Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-04-18

inclined to treat the whole matter as entirely
imaginary. His daughter was still away
from home, d.would remain so for year
longer He talked to me very seriously about
my health, and told me Twas in fairer way
10. be buried than married, and he should
disapprove Of his daughters becoming in
terested in me solely ON that ground. Go
home for year or more, he said; rest and
exercise; make sound, healthy man Of
yourself; and when you have done that,
come and see us again, and will introduce
you to my daughter"
HWhy in the name of common sense
haven't you followed his adviceg .g
II have done so, Halsey, as far as is posi-
hle, I have put myself in training as though
| were going to row with a prize crew; but
| you cannot realize the difficulties Of my posi-
I uion. am minister without parish, and
| so belong to everybody. have done more
work the past winter than any regularly set
tied pastor Of my acquaintance, and have.
bad before my mind always my own person.
~, private desire to cdtmysef for a. foreign
field, 50 that some time if win Miss Cor
coran-and if I gave up that hope should
give up everything-we may go out to our
life work together. We have a returned
missionary at Sunderland, and I am studying
Turkish with him. I want to have some ac-
quirements which viii recommend me to the
board, so that I may not have to waste ayear
On the field in preparation"
"You appear to have carried out DR.. Cor
corans advice in regard to rest to the letter."
Halsey remarked dryly. II wonder you
haven't engaged some rabbinical old clothes
man Of the Bowery to instruct you in He
brew, and taken dip into Chinese by way Of
pastime."
ST studied Hebrew at the seminary" the
other replied, not perceiving the irony in
his friends remark II think have made
the most of my opportunities, but now, just
when + need it most, my brain fails me.
must preach at Ramoth Gilead next week,
and my head is in whirl. I can't settle on
train of thought, or collect two consecutive
ideas on anything but the objectionable sin;
that is upper1nost in my mind the whole time,
and it was while puzzling over that subject
that fell into the state of ruin from which
Dr. Corcoran rescued me-"
'sSteele," exclaimed Helsey, ''you have
acted like an idiot. If you want to marry
Miss Corcoran and sail away to Joppa, which
I consider very sensible idea, as the sea
voyage would build you up and foreign
travel is just what you need to top off your
education and f1t you for shining position,
q candlestick on hill and not city under
bushel, you know-if this is your little game,
! say why in the name Of common sense do
you pay any attention to side isSues} Why
don't you say to Ramoth Gilead: Gentlemen,
you may go to Jericho I have other fish to
fryp"
"Simply because Ramoth Gilead lies in my
way. 1t was the birthplace and early home
of DR.. Corcoran. 1t was through him that
received this call. And he writes me very
pleasant letter apropos of the subject. This
Is what he says:
My DEAR STEELE: It is long time since we
have heard from YOU and I trust you have I'm
proved the time by laying in o good stock OF
health. I have some little influence with tho
board, am in fact their health inspector, and
happen to know of mission which think you
would like, and for which think yoY admirably
qualified. I won't ask you to come on an uncer-
talnty, as can arrange fox an examination
little nearer your present residence. The churcls
at Ramoth Gilead win give you call as candi-
date in few days. have number Of trust
worthy spies in the place and II they send me
good report Of your physical condition u have no
doubt in any other particularl will send your
nanc in to the board and they will probably
make yon n I'rapesitioP, P-sAap. This~dees nasj sj
accept the offer when it comes. Before you re.
fuse, however, we would like to have you make
us visit and let us talk over the matter to-
gether. Faithfully yours, GIDEON CoRcoRAS.
P S.-Mrs Corcoran unites W: b me in this in
vitation, and my daughter, who heard much OF
you and will be with US, will be happy to meet
you.
'There it is-the opportunity of my life
slipping from my hands. If I were to see
Miss Corcoran tonight could talk to her OF
nothing but the objectionable sin"
80, come now," Halsey replied, cheer
ingly, "you have given me tolerably con-
nected account of the whole affair, and dare
say you will make your way with the young
lady. What bothers me is what sort of an
impression you will make on those Ramoth
Gilead farmers as regards health. It's pity
you haven't physique like mine; but never
mind, all will end well, and we will meet
again in Ispahan or Babylon-you the patri-
archal head of numerous family and I the
war correspondent Of The Daily Shouter.
You must write up your experiences and
will bring them home and SEQ that they are
well brought out and that you get a pretty
penny out Of the affair. Or you may get
yourself lost and I'll enact Stanley to your
Livingstone and Well advertise each other
from Dan to Beersheba. You must put this
objectionable sin nonsense out of your head
and put your best foot forward generally.
Don't bother about thinking up new SER
mon; give them one Of your old ones, but put
lot Of vim into it. Beat the dust out the
pulpit cushions. Let them know that you
are alive"
Steele shook his head sadly. 81 want them
to know that I am strong, well man, and l
feel lassitude creeping over me which
makes the lifting of that fishing rod diff
cult task"
s'Cheer up! cheer up!" exclaimed Halsey.
"You will be rested in the morning; it IS all
that confounded Japanese and Turkish study;
all you need is little muscular Christianity.
Take leaf out of Charles Kingley's book;
buy pair of boxing gloves, and I'll pummel
faith, hope and charity into your poor little
shriveled body"
The next morning Andrew Steele was de-
lirious. 1t was with great trouble that his
friend conveyed him home. On the morning
after their arrival the sick man had lucid
interval He regarded Halsey with wistful
dry eyes, at has come" he said "1've
broken down. If I could have held out three
days longer"-
'You are right, old fellow" Halsey re-
piled, cheeringly; "give up to it completely;
let the disease do its worst, instead Of trying
to fight against it, and it will spend its force
all the sooner"
"But l must send supply to Ramoth
Gilead, :" he m INJURED; II promised to preach
for them tomorrow, and there is no time to
secure any one else"
~ will go for you," Halsey exclaimed, i'm
pulsively, land read one of your sermons"
His friend was sinking into unconsciousness
again, but he grasped the idea partially and
a smile Of unutterable relief chased the tor
ture from his face.
'You will take my place, he said in a tone
Of perfect confidence and profound gratitude;
s'you will do everything for me better than I
could do for myself. can endure anything
now"
In few moments he was quietly sleeping.
81 must not betray his trust" Halsey said to
himself, as he rummaged through his friends
desk; but the drawer which probably con-
tanned the sermons was locked, and he could
not end the key. He glanced at his watch;
he had barely time to catch the train. "Never
mind" he thought, II have dozen of good
ones by the ablest New York divines in my
shorthand notebooks. will read one or two
of them"
Hastily throwing the note books and few
necessary articles into hand bag, he set out
z1-.