Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-24

assistant minister at the mission had
dined with them on the evening before.
'The day will come, " he had thought,
"when ], too, may be asked there to
dine"
And now he was thinking that day
might not be SO far distant; for, was
he not going to the mission, the week
following, to take the place, temporily,
of that very same assistant minister,
the Rev. Mr.. David, who, he had heard,
was to be married and go to Europe
for three months honeymoon tour !?
eyes, it was true, as Lord Beacons-
field had said: "Any man may be
what he makes up his mind to be-"
By the time young Engfer reached
the Sturgis residence he had walked
and thought himself out of the gloom
of his blues and his self chidings into
the radiant sunshine of hope de-
ferred that was on the verge of reali-
zation; and he whistled softly n mer-
rier air than was to be found in the
hymnal, as he tripped lightly down
the stone steps of the areaway, and
rang the bell.
1t was his intention to hand in the
bundle and to make off as quickly Us
possible. He had no notion of being
recognized, and above all he wished
to avoid the possibility of n request to
await in the dining room, as he had of
yore, the verdict as to fit. In making
these plans he had counted upon the
bell being answered by housemaid,
and when, instead of servant, the
door was opened by Miss Sturgis her.
self, his mode of procedure was, of ne
cessity, somewhat altered. To escape
recognition was out of the question,
and, Us he realized that in his effort to
serve the woman he most cared to
please he had put himself in a position
that was likely to lower him in her es-
timation, he blushed to the roots of
his haxen hair.
"Why, Mr.. Engfer," she exclaimed,
81. am so sorry you went to this
trouble !"
"Well, you. see THAT is father"
he stammered, Thought that possibly
you were expecting it, and"
Eyes, l was expecting it," Miss
Sturgis put in; Gin fact, 1 was very
anxious for 1t. L couldn't wait for
Della to get to the door; but / had no
idea that you would have to bring it,.
81 was coming this way" Karl pre-
varicated, "and offered"
won't you come in?" the young
woman interrupted again. 'You can
spare q moment, can't you? eshan't t
treat you rs an errand boy, you know
and she laughed in way that made
young Engfer hesitate between embar-
rassment and pleasure.
'1'm afraid" he began to protest,
"that 1 can't stop this evening. i
have"
"Just minute" Miss Sturgis plead
ed. "You must let me thank you for
your trouble; and then, want to con-
gratulate you, too"
Karl followed her into the dining
room, where the table was spread for
dinner.
"Sit down" she said, and she drew
a chair out for him and another for
herself. "Now, Mr.. Engfer," she went
on, 81 am awfully obliged to you for
having brought me my habit"
AS the young man looked at her in
the soft light cast by the pink shades
that adorned the candles in the can
delabra he thought he had never before
realized how beautiful she was. She
was so bright this evening, too-so
cheering-and, what was dearer to him
than all else, she was really almost
familiar. The chasm which had once
seemed 30 wide between them was grow.
ing narrower and narrower. There
was no doubt of that. Once he was or.
dained the breach might easily be
closed entirely.
"And now," she went on, 81 want tc
offer you my congratulations upon the
good news heard to-day; that yor
are coming to the mission to take Mr.
David's place"
Karl could hardly believe that h,
heard Alright. Could it be that sh,
was actually pleased that Mr.. Davit
was going away? AT one time during
the latter part of his attendance at the
mission Sunday school he had though
that she cared something for the youne
divine, and he had really been little
jealous of him.
"You are very kind, Miss Sturgis,
he said, every kind. Do you take n
much interest in the mission a.
formerly?"
ooh, dear, yes. More than ever /"
''Then / suppose shall see goot
} deal of you, there?'
''Of me?" she asked, surprisedly
ooh, you don't know, then! Why
thought every one knew. Haven't yor
heard whom Mr.. David is going tc
marry?'
A sharp pain as from knife thrust
shot through Karl's heart. He seemed
suddenly unable to breathe. There
was a rumbling, rushing sound in hi
head and swaying, darkening cloud
before his eyes. He was conscious o.
4 tingling chilliness, and then of 6
numbness in his hands, his feet, and
his legs from the knees down. He
made an effort to pull himself to