The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1887-09-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ISO-Pular preacher, and she had listened to him p'eased ond beguiled, without ever thinking whether there war anything more than mere words in the dramatic sermons that electrified and roused the audience that congregated at the highly-adorned little church. don't suppose he will ever have such a congregation again,' she said. It was foolish of him to give up his hold upon his people by going away. If he had stayed in Hillford he would have been seen now and then, and kept his influence; but the new man (and I hear he is very clever and pleasant, though in a very different style), will have worked himself in, so that Mr. Gayford will have hard work to get back to his place again.' 'He never ought to have had it; he is not fit to stand In a pulpit and preach to others. He is a bad man, Mrs. Churchill, and I hope we shall never see him again, any of us.' Helen was very feverish and ill, and ought not to have been allowed to talk on any exciting topic, and Mrs. Churchill laid her somewhat wild words to the score of her indisposition, and felt sorry for her dislike to the young clergyman whom she pitied with all her womanly heart for the trouble that had come upon him in his cousin's death. She longed earnestly for Mr. Jarvis to come. Elm) was very anxious about Helen, who had faded end weakened with alarming rapidity. She did not know of anything to make her ill particularly, but she supposed that the shock of the murder and all that followed it was bearing tardy fruit now and prostratng her. Nothing seems to do her any good,' she said with a sigh when she joined Norah to have a quiet cup of tea. She says she wants nothing but to be let alone, and to die if her time has come. I believe she thinks it has.' ' Nonsense, mamma,' said Norah decidedly, pouring out and sweetening her mother's tea. Helen won't die, she isn't the sort of girl to fade into her grave after a man, and she was not in love with Frank, you know- it is the physical shock that is knocking her up, she will be better after awhile. I am more concerned for Madge. Ido think she is going wrong in her head.' My dear Norah; why?' • 'She is so crazy about her mourning. She told Mrs. Clarence to-day on the esplanade that she was in mourning for Frank, and when she looked astonished, and said she understood that it was for your nephew, she began to cry and said yes, of course, but the was mowing for him. As if Mrs. Clarence knew any thing abeut it ! she will go and put it all about that Madge is mad. I know she will: she is a spiteful cat, and has no' forgiven us not using the letter of introduction we had to her; she knows Mrs. De Witt gave it to us.' 'I think we can bear Mrs. Clarence's anger,' Mrs. Churchill said with a smile and a sigh. Let her think what she pleases, and keep Madge out of her way. I ant have the child worried sr questioned; she is mak ng an effort to be better, and I won't have her thrown back.' Madge was making an effort,' as her mother said. She had roused herself, prompted thereto by Helen Batmay, and had striven to throw off the load of grief that was weighing her down; it was not easy to do, and she was low spirited and fretful still, but she got about, and would now and then talk to peop!e. Helen had told her how unhappy she was making her mother and sister by her continued languor and sadness, and had managed till the blow of uthbert Ingram's death came to make a wonderful change in the sick girl. With the shock of the news of that terrible shipwreck her own energies had given way, and Madge wessehrown on her sister's hands to to be amused and cared for. It was weary work—a dismal ending to all their prospects of happiness and pleasure, and Norah, albeit • she was a sweet-tempered girl and fond of her sister, was in, lined to resent it and bewail her disappointments. 'What was the good of ordering the bridesmaid's dresses?' she said ruefully, and arranging what we were going to wear for the winter after the wedding was over, when we have to put it el away and take to bck, Noll/ming Is 41wavo on notribiy trying to •