The Curate's Temptation.
By Maurice Saxon.
I.
HE Rev. Oswald Campion sat deep in thought in a small room in Walworth. His thin and naturally thoughtful face wore a worried and hopeless look, and his tall figure seemed to stoop under
some heavy burden. "How will it all end?" he murmured; "God help me in this trouble." Wearily he arose and crossed to the fireplace. He strove to warm his numbed fingers over the small handful of embers in the grate, then with a sigh rested his arm on the mantelpiece. Again he sighed, and passed his long, thin hands over his brow. A sudden terrible thought occurred to him. "God of mercy," he cried, "add not that to my cup of bitterness!"
He started violently as the door was opened, and a gentleman entered quietly.
'Cheer up, my darling!'
Campion tried to speak, but his dry lips refused their office. Seeing his agitation, his visitor said, calmly:
"I congratulate you, Mr. Campion; you have a son."
"And my wife?"
"Is doing as well as can be expected; but, as you know, she is far from strong, and requires every care."
"I know," said the clergyman, sadly. "May I go and see her?"
"Certainly, but do not excite her."
Campion's pale face flushed, but it was by excitement rather than joy, for the weight on his heart was too heavy to be easily raised. With merely a slight bow to the medical man, he went upstairs.
During the few minutes he was allowed to remain in his wife's room he strove desperately to hide his anxiety and encourage the girl-mother, who glanced at him wistfully as he looked at his new-born heir.
"Cheer up, Edith, my darling," he said, brightly, as he kissed her pale face; "you will soon be well again now, and then we will get away from this dreadful London."
"Ah! Oswald," she whispered, pressing his hand affectionately, "if we could do so! But I am so troubled to know how we shall manage now."
"You mustn't bother yourself, dearest. We shall do splendidly. I have heard of a first-rate curacy, and I have every hope that I shall obtain it. So keep up your spirits."
"But meantime, dear, what are we to do ?"
"Do? Why, pull on as best we can."
"But have you any money, Oswald? You know you told me yesterday you did not know what to do for some."
