The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-10-21


from all the holy influences that to his
mind resided in the service and ritual,
turning the earthly eyes heavenward; from
the inspiring presence of invisible saints,
apostles, martyrs, and all the heavenly
host. He felt dishcartened when the day
was ended He had come to Eaglethorpe
with all his spiritual enthusiasm kindling
for the work before him, and here his
most deliberate act had resulted in shutting
out this sweet woman from til ministra-
tiOns of the tcmplel He made it his bust
ness to call up at Sunderland Hall that
week and try to remedy his mistake. He
found Miss Sally at the piano, the room
still echoing with her voice; but she left
it directly, in spite of his earnest request
that she should proceed with the passage
from Mozart's Twelfth Mass.
q came" he said presently, "t to make
sure that no one was i'll at the Hall. Not
seeing any of the family at church, l had
fears"
"You are very good to trouble yourself
so far about your neighbors' souls"
lll8lulN, us IL SlC lldCl Sdlu Ou dIt llc
most meddlcsome man alive!'
"Nay, but that is the duty l have
made my choice and my pleasure" he
| said.
Il will call grandmamma," she inter-
posed And presently the little old lady
came hobbling downstairs on her cane.
But Miss Sally failed to return.
Mr.. GIldersleevc went home with a
heavy heart He had meant to do 50
much good in his parish-to battle so
bravcly with wrong, to restore harmony
and goodwill toward men; while here he
was creating discord and ll-tceling with
every word, and perhaps becoming the
means Of closing heaven against the girl
whose wclfare-spiritually, let us hope
had suddenly become dearer to him than
his own!
Old Mrs. Sunderland, Miss Sally, and
Mr.. Tom, a fast young man, were all that
were left of the family at the Hall. Per-
haps, if there had been father or moth
er, Mr.. Gildersleevc would have felt him.
eeIf r'nIinvnd of ~oore.,~:bili.y- -. .>,a--
|
by and no Miss Sally illuminated the great
empty pew he began to feel as if he had
indeed mistaken his calling, especially
when it came to his ears that she had
given up her class in Sunday school and
resigned her situation as treasurer of the
Dakota League, and even went picknick-
ing with Tom on Sunday afternoons, and
played rollicking airs Sunday evenings
for the amusement of his companions!
Mr.. Gildersleevc was at his wits end;
but he was determined to make one des-
pcrate effort, and solicit Miss Sunderland
to ioin his confirmation Whenever
he called at the Hall she was sure to be
out or engaged; therefore he wrote her
note tender as a mothers, eloquent as
lovers, begging her, for her souls sake
and for his own peace Of mind, to come
forward and forget injuries in remember
ing love that passeth understanding.
"Tell Mr.. Gildersleeve," said Miss
Sally to his messenger, " that this is my
answer" and she held his letter in the
gas flame till it shriveled and dropped.
The surprised messenger reported her
faithfully. Mr.. Gildersleeve was in de-
spair, particularly as he overheard his
landlady saying, after he had exchanged
one Sunday, Miss Sally Sunderland was
to church yesterday, sure's you're sim
ner; what's going to happen? l didn't
think she was going to meddle with re-
ligion, never no more; they amt got no
religion to spare at the Hall, no way, and
it does seem as though Mr.. Gildersleeve
oughter exert hisself and bring 'em un-
der some sort of conviction, if he knew
his dutyr'
Mr.. Gildersleeve groaned in spirit
Wasn't that the very result toward which
he had bent his best energies? And how mis-
erably had he failed 1t seemed as if his
mere presence in Eaglethorpe hindered
her spiritual advancement; that under the
hand of another pastor she might grow in
grace and blossom into all Christian vir-
tues. 1t began to appear plain to him
that he had not been called to help her on
the way, to make her election sure; that
not into his hands had been committed
the precious task Of opening heaven to
her-he was not worthy of such blessed
ness! However painful it was to him he
would seek another field; it should never
be said of him that he had willtully him
dered soul from heaven-and her soul!
He sent in his resignation. \ parish
|
and expostulated, and finally notified Mr..
Gildersleeve that they should not fill the
pulpit for three months, at the end of
which time it would be at his option
either to resume his duties or not, as the
spirit moved. He thanked them, and
took the noon train for the city. Within
ten miles of Eaglethorpe two trains col
lided, and when Miss Sally Sunderland
dashed up to the railway track on her
horse, Scamper, in mad gallop through
the woods-she could not have told
whither-she came full and suddenly upon
the ghastly melee. She threw up her arms
at the sight, and grew hot and cold by
turns; two men were bringing mangled
|
which they had constructed; the face,
amidst all its bruises, was terribly familiar
to Miss Sunderland. She never knew
when or how she alighted from Scamper.
She did not hear him galloping home
bare-backed, to frighten Mr.. Tom out of
his wits; she heard only the stifled groans
that came from the livid lips of the man.
gled man before her, with whom she had
dared to trifle but a, while ago, as she tore
up portions of her clothing, and helped
strangers to bandage his wounds, and
dropped hot tears over him and repentant
sobs, and cried out in her agony that she
had driven him away, that she had killed
him, and begged him to hear her sing to
him once again, and to open his eyes and
live for her sake, forgetful and careless of
the presence Of by-standers. And when, at
length, Mr.. Gildersleeve did open his
eyes, it was to meet the tear-bedimmed
face Of Miss Sally bent over him, all its