New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-08
] | I


# WAS mt gently and carefully, but Inc mean,
iva ~ tho c6mu i-ulcation 10 the minister paihS
,ros that il had come t. contest between nm
and the young Nj. Lloyd, and that "lich' .t
should acquit himself in this debate most 10 LII
satisfaction and admiration Of the au"leh'e "O"''
straiohtway be chosen rs minister. .,,
H. WAS a terrible situation for the minister,
how terrible none but himself know ana nom, no,
AVIAN Tho wife of his bosom, could ever suiiicIch'N
understand lie was bad depauci' aiI' WI, I
tLon that ne was the most nervous. hcSlli'i an
involved eNtcmporc speaker III the "0!u h',,
sermons and discourScs were away N.i',ItIi L,'o
Inc delivered them we'll that very IL" Wo"' W.
guessed that Inc had manuscript before MN WI
his writing in his hand he was easy Ni-"'""'' ".i
.oIf nnssc-.pd. Int when he had - speak 'NfHlp"'
" manic Of fear shook him: he had neither ideas
nor words. and he was completely lost I'll, -,
fl woS simplV n question ol nerves WIN Hih
and whenever he knew beforehand that ne Was
expected 10 speak cNtrmporc The strain upon nun
was crucllcr than man can tel H' s'I'l" lD
posed now upon n body wrak"ncu ~ Wv P's'
Teors invitations and anxiety could not ha'c pcch
cruclcr if hc had been under sentence Gi "cHlIl
and indeed, life or death seclneu 10 HIS ~ uNT H.
wrought nerves Ia hang upon the lo>ur' II Hc
failed and he feared he would ial, ldll sl@hdlIN
for hc did not doubt but that me YOUNG anu
bOistcruuS Mr.. Lloyd WAS without nerves .''" N"S
a Glib and srlf-cOniIdrnt taIkcr-lhrn ploH WIS
lost and his wife was condemned for Heaven alone
knew how long IA grlcyous poverty, ana hS emu
10 lingering death II hr 'nccrc,'rnou, ne ,,'
and with it life and health ana happiness l"r '">e
| he loved.
IT. was wednesday nnIHln- VIM ~. - ~
/ letter, and all that day he considered WIN Il IIc-
| nurnt feeling of panic at the heart, ana con-
| stant iiuttering OF the nerves. Whll I' co"'i
! possibly do - insure success lie thou@ht ne
| would write down something on the suhcci "l 'hc
| debate and commit il - memory. lie had SAT
! down and written little. when he bclh"nghi MN
| that he did not know when hc would he called
upon TO speak, nor whether he might not have 10
| expressly answer some one llc threw down Che
pen and groaned in despair: there was nothing 10
be done: he must trust 10 the inspiration ana sell
| possession Of the moment.
| When he went TO bed his sleep was sdccrs-
sion Of ghaSly Nightmares. lie dfcami his wife
and child were struggling and choking III dark
and Shiny sea. that Mr.. Lloyd stood aloof uncon-
crrncdlV looking or, and that hc, the husband and
| father. lay unable b stir hand or foot or tongue
Then he awokc with "a sharp cry trembling with
dread and bathcd in persplratlon, and found, To-
| il was but dream
So the night passed and the day came with lis
constant wearing fear ana anNlcty; lie could not
eat he could not drink. he could not rest and
| thus the day passed and the hour came when he
must set out for the fatal meeting. rs he passed
along the street people paused to glance at him
| lac appeared So pale and scared
when he entered the lccuIcroom nj Upton he
was met by his friend. the chairman of commit
tee. who looked al him and SAID
Don't you feel well, Mr.. Murray? Non loo;
very faint and pale. Let me get you glass OF
| wine
mo, thank yoq,' said the minister. 81 am
We Shall have n good debate | think" said his
friend, then leading the way forward.
| IL hope So" said the minister, though
| | am afraid ! can do little: / am the worst
| eytcmpore speaker YOU can imagine"
| Is that SO ~ The friend turned quickly anc
considered him. q" should not have thought
| So AL well. never mind.
| But the minister felt that his friends hop,
Of his success was considerably shaken.
The chief persons of the assembly were gath
cred about a table AT the upper end of the room
The chairman introduced the matter for debate
one man rose and spoke on thc affirmative side
and another rose and spoke on the negative
The minister listened. but hc scarce knew wha
was said he drank great gulps OF water Il
moisten his parchcd mouth (which. for all th'
water remained OlStinatey dry and he felt hi
hour was come lie glanced round him, bu
saw only shadows OF men. one only he saw
the man opposite him, the very young and bois
ferrous Mr. Lloyd, who capped his hands an'
Justify said Hear, heart when anything was sal,
| of which he approved which he wished TO de
ride The minister's eyes burned upon INN Ill
he seemed 10 assume Threatening denOnlac pro
| portions as the b0aStiul and blatant Apollyo
whom Christian fought IN the Valley.
At length young Mr.. Lloyd rose. large an.
hairy and then the minister listened WIN al
his ears lie missed nothing The NoHhS ma
! uttered-none of the foolish and ignorant opinions
none of the coarse and awkward phrdses-ahd Il
he listened ama7emcni seized nun, ana the
anger, and he said 10 himself This Is 'hc man
this is the concetcd and ignorant Smatiercr, VII
would supplant me- and rob my wife ana chill
of health and happincssl" lie rose al orc
in his anger TO answer him. u smash an
| nuIyerize him What he said in his an2e
, he did not know: but when lie had finished lie 81