The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-24
THE MINISTER'S MONEY.

WIFI inc Welgnt OF learning on its
shelves, tempted tho minister sorely.
Two volumes he wanted especially. His
heart leaped up to see the dear old COW
ers. They had been familiar long ago.
Within was the treasure that, poured
into the mould of his mind, should
yield distinction to many q sermon.
The dread that haunted him was OF
dearth when he stood in his pulpit He
had no critic so cruel us the Rev. Rich
ard East.
His thin, white fingers went over the
roughened calf with Il strange, carcss.
ing touch. lie removed the first and
looked ut the price. His guess was "A
scholars shot and close to the mark
The books were rare and s3 was asked
The minister could not hagglc. 1t
was an art beyond him. Nobody gave
him discount in Stolcly. you'd get
more of gloss on living if you'd clip
the edges of your tradesmcn's bills, ms
they deserve and expect said Mr..
Panlhurst, his foremost elder Yes
thank YOU" sud the minister. His
weak blue eyes were full of dreams and
his mouth wore smile The thing was
impracticable-cut off from HIM. o
So was the right to dclvc in these
mines of erudition and clouucnce
Three pounds ten was exactly the sum
he had saved with struggle to spend
in London. The odd shillings were
gone already, and the series of meet
lngs he had come up to attend only be-
gan yesterday. The sterile talk Of IL
conference was before him now. There
the pity of it all met him and made u
sigh leave his lips He had ceased to
hope that the session which was his
business would help him; but he knew
that if he had these two tall folios he
would be u broader man and fuller
preacher. Poverty pressed him back
toward thrcadbare themes. Even if
the trader would take less he was for
hidden to buy.
The minister buttoned his coat about
his spare, STOPPING figure, and was soon
seated in an omnibus. lie had wasted
time, and the city clocks convicted him
Crowded out, but in good company;
two laggards together"
Behind was tho dark face OF Caleb
Pankhurst, strong man, and rich,
and Il pitilcss. The minister's nerves
were awry and the whisper, which was
suppressed shout, shook them. The
odd, dream smile that came and went
by law remote, unfathomablc. was
his only answer. But he sat down
9 where his elder pointed.
When the sitting ended there was n
collection. The Rev Richard East felt
for the small w;tch-casc purse which
held his So and the shilling lie had dcs-
tined for the box to-day. 1t was not to
he found. The flush came up and the
wins of the minister's forehead were
darlsened by the quick tides of fear
"Gone-stolcn!' he cried hoarscly
What do mean? Had your pocket
picked? OF how much?"
Caleb Panllhurts pity was vastly like
scorn to "a fine ear. But he meant we'll
by the minister. Talks we'll Don't
know the world a Bit" was his usual
verdict.
How much have you lost? You'll
never see cent of it again, you may
depend on that. 1t is really gone, I
SUPPOSED"
They stood in the lobby now The
minister was slow in answering.
"Of course I'll help you. The moneys
missing, don't you say?"
Yes"
Tut, man, never mind! Don't addle
your head over it. There are worse
troubles for some of US. I'll give it to
you out and out; not loan--you I'M
dcrstand. It'll run me close, but am
at Stokcly tonight, so no matter 1
insist on you taking it,"
The minister put out his hands, as If
to wave back the cleaning gold coins.
There was passion in the gesture But
1t failed, and he knew that he was glad
it failed
"a gift!' That was what he repeated
many times as he went up Chancery
lane and down Holborn. lie STAYED
himself there. 1t was like Il rock in
the shadowy sea. Beyond were per
plcxities.
he stopped at the old book shop, and
the books were not gone lie had had
lively dread of this, and it had winged
his feet The haste and anxiety were
alike gratutious. He brcathed more
freely as glance treasured him. But
fever was in his fingers as he lifted
out both volumes and went forward.
II will take these" he said.
In the retrospect it seemed to Richard
East as if he were more mechanism than
elccting, determining man throughout
the crucial episode of his career In
way it went with that theory that he
never remembered the route he had
taken to Finsbury and his hotel. There
Is, however, the other hypothesis, that
the moment when the floods rose and
swept him from every anchorage of his
life was SO supreme that trivalties
were erased He may have forgotten
because brain and heart staggered
n youth ushered into the room caused
mil nj c. for. to L..
ecstacy he had been porting over his
Drize