The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-12-04


pulses tbrOb exuItantly. "Of course
N must take up this great work. We
shall miss you here undoubtedly
there was the faintest tremble i'm her
yoice-"but one mustn't think OF one
self Those poor people need you!
II is your duty to 60"
How beautiful she looked with the
sunlight on her hair. the inspiration
in her eyesi .-.-s
There is only one consideration that
would induce me to 60" said the Rev.
Ronald with decision. ra
"Janet," ne cried. twill you be mines
Will you make me the happiest Oh
men?"
The words pouring from his lips had
a strangely familiar sound. and. alas
II was with n strangely familiar pang
that Mr.. Marble listened to her answer.
When IL 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 a half-hour ago.
"Pm 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 or
genuine missionary regret I'm her voice.
"You must see for yourself how impos-
sible IL is!'' gssz.
Poor Mr.. Marble. looking at her.
could not see ii at all.
"Then. there's no hope for me" ne
asked gloomily.
"rm 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 you?"
The rector OF All Souls only gave her
a 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 anu
devoted aid. in close pursuit.
"What's the matter?" she panted,
overtaking the flying cleric just ~ he
reached the corner. "You seem to be
In q great hurry"
- Mr.. Marble turned and faced her
with a tlazed smile.
81 am" he said, then quite involun.
tarily: There's q letter to the bishop
that ought to be written and of by the
3 80 train. 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 houndered on:
"Pve 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 q 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 NIL he could realize was
that Miss Cornelia Wylde had taken
him, "fOr better for worse" and entire
~ 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 q
lady he had never for q moment con.
templated In q 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 1t all.
He, the rector Of All Souls. offered
himself to three women In as many
hours!
II was scandalous. objectionable, In
any other man! What would Wheatley
say when It heard. as II must soon Of
its tickle, frivolous rectorf
What would they think Of him, those
two whom he had wooed so ardently In
quick succession-sweet Mrs. Minturn
and Janet Noblef His heart smote
him! How he had pleaded with them
Then upon his sombre meditation
~ ssMr. Marble! :" broke In voice he
Few. and. raising his head. the hor.
led rector beheld at his very elbow
NETS mother-an exceedingly large
misunderstanding towards him with cor.
ally outstretched hands.
u Involuntarily he shrank from her
faming face. What did 1t mean? Mrs.
Bibles next words enlightened him
1ly only too well.
1SrT just had to stop you!" she was
I7<Sing warmly. "You do look so blue
I'D downhearted, Mr.. Marble. Girls
tvful be girls you know" Here her
Ice sank to confidential whisper,
-~x,sfh o1onhautfp Suhf1Qfy