A DARK MISTAKE.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1178, 27 July 1901, Page 18

A DARK MISTAKE.

Showing How Unsafe it is to Make Love Without Knowing the Object of Affection.

r 0 uae burning all these lights down here. I'll just have to fill tbem in tbe morning, and no nse making me work for nothing,' and the old sexton turned down the one lamp burning in the chandalier in the room and went ont, eavlng the door ajar. The light flickered for a few momenta until an outer door opened, and then, with one bright flash, it died ont. Up stairs there was mnch laughing and talking aa the buay hands pnt the finishing touches to the c hurch decorations for the morrow. ' There, I think it I<_ as well a? we can do,' and Nellie Collier atepped back to survey the work. 'We need a small piece of rope to reach aorosa tbat aeat yet, doctor,' she aaid, turning to Dr Graham, who was standing beside her. ' Two of thoae letters in that centre motto are orooked. Yon Btraighten tbem, please, while I get the rope 1 know where there ia a pieoe that wlil juat do,' and ahe hurried down the stairs and ran againat Mr Pitoairn aa he was entering hia study. ' Whew 1 Dark as can be,' she aaid, half aloud, aB she entered the small anteroom and felt her way over the closet ander the Btairs. Mr Pitcairn went into his study, his thoughts in a tumult. For months Nellie Collier'B laughing face had been haunting him, and he often found that his eyes rested on ber when he was preaching. He waited a few minutes and then met the little white robed figure as she was about leaving the room. ' Nellie, I want to tell yon something,' he aaid, taking hold of the hands that were full of rope. ' I have been wanting to tell you for a long time that I love you. I don't think that you can be surprised, for yon must have aeen that I love yon dearly, and I hope that it haa not been distasteful to yon has it?' There was no answer, but there was no attempt to withdraw the hands that be held. 'I am not an adept at love-making, darling. Will you be my wife, Nellie ?' ' I never thought that you oared for me,' she murmured. 'Yon never noticed me much, and I thought you oared for others,' oame in a low voice. ' 1 must have hid my feelings more than I thought, but it was because I loved yon ao that yon thonght that I negleoted you A minister is watched so much and has to be bo very careful. But oan you love me, darling, enough to be my wife ?' He conld scarcely hear the answer, but he suddenly clasped her in his arms. No matter wbat happened for a few minutes. It waa the first time that he had been in love, and the room waa dark. He remem bered afterwards that he even then felt surprised to find that she waß so small. 'Imußt be going, darling,' be aaid at laat, as he heard someone entering the uext room. ' There ia a committee meeting in my atudy. I will come upstairs aB aoon aa I oan,' and, giving her a laßt kias, he hurried from the room. He waa in no humour for a businesa meeting, and the good brethren mnst have thought that their yoang minister waß growing frivolooß, he seemed ao lighthearted, and langhed aeveral timea when they were discussing important bnaineaa. The truth waa he scarcely knew what was said or done, and aa Boon aa the last one had departed he harried upstairs. Nearly everyone had gone, bnt Nellie, ' hiß Nellie,' wm bußy arranging Borne laat flowers in a vase, and Jr Graham waa standing beaide her and whispering something to her while ahe just shook her head and laughed. Nellie merely glanced up as he approached. ' What do yoa think of the decorations 7' Bhe aaked. ' They are fine, very fine,' he answered, trying to meet her glance, bat ahe had turned baok to Dr Graham, and for a moment he waa angry. ' Pshaw I How unreasonable I am,' he aaid to himself. 'How muoh more thoughtful ahe is bo aa not to attract attention/ So he walked away nntil he saw her oreparing to leave.

