Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-05-11

or, rather, elderly, woman entered the
room. She was dressed In a most alb
surd fashion. 1t struck Baxter that
she mad rigged herself out to make her
self look young, and nothing is more
grotesque than an old face decked in
the trappings of youth.
II ar. Mrs. Mason" she said. adj
vancing and graciously extended her
hand. "The bishop has spoken very
highly of you, not only of your talents.
but of your Christian qualities. He as
sured me that / will not need to look
further for a rector"
Baxter bowed. Inwardly he said
you'll have to look a good deal fur.
ther for a husband" Outwardly he
told the lady that the bishop had
doubtless raised false expectations OF
him. Then the lady told him that
whoever was selected as rector for her
church would be untrammeled by those
cliques that are SO intolerable to clergy.
men. Indeed, she had determined that
the edif1ce should be used for those
who need a church, but cannot afford
to build one. 1t should be free to all
AS to the rectsr, he was not to be in
stalled till there was every reason t.
believe that he was the man for the
place, and once installed he could not
be driven out, as the lady expressed it
by a lot of Gathering spinsters," fol
he would be part owner of the prop
erty.
When she said this the lady looked
down at the floor, causing her listener
to believe that she referred to the
matrimonial condition attached to the
appointment
While they were chatting the auto
was announced, and Baxter and Mrs
Mason were driven to the church. He
found an indiscriminate congregation
assembling, nearly all being poor per
sons, judging from their dress and ap
pearance. There was something sc
little to his taste in the affair that he
was not his usual self. He got through
the service well enough, but when he
came to the sermon there beneath him
was the curious looking Mrs. Mason
and In the same pew with her the CIR
he had found secreted behind the cur.
tain. When the latter glanced up al
him, which she seldom did, she looked
ashamed. The natural consequence OF
all this was that he bungled his ser
mon, and, what made the matter
worse, he could see plainly that Mrs
Mason was grievously disappointed in
him.
After the services Mrs. Mason drove
the curate back to her residence
scarcely speaking word to him on the
way. He wondered what would be the
independence she had promised of any
man holding pulpit with her for his
wife, even though he owned half OF
the church. He was not sorry that she
was dissatisfied with him. He would
be relieved of telling her that he would
decline the honor of the appointment
with the condition attached.
On reaching the house Baxter was
left in the drawing room again, while
Mrs. Mason went upstairs. He heard
voices above in what sounded like
animated discussion. One voice he rec.
Ognized as Mrs. Masons. The Other
was also that Of woman, but seemed
to belong to young person. Baxter
was too much of a gentleman to listen
to what was said and closed the door
between him and the disputants.
Baxter wondered If the girl he had
surprised and had seen at church
would be at dinner She came to the
table late and looked much disturbed.
When the curate was introduced she
bowed without looking at him, which
caused him to think that he was un-
acceptable to her as we'll as Mrs. Ma,
son.
"My niece, Eleanor" said the older
lady and proceeded to unfold her nap
kin.
Baxter was uncomfortable through
out the whole dinner When it was
finished Eleanor led the way into the
drawing room. and Mrs. Mason went
upstairs. Eleanor-she was Miss Flea
nor Rutledge-did not seem disposed to
open the conversation, so Baxter spoke
of the church, the congregation and
the praiseworthy object of its founda-
tion, which could be more successfully
carried out because she owned the
property. At this last assertion Miss
Rutledge looked antagonistic.
isn't your aunt the owner?" asked
the curate.
NO"
"Who is?'
Il am"
Baxter was astonished.
"This matter has gone far enough,
Mr.. Baxter" she said Il must ex-
plain, whether my aunt likes it or not.
She is my guardian till am twenty
one. She is decidedly queer and does
things that l don't approve of. but
can't help This whole scheme of put
ting the church into the keeping of
rector is hers, not mine
But the matrimonial condition that
the appOintee should marry the own
err
"Oh, nv aunt doesn't believe in love.