the
'ift party was planned for that even
ng In the nature of complete sur
rise. OF course Ann Dihble must
Inow about 1t in order to keep the
minister within doors and have a good.
lot fire ready.
you can count on him not going
'ut tonight" assured Ann Dibble to
lnxious members of the committee.
He'll stay put in this house II have
% nail his coattails to his chair"
Fortunately such drastic measures
were not necessary. for the very act of
returning to Little River had brought
ap 80 many unpleasant memories that
Frank Bradberry was thankful for
few uninterrupted hours In his little
study He was dreadng the meeting
with Frances Hegg: he was distressed
because he had NOT overcome his love
for her when he had prayed unceasng.
Iy to be delivered Of its torments.
Al the supper table Ann Dibble chat
tered ncessantly Of events that had
In Little River during his
absence. Thus Frank learned Of Mrs
Hegg's death along with ofhar itomu