The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-23
BIT ABSENT:MINOED
important Chapter in the Hum
Drum Existence Of a Young
Rector.
BY MARY MARSHALL.

BY MARY MARSHALL.
Being moderately absent-minded
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 rectors 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 a 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 8 o'clock. and Maggie always had
dinner ready at g. When she asked
him why he WIS 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 Jcve!" he exclaimed, "how the
afternoon new!" and when Maggie
waited for an explanation the rector
offered none.
After dishes were washed Maggie
fastened to the back fence to tel
Molly. but Molly had something to say
herself
II don't know what ever is getting
into Miss Hortenge," she said. "She
never came in to dinner till o'clock
and we always have it at half past six
And the funny thing IS that she didn'
know she was late She said she hat
been walking but she didn't say WHIT
, with"
Maggie looked knowingly at Molly
. 81 have suspicioned it all along sh'
said II won't say anything that ism
. my affairs, but will say that the Rev
Archibald didn't come in himself till
and whistled when told him he wa
Il h1u 1oto dro
! own conclusions"
Maggie's suspicion was before Ion
making its way through the parish
There was little room for doubt tina
Hortense and her neighbor, the rector
were much together, and there was n
one in the parish who seemed to kee
such a good run of church affairs a
Miss Hortense who. until the new rec
tor had come, had been lukewarm.
not positive backslider.
But in spite of Hortense's interes
and help Archibald grew even NOR
absent minded On one occasion h
read morning prayer at Sunday vel
pers, and week later he announce
the hour of the ladies' missionary s,
ciety as o'clock in the morning in tn
rector's study But such slips coul
be overlooked.
It was three hours before vespel
on the following Sunday Afternoon
Archibald was lazing in his comfor
able little study and Maggie was o,
for the afternoon. A small boy fro
the country came breathless to tt
rectory door and between gasps e
planned:
Mamma sent me for the doctor ar
he is away for the day. Baby's got
fit and papa has gone up the rive
But guess you can help II you hu
ry."
Archibald stopped long enough
reflect that vespers was not till al
that 1t was about 3 o'clock then. al
that he could 60 straight from h
visit to church. He put the notes 4
his address in his coat pocket al
with admirable forethought remel
bered a Observation-Disclosures kit fro
his study desk-one that he us,
when taking his choir boys campin
He did not know much about fits,
still he might need 1t so he put 1t wi
roll of bandaging and a medici
case into neat black leather bag tn
he used to carry his vestments in
weddings and funerals
About fifteen minutes later VIII
4 Archibald had reached the small tv
room cottage by the riverside about
mile from the rectory he found
scene of confusion. There were 70
peevish children. smoky fire, tir
worn mother and vigorous-lung
baby whose "fits" proved to be mer,
a case of bad temper Archibald fix
the fire. humored the children, C,
soled the mother and managed to fe
the baby some warm milk Fife
minutes before church time he mad,
break to leave He could imagi
what confusion his absence fr,
church would cause, and yet as
poor mother begged him tearfully
stay lust while longer" at least
the baby's father got back from
II river where he was fishing. Archib
. didn't have the heart to leave.
Archibald knew that 1t was moi
case Of life and death, but still