The Washington herald., 1918-12-21
The LOVE AFFAIR OF A HOMELY GIRL
By JEAN LOUISE DE FOREST

taken singiy they did not trouble her
especially, excepting Tom and Bige.
who to a certain extent represented
the outside world.
Upon that first Sunday she forgot 10
wonder whether or not they were
there.
1t is doubtful whether any one with
in the house of God that morning
account of their rector's remarks.
Quite certainly none of the feminine
portion OF the audience could have
done so.
Martin Lewis was an exceedingly
imposing figure, and the very fact
that Rebecca had followed him so
closely made them seem TO belong
TO each other.
Female Fright.
HuddlesfOrd understood it all at a
glance. This must be Miss Wander
POOLS lover! She was homely. to be
sure, but that was no reason that she
should not marry. Each woman there
was able to pick out a female fright
among the audience who had found a
perfectly good man. And Miss an
derpool was rich!
Within the hour her importance as
sumed gigantic proportions. Every
woman who had witnessed the quar-
tets dignihed and leisurely progress.
spent the hour of prayer in dcvising
ways and means of establishing the
correctness of her surmise.
Meanwhile Rebecca was planning
the retreat. They would sit still in
the pew after the service was done.
ostensibly to meet DR.. Manfred, and
they would not leave until the congre-
cation had gone it's several ways Thus
Martins difficult ascent of the car
riage would not be observed. Some
how. she hated to have him stared
at and his infrmity made common
chatter so soon. She realized that
people must know sooner or later. but
she strove to push back the inevitable
moment
On that first Sunday she succeeded
When the party, which now included
the rector, moved down the aisle to
the door. no one was in sight. the
families all having hastened away to
their Sunday dinners.
Tall and Scholarly.
DIR. Manfred was in the whereabouts
of fifty. He was tall and spare and
scholarly. and devoted TO his people
He was wonderfully dependent too.
in grave, gentle, dignified way, His
wife. during her lifetime, had been in
the habit of referring TO him as her
youngest child.
Rebecca had always been an able
church worker. but she was queer and
offish. to the rector's great regret lie
had been a widower for ten years
now, and had she been more afIable.
who knows but that
The Rev. DR.. Manfred was a pro-
found scholar. mis- presence alone lent
distinction to the simple service. It
was he who offered prayer at all the
public ceremonies in Huddlesford, who
presented prizes at the commencement
exercises, and awarded diplomas.
Years ago he had accepted the charge
because his wife had been in delicate
health, and the air OF Huddlesford
was ideal for weak lungs When she
died he had remained to carry on the
work which he had begun. He found
much for his hands to do. and enter
tanned many q scheme wh;rn needed
more money and more intelligence
than the average Huddlesfordite had
at command.
II only Rebeccs were a bit more ap-
proachable, what helpmate she
might be. DR.. Manfred's wife had
been beautiful; his marriage had been
a true love-match. Ernestine looked
Just as his wife had looked when he
married her; she had been a pure.
beautiful blond. But all that belonged
TO a past to which there could be no
returning. The clergyman had lived
past the age where mere feminine
beauty could affect him.
ITO ke ContiAued TOAoFr0Wl