Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-12-12
CHAPTER VI.

long, gray coat, opened Hugh's gate the
next morning.
"It's the missionary. I'll send DR..
Larremore note to remind him of his
promise to bring him to dinner tonight.
1t will be lark" And Marian turned
from the window to Mrs. Ventnor, en-
joying her look of horror. "You II have
to forego your after dinner cigarette for
once, dear"
"Not bit of it If you will gather
such absurdities about you, count me
out. I'll smoke as usual or dine in my
room"
"You would not be so rude nor so un-
fair, Marian insisted, passing her hand
in good humored effrontery over Mrs
ventnor's face, land you won't smoke
tonight either-to please me"
II was the remembrance of this little
talk that made Mrs. Ventnor's chubby
face wear an aggrieved expression as she
shook hands with the Rev. Mark Thorne
that night. On second thoughts, how
ever, she decided there was nothing ter
rible about him. He looked i'll, but he
had o nice smile and voice, and to her
relief did not begin dinner by leading
in prayer. More than that. he had q
good, ringing laugh and keen sense of
humor. Indeed, he was not at all for
midable person. Marian was closer OBJ
server. In spite of his unexpected light
heartedness she read the rigor, the in
tense zeal Of the mans devotional ma
ture. His features had the pinched,
bloodless look Of the ascetic, and in his
large, nearsighted eyes great enthu-
siasm burned.
He treated Hugh like son. His deep
love for him was undisguised as a
child's.
She found an intense charm in listen
ing to his gentle, inspiriting voice.
OF Persia, from travellers stand
point, he talked delightfully."-, and he
was persuaded to speak of the purpose
which had brought him back.
Toward that dark island in the Pacific
where men and women writhed under a
f1eshly curse that could not be wholly
lifted his face was turned with smile.
His reading Of duty was astounding in
| its pure unselfshness.
Marian was compelled by contrast to
think of the purposeless, extravagant,
vicious lives Of the men she had known
IN New York, and here at her board
was a man of flesh and blood like them,
but who hsld that life was given us to
be used in the service Of others, that it
was no more a selfish possession than
money should be. He could laugh on
the very edge Of years demanding COM
plete self abnegation.
| Just as coffee was served he looked at
his watch.
IT forgot it completely. Ihave q most
despicable memory" And he gazed
around with an expression of helpless
apology. II promised Chalmers to look
in at his mission tonight A wonderful
| work "
His expression was so ludicrous, Hugh
laughed outright
"It's too late now, Mark"
| "Oh, no; I'm not due until half past
o or 10. It's open all night, you know.
But should have thought Of it before.
I saw Chalmers yesterday, and when I
heard how the Hawaiian affair was to
be hurried through-that I had not as
much time to linger about New York
as had hoped promised to 60 to him
tonight. Will you pardon my hasty re-
treat? It's very long time since I have
been SO happy" I"
AS Marian watched him nervously
wiping his glasses, his large eyes fixed
| upon her with the tender, pathetic va
cancy SO often seen IN nearsighted peo-
pie, as suggestive.of endearing helpless
ness as the lisp of child, startling
idea sprang to life in her perverse brain.
She followed all new ideas thirsti1y.
OF this man and of his aims she pined
for further glimpse. All he had mas
tered all that perplexed her in life. He
knew.
"What time is it nowp' she asked.
almost half past g."
! "And where is the mission?"
"In the slums of New York-in o
street you probably never saw. Wrecks
Of womanly honor drift there for shell
ter, many to die. The world seems q
chaos of heartbreaking misery and fes-
tering vice as seen through the portals
Of the Sunlight mission. -
| Marian rose impnlsively.
women go there, too--to see-do
they not?"
"Oh, yes"
"Then I'd like to go with you. I've
never been in the slums. Let us all go.
We can easily get there in an hour. I"
And the eagerness in her voice was con-
tagious.
"I wish you would, with all my
hearth Mark exclaimed.
Summing was very fashionable last
season." said Mrs ventnor approving
ly. "It would be odd"
But Hugh objected.
Really you would not enjoy an ad-
venture of this sort. Toread about these
things is very different from seeing
them. Don't 60.
Nonsense In dark cloth gowns We'll
just creep quietly about looking on.
You know you advised me to see all
sides of life. !" And Marian faced him
fully with ~rv lifting Of her chin.
4 Gh11flPAn Erw far