Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-05-19

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lhe trend of her mind was to the east, and
yhe books in her small but well selected
library showed the same taste. As i'm.
proved in health l read them through, and
sometimes returned to make note in answer
to the penciled queries upon the margin
She had been studying Arabic but seemed
! interested in all Asiatic literature, and had
secured everything that could be had through
translations from the "Arabian Nights
and the "Korann to Matthew Arnolds
works, and the poems of Omar. There was a
portfolio of photographs and engravings,
reproductions of the works of French
oriental painters, views from Dores Bible,
photographs of Palestine and Egypt, the
bazars of Cairo the gardens of Damascus
and the nlinarets of Constantinople, and the
lbrr y showed that she had read and studied
of I'll She was one of those women of who.i
1t could be said that to know her was lib
eI-al education"
II should think So" Halsey replied "Do
you know, my friend, that it strikes me that
81 much knowledge suggests rather mature
person, and not exactly the frivolity of sweet
1917
"No, sho was not very young-23 learn
ed by consulting the family Bible, and | saw
her portrait in her fathers study when | be-
came well enough to walk about the house.
A sweet, girlish face it was, enough to steal
any mans heart away; but | loved her before
l saw it-for the beauty of her mind"
"And have you never seen her, or told her
of your affectionH
81 have never seen her. l went back
to the seminary, completed my course,
doing double work in the following year
III order to make up for lost time. But
in the midst of my work | thought con-
tinually of her. l wrote to her. told her
something of the interest with which she had
inspired me, and begged to be permitted to
correspond with her She replied cour-
teously, giving her reasons for declining the
correspondence. | wrote again and again,
bnt she would not reply After graduation
visited Dr. Corcoran, and told him every
thing. He heard me very kindly but was
inclined to treat the whole matter as entirely
imaginary. His daughter was still away
from home, and would remain so for year
longer. He talked to me very seriously about
my health, and told me was in fairer way
to 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 a sound, healthy man of
yourself; and when you have done that,
come and see us again. and l will introduce
you to my daughter"
"Why in the name of common sense
haven't you followed his advice!"
II have done SO, Halsey, as far as is possi-
Bile. have put myself in training as though
were going to row with a prize crew; but
YOU cannot realize the difficulties of my posi-
ton. l am a minister without parish, and
so belong to everybody. l have done more
work the past winter than any regularly set
tied pastor of my acquaintance, and | have
had before my mind always my own person.
al, private desire to fit myself for foreign
field, so that some time if | win Miss Cor
coran-and if gave up that hope l should
give up everything-we may go out to our
life work together. We have a returned
missionary at Sunderland, and 1 am studying
Turkish with him. l want to have some ac-
quirements which will recommend me to the
board, so that may not have to waste year
on the field in preparation"
"You appear to have carried out DR.. Cor
coran's 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."
II studied Hebrew at the seminary" the
other replied, not perceiving the irony in
his friends remark II think 1 have made
the most of my opportunities, but now, just
when need it most, my brain fails me. l
must preach at Ramoth Gilead next week,
and my head is in whirl. | can't settle on
a train of thought, or collect two consecutive
ideas on anything but the objectionable sin;
that is uppermost 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-"
"Steele," exclaimed Halsey, ''you have
acted like an idiot. If you want to marry
Miss Corcoran and sail away to Joppa, which
l 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 fit you for shining position,
a candestick on a hill and not city under a
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. | have other fish to
fryr"
"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 a very
pleasant letter apropos of the subject. This
is what he says:
My DEAR STEELE: 1t is a long time since we
have heard from you, and trust you have i'm.
proved the time by laying in good stock of
health / have some little influence with the
board am in fact their health inspector, and !
happen to know of mission which think you
would like, and for which think you admirably
qualified. won't ask you to come on an uncer'
tainty, as l can arrange for an examination a
little nearer your present residence. The church
at Ramoth Gilead will give you call as candi'
date in few days. have number of trust
worthy spies in the place and if they send me d
good report of your physical condition Il have nc
doubt in any other particularly, will send your
name in to the board and they will probably
make you a proposition soon. This does not
compromise you in the least for you need not
accept the offer when it comes. Before you re-
fuse however, we would like to have you make
us a visit and let us talk over the matter to-
gether, Faithfully yours, GIDEON CoRcoRAN
p S.-Mrs. Corcoran unites with me in this in
yitation, and my daughter, who heard much of
you and will be with us, will be happy to meet