Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-05-11
MRS. MASON'S
SCHEME
A Story For Easter
Sunday
By BARBARA PHIPPS

trunk preparatory to leaving for home
and was looking over time table Il
see what train he should take when g
maid brought to his room a postcard
from the bishop requesting him to cal,
Wondering what could be wanted o.
him, he went Immediately to answe,
the summons.
Baxter had shown unusual proficien
cy, originality and withal a specia
ability for speaking without notes. Ht
stood high in his class.
Il received your call, bishop" h,
said, land have come
"Ah, Mr.. Baxter HIM; be seated"
Reaching toward a table near by
the bishop fumbled among some pa.
pers, selected one. took out of his
waistcoat pocket a pair of gold rim
med glasses, wiped them with cam
Dric handkerchief, looked over the pa
per, thought awhile, then said:
81 have here letter from a widow
who is apparently wealthy, for she has
built church in memory of her hus-
band. She desires me to recommend
some young recent graduate for the
position of its rector. The salary is
surprisingly large for beginner-twc
thousand year"
Baxter was caught in whirl OF
expectation.
There is curious condition to tbs
appointment" continued the bishoD
(which may or may not be considered
an encumbrance. At first / was sus
picious that there might be sometime
wrong about it all. 1t doesn't seem tt
me that any sane woman would sug
gest such a condition"
What is this condition." asked Bax
ter anXiously.
The bishop lowered his face so the
he could see the curate over his glasse
and replied:
THAT the rector shall marry th,
owner of the church.
Baxter caught his breath.
Il have made inquiry" the bishoI
continued, land have learned THAI the
matter is bona fide Offer
How old is the lady?" asked Baxter
unable to control his desire to know
the truth.
"She is described as a Woman of no
much over forty and we'll preserved
There is nothing very bad, so far as hel
age and physique are concerned, but
But what?'
II have been given to understand
that she is considered very queer y,
one can foretell just what she is goin.
to do"
Quite likely. considering what she
has done in this case" remarked Bax
ter, looking at clock or the mantle
and thinking of trains.
But the bishop was not thinking OF
trains. He was thinking how he
might put the case in a light that
would be of ultimate advantage to q
young man whose career promised tC
be brilliant, but who. he thought
should take advantage of any for
tuitous circumstance that might arise
Resting his elbows on the arms of his
chair and putting the tips of the fin
gers of one hand against those of the
other, he leaned back and proceeded:
"The proposition is that the candi
date shall preach sermon on neXt
Easter Sunday in the church. He will
dine with the owner, thus making her
acquaintance. If she is pleased with
him and his sermon and if he is
pleased with her the arrangement may
be perfected. If not the candidate is
at liberty to go his way, and the lady
n6N II
Baxter, is for yOu to permit me to en-
ter you as the candidate If no ad.
vantage comes to you directly one may
come indirectly. If you acquit your
self well it may Lead to a call else
where"
This seemed reasonable to the Gu.
rate. He asked if the matter of the
condition would be kept secret and
was Informed that his not mentioning
1t was one of the requirements. After
having spent an hour with the bishoI
he gave his consent and took the next
train for home. Within week he re-
ceived q note from the bishop that all
had been arranged, and straightway
Mr. Baxter began to prepare himself
for the coming ordeal.
Easter Sunday falling in a sprins
month is apt to be pleasant The East
er that Baxter preached his trial sci
mon opened bright and beautiful. He
arrived at the station at Masonic to
meet an auto sent for him by the lady
whose church he was to preach in and
was conveyed to her house. She was
a Mrs Mason. Her family owned ev-
erything in sight of the center of the
village, and hence its name
On BaXters arrival at he Mason
homestead he was ushered into draw
ing room. where he waited FOR some
one to receive him. \ heavy curtain
draped an east window. and Baxter.
desirous of letting in the sunlight. went
to it and pulled it aside. What was
his astonishment to uncover a girl.
The blood rushed into her cheeks and
she bolted for the door. Then the Gu.
rate heard her running upstairs.
Surely" he remarked to himself.
this whole affair is amazing rt'S NV