The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-02-24

w naJ WIS tne pdTb ne hAu pihyeut
Nothing And before he realized what
he was doing he had told her that her good
opinion was more TO him than that Of all the
world beside; that with her love he could face
contumely and scorn, let It come from what
ever quarter, and II seemed TO him as he
spoke that he wos really n martyr for the
truth, instead of the potroon which he had
called himself a few moments before. III she
would only respond with q like assurance he
could make q clean breast of everything But
Orient only replied reassuringly that there
would be no contumely, and that even IL
Ramoth Giead did not give him a call, her
fathers opinion of him would not be lessened.
"1e has a great deal of influence with the
board" she added, land he has come nice
appointment in view for you. He wanted
me to come up here on purpose to hear you
preach, and he was very curious for me to
give him my opinion of you. He seemed to
think that you were still an invalid, and he
will be glad to know that you are so strong.
| suppose it was your sea voyage and foreign
travel that benefited you.n
A deadly certainty grew upon Halsey's
mind. He had never heard Orient's family
name mentioned, hut he was sure now that
this was DIR. Corcoran's daughter, and that he
had suppanted his friend. He was not pre-
pared for this, and he tried to put the convic-
tion from him-to believe that it was not So
"Orient," he said, as the clock struck, "can
you believe that we have actually been ac-
quainted only twenty-five hours and about
the same number of minutesf'
"Oh, it cannot be possible" she exclaimed;
"what an imprudently short acquaintance to
become engaged upon. But l know your
whole life from the time you were black
smiths boy to the present, and all your wan
derings in Palestine" Halsey WINGED, but .
did not interrupt her. "And father knows
you so thoroughly and respects you so highly.
and both he and mother have talked to me SO
much about you. When l came back to my
room it was full of reminders of your pres
ence. That explanation of the objectionable
sin which you left on my desk was masterly
piece of reasoning. And all the notes which
you made in my books were interesting to
me, though l confess that was indignant
enough at first to think that you had read
my silly jottings. l was not so prim as
seemed to be when | declined corresponding
with you, for was secretly pleased that you
had learned to care for me in such an odd
way. Obi indeed assure you that would
never have fallen in love with you in this
disgracefully precipitate way without that
long mental preparation"
Clearly it was no time now for Halsey to
explain that he had no connection with the
past she treasured He accepted the situa-
ton recklessly, with all the advantages
which 1t conferred upon him. $50 the ac-
tual does not come up to your idealN he
asked.
"You are very different" !" she replied, mu-
singly, mot a bit as had imagined you.
You are very worldly looking. / never
would have thought you minister IL had
met you anywhere else but then you are
n \
fully talented l am proud to think you
should care for little me. And I, no doubt,
am very different from what you imagined.
Are you greatly disappointed"
OF course Halsey protested that he was
not, and he parted from her at the parson-
age gate with many assurances of his devo-
ton; and, however false their relations to
each other these at least were genuine.
Ill
Halsey sat thinking deeply far into the
night. He reviewed every possible plan for
avoiding confession and for keeping up his
assumed character, but he saw that this was
impossible Orient had told him that she
was to return home upon the morrow, and he
had agreed to accompany her On the jour-
ney the explanation must be made Every
moment of delay made it more difficult, and
he bitterly regretted that he had not been
more honest with her However, to have
firmly made up his mind to throw of tine
mask was something of a relief and he awoke
the next morning with hopeful feeling and
his usual confidence that some way things
would come out right
As he was not to lay aside his role
during the morning, be determined to
deepen the good impression which he had
made upon Orient, and to select the sermon
which he was to preach before the fellowship
meeting solely with reference to her tastes.
He hesitated some time between "Buddha
and his Philosophy of Despair" discourse
of DIR. Newman's, and 1.-THE PARALLELS of the
Talmud,n by the Rev. Charles Eaton, but
finally settled upon the first as more compli-
mentary to her intellect. He was little dis
turbed to notice, on taking his place in the
pulpit that Orient was not in the choir, the
eldest Miss Pearce occupying her place ut
the organ. AL through the sermon he kept
his eyes fixed upon the door, hoping to see
her enter, but only to be disappointed. He
knew, too, from the strong stare with which
his hearers confronted him, that his audience
| did not care q penny for Buddha OF the re-
ligion of India. Only Miss Pearce seemed in
in the least interested, for she had just read
"Mr. Isaacs," and had, beside, her reputation
| as philosopher at stake, The business meet
ing was called Immediately after the sermon,
and Halsey, leaving 1t TO its deliberations as
| TO his eligibility, hurried over to the parson-
age He was informed by the servant that
| Miss Corcoran had left town on the noon
train. He was struck with sudden apprehen-
sion.
81 understood that she was going on the af-
ternoon train
The servant believed that she did intend to
| do SO, but had changed her mind Halsey
1 aul oil tha ln
his niece over to the station and had not yet
| returned; he would come soon; would not the
i gentleman watl Halsey concluded that lie
| would do so and was shown into the doctors
study. A volume OF sermons by henry Ward
| Beccher lay upon the desk, open to the very
/ one which he had abridged for his PRAYER
meeting talk. The doctor had evidently
| looked it up from a haunting suspicion that
its resemblance to Beecher's style was not en-.
tirely accidental QrIents sudden leave tax.
ing was explained; she had found this, and il
was enough. She did not wish to see him
again He rose quickly and left the house, moi
caring TO face the doctor now. He walked
across the fields to the deacons house II
was deserted for the discussion over his case
was very warm and the meeting not ye
over. He sat down and wrote an impas
stoned lette" TO Orient, making clean breas
of everything and begging her mercy A
he sealed it he noticed that the congregation
were dispensing, and the deacon soon afte
entered the ROOM
| I'm powerful sorry he said, "but ther
was good deal of feelin', and the motion b
give you call was lost. You see your ser
mon yesterday evenin' wasn't considere.
quite orthodox
| Halsey wrote the doctor an explanation
for the sake of his friends good name, but h
did not feel obliged to confess TO the deacon
who conveyed him to the station, and wa
profuse In his regret over the vote of tn
church. At the station he mailed his lette
10 Orient, and returned to his friend Steels
whom he found in a much more hopefu
state. The fever had been broken, but
was very weak. "You must help US kee
his mind IN cheerful, calm condition,
\ tho local doctor said to Halsey
before he went up TO his room. When Al
drew Steele inquired about his friends e,
perience at Ramoth Gilead, Halsey told hir
that he had explained the state of affairs t
the pastor aud had simply read three sci
mons; that OF course under the circumstance
there could be no call TO the pastorate, nc
did he see how his interests could be affecte
very much even though Dr. Coreoran mui
1 and thath his NJ i,,o fa,,