The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-10-24

IL Is your uuly W So'
How beautiful she looked with the
sunlight on her hair. the inspiration
in her eyes!
'There is only one consideration that
would induce me to CO." said the Rev.
Ronald with decision.
"Janet," he cried, 'will you be mine!
Will you make me the happiest OF
menu"
The words pouring from his lips had
strangely familiar sound. and, alas'
1t was with strangely familiar pang
that Mr.. Marble listened to her answer.
When 1t was all ovel and he had de-
jectedly picked up his hat for the sec
ond time that morning, Janet walked
with him to the gate he had opened so
hopefully half-hour ago.
'Tm so sorry" she faltered, as he
fingered in spite of himself at the
wicket. 81 wish could help you with
| that great work! - There was ring OF
genuine missionary regret in her voice.
"You must see for yourself how impos-
sible it is !"
Poor Mr.. Marble, looking at her,
could not see 1t at all.
"Then, there's no hope for mel" he
asked gloomily.
'I'm afraid not, as far as I'm con-
cerned," she responded. 'But there's
always hope! Mightn't there be some
one else, Mr.. Marble-some other
woman better fitted for your"
The rector of All Souls only gave her
scorchingly reproachful glance and
| turned away without word.
AS he bent his lonely steps towards
| his boarding house. Mr.. Marble became
aware of other steps. feminine ones,
| approaching behind. and a furtive
glance around showed him Miss Cor
nelia Wylde, his district visitor and
devoted aid, in close pursuit.
"What's the matter?" she painted,
overtaking the flying cleric just as he
reached the corner. "You seem to be
in a great hurry!"
Mr.. Marble turned and faced her
with a daZed smile.
ST am" he said, then quite involun-
tarily: There's letter to the bishop
that ought to be written and off by the
80 train. I wanted especially to see
you this morning" With establishment
he heard himself utter this last state
| ment. The well-known formula had
rushed unbidden to his lips, and help
| lessly, parrot-like, he floundered on
"rve just received an important call
to Shooting Rock. Arkansas, and you
| ought to be the first to know it!''
Miss Wylde's glance of pleased in
| terrogation only added to poor Mr..
Marbles confusion.
"Well, what are you going to do
about it?" she inquired practically.
"Dow calculated the Rev. Ronald,
and with the recollection of the morn
| ing's wrongs hard upon him he gave
an impossible groan. "What on earth
do you expect man to do, with never
woman to>help him!"
Afterwards, when he was quite calm
again. Mr.. Marble saw clearly just how
she had taken it-that innocent little
| speech of his-but In the blackness OF
| the moment all he could realize was
that Miss Cornelia Wylde had taken
him, "for better for worse" and entire
| ly without his own consent.
1t was long after luncheon time that
| the Rev. Ronald turned his steps at
last towards his boarding-house-en-
| gagged. he told himself blankly, to a
lady he had never for moment con.
templated in a matrimonial light.
This was the result of his morning
Crimson waves of modification,
| horror, and actual dread surged up
into his high cheek-bones at the thought
| of it all.
He, the rector of All Souls, offered
himself to three women in as many
hours!
| It was scandalous, objectionable, In
any other man! What would Wheatley
say when it heard, as it must soon of
its tickle, frivolous rector?
What would they think of him, those
| two whom he had wOoed so ardently in
| quick succession-sweet Mrs. Minturn
and Janet Noble? His heart smote
him! How he had pleaded with them
Then upon his sombre meditation
"Mr. Marble!" broke in voice he
knew, and, raising his head, the hor-
rified rector beheld at his very elbow
Janet's mother-an exceedingly large
woman-coming towards him with cor
daily outstretched hands.
Involuntarily he shrank from her
beaming face. What did 1t mean? Mrs
Mobiles next words enlightened him
only only too well.
st just had to stop you!" she was
saying warmly. "You do look so blue
| and downhearted, Mr.. Marble. Girls
will be girls you know" Here her
voice sank to a confidential whisper
as with elephantine subtlety.
| 81 think" she suggested, "it's just
possible that If you happened to drop
| in this evening Janet might be glad to
see you'll"
The rector Of All Souls underwent
no surprise at the sight Of the dainty
| note he found in his room five minutes
| later.
'NIy dear Ronald" it began. and
even that unwonted opening left him
| without emotion. He was past all that
| now.
81 have been thinking earnestly over
our talk this morning. After all, as
you say. my duty is to the living, not
| the dead. Can't you come in and see
mo thiS ovenino9 7 shall he waiting