' Are you ready to go now ?' he aaked in a low tone. 'Do yoa want to take thia basket along ?' 'Why, yea— but,' ahe heaitated an inatant,' Dr Graham will help me with my things.' He suddenly dropped the basket. 'Why, Nellie, it ia my place, not that fellow a, he explained. Nellie Collier's faoe flashed, ' I do not see how yoa oan claim that right any more than yon have to speak of Dr Graham in that manner,' she aaid, hanghtily. ' Why, Nellie, I think that what paßsed between ob thia evening wou'd oertaiiily give the right.' ' Why, Mr Pitcalrn, what ooald possibly have paaaed between aa ? Yoa maat be laboring nnder some mistake,' ahe explained In surprise. « I saw yoa when you came into the churoh. and had scarcely spoken to yoa antil yoa oame here a few minutes ago.' ' What do you mean, after what was said in the anteroom when you were after rope ?' ' Mr Pitcairn, if yon had any conversation with anyone downstairs it certainly waa not with me. I went down after rope, but I was not gone two minntea, and you must remember that I was not the only 00 % « ho had been downa *ai" »f*er things, and if yoa have made any arrangements to accompany a young lady borne this evening, it was not with yonr humble Bervant,' and her blaok eyeß danoed merrily, and be knew that ahe waa enjoying hia diacomfitnre. Mr Pitcairn grew pale. 'I'll forgive jou for calling Dr Graham a fellow if you don't do it again, for he ia ' —ahe hesitated and blushed—' a very particular friend of mine, and you and I have been such good friends tbat I will tell you a secret— we are engaged.' ' Oh, yoa little torment I I might have known that you would try '—he exclaimed, bis faoe all aglow. ' Why, Mr Pitcairn, how coald yoa bave known it, when we did not know it ourselves nntil this evening? And I don't know wbat the dootor will Bay to my telling you.' ' Mr Pitcairn staggered baok against a Beat. I—l wish yon every happiness,' he

stammered, then he turned to examining the flowers until after they had Itft the church. He felt dazed, and he certainly S inched himself to see that he waa not reaming aB he went down stairs to his study. ' A pretty kettle of fish I've got into,' he exclaimed, as be threw himself into a ohair and kicked the footstool whioh Miss Reynolds had made across the room. ' Loat the girl I wanted and engaged myself to something I don't want, and I haven't any idea wholt is!' He lit a match and went over to tbe anteroom. There lay a piece of rope on the floor, and beside it a daintily perfumed handkerchief. He picked them np and went baok to his study. He remembered now that he notioed the scent of violets as he held her in hia arms. It oost him a struggle to give up Nellie Collier. He Bat and thousrht until long after midnight. He studied over all the Nellies of hiß congregation. There waa Miaa Reynolds, but she was too stoat, he thoaght, with a great aigh of relief ; Miaa Mattern waa too tall, lt waa someone whose head just reaohed hia shoulder. He had oalled her Nellie, he was oertain of that, with some love epithets thrown in. She waß small and dainty, and, whoever she was, evidently loved bim. If he fonnd she was aomeone who wonld not suit him, well, he would have to get oat of It in some way. But, whoever she was, her presence seemed to haunt him as he sat there. He could feel her arms around bla neok and the pressure of her head againat his shoulder, and he felt an intense longing to again hold the little white-robed figure in hia anna and feel her' warm breath on hiß cheek. And hedignified minister that he was — picked up the handkerchief and kissed it passionately. He scaroely knew bow he got through the next day. He was thankful that the services were such that he did not have to give a regular sermon. He studiously avoided looking at the ohoir, where Nellie Collier waa sitting, until near the oloae of the evening services, when, while Elinor Vandever was singing a solo, he turned that way, and for a moment their eyes met, her voice faltered for an inatant, and then rang out olear and sweet. He nearly let the hymn-book be was holding fall to the floor in his surprise, and a sudden feeling of relief came over him. Elinor Vandever 1 He h»d never thought of her, and yet he knew that her pet name at borne was Nellie. She had always been so reserved that he had never dreamed that she wonld oare for bim, but there was no mistaking that look. 1 Wbat a dear little thing she is. I don't think that I will want to give her up. I — I have been very fortunate,' he said to himself as he met her at the foot of the stairs