The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1919-10-25

| there was the fainteSt tremble in her
voice-"but one mustn't think of one
self! Those poor people need you !
1t is your duty to CO."
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 Twill you be mine?
Will you make me the happiest Of
men?"
The words pouring from his lips had
strangely familiar sound, and, alas,
it was with a strangely familiar pang
that Mr.. Marble listened to her answer.
When it was all over 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.
'tT'm so sorry" she faltered, as he
fingered in spite of himself at the
wicket. ST wish could help you with
that great work." There was a ring Of
genuine missionary regret in her voice.
"YSbu must see for yourself how impos-
sible it is 20
Poor Mr.. Marble, looking at her,
could not see it at all.
| ."Then, there's no hope for mel" he
asked gloomily.
I'm afraid not, as far as I'm con-
cernedP' 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 reproachfu1 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.
| whats the matter?" she painted,
oyertaking the flying cleric just as he
reached the corner. "You seem to be
in great hurry!"
Mr.. Marble turned and faced her
| with a dazed smile.
| 81 am" he said, then quite involun.
tarfly: There's letter to the bishop
that ought to be written and off by the
8 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 f1oundered on
"Tve 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 I'm
terrogation only added to poor Mr..
Marbles confusion.
! "Well, what are you going to do
about it?" she inquired practically.
| do" calculated the Rev. Ronald.
and with the recollection of the morn
ing's wrongs hard upon him he gave
an impressible groan. "What on earth
do you expect man to do, with never
q 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, 'Sfor better for worse" and entire
| ~ without his own consent.
| It was long after luncheon time that
the Rev. Ronald turned his steps at
| last towards his boarding house-en-
gagged, he told himself blank1y, to
| lady he had never for a 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 rector7
What would they think Of him. those
| two whom he had woOed SO ardently in
| quick succession-sweet Mrs. Minturn
I and Janet Noble? His heart smote
him How he had pleaded with them
Then upon his sombre meditation
"Mr Marble 7" broke In voice he
knew, and, raising his head, the hor-
rified rector beheld at his very elbow
Janet's mother-an exceedingly large
| mountaineering towards him with cor
daily outstretched hands.
1nVOIuuLdT11y he S1Iduh 4IOu ACA
beaming face. What did 1t mean? Mrs.
| Mobiles next words enlightened him
| only only too well.
ST just had to stop your 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 subt1ety.
"T think she suggested, 'ft's just
possible that If you happened to drop
In this evening Janet might be glad to
fsee you!"
The rector of All Souls underwent
| no surprise at the sight Of the dainty
note he found In his room five minutes
later.
my dear Ronald" 1t 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
me this evening? I shall be waiting
for you in the balcony about dusk.
Yours ever,
LYDIA