New-York tribune., 1895-01-27


could not quite control. Suddenly Temple rose
I'm glad you have come. minister can
advise one. | think I could do great deal OF
good II were Links wife. l suppose We are
here to do the most good We cam.
Mercer aware that his mouth dry
that his tongue seemed to cleave to the roof Of
It, He was aware Of this fact with deep and
angry surprise This girl nothing to him.
absolutely nothing He was going to treat her
precisely as II she were-we. as IL she were any
one Of those unkempt, dingy-faced women with
wad OF snun under her lip.
Yes" he said. but there are some sacrifices
that God would not ask us to make
Are there? Are you sure? God loves sacri-
fee, doesn't He?'
Certainly"
Having pronounced that one word Mercer did
not. for the moment. attempt another.
He had seen this girl in all for very brief
space that 1t absurd that there should be
anything In his mind but a general for her
wel.being. He tried 90 reassure himself py
thinking. what the truth. that he should %
doing this thing II she had been any one else
who was contemplating what he considered q
wrong action But somehow this thought dld not
reinforce him as II ought.
He could not help thinking Of Temples eyes
Why were they just like that? What was there
In them? He had never IN his life asked these
questions before and he nad never meant TO ask
them. They also were absurd. He was interested
in Temple because she had soul 10 be saved
He tod this with great emphasis TO himself: but
even while he told II he knew that IL was lie;
and lie Is Of the devil.
While he was casting about In his mind for
some words that should smite with cutting
strength as with a sword. Temple spoke again.
There's Lincoln Dalveckers eternal welfare to
be considered. you know; but more than that.
there are the mountain people all about. Don't
you think could do them good? Oh!' passion
ately. you can't know how long to do sood"'
Mercer had a painful conviction that for the
first time In his life he did not understand him
self. Worse than that. he was not quite sure
that he securely held the reins over his neck.
He was like one dazzled That power Of personal
Tt L,I ,ho,,
girl, and OF which she was totally unconscious:
was having its effect now upon this man who had
In his heart devoted himself to what he consid-
cred Gods work. There was great deal OF the
spirit OF the Middle Ages in Richard Mercer.
He made another attempt to speak. and this
time. he said:
Yes; but you see. Lncoln's wife. should
be identified with them: could devote my NE
could be missionary all the time. could be
the means Of saving souls.
For the first time since he had chosen his HE
work the Rev. Richard Mercer was aware that
the phrase Saving souls failed to stir him 10
enthusiasm.
Don't you see?" she asked.
II think I see what you mean," he answered
coldly.
She looked at him in surprise. She was some
how disappointed She could not understand why
he did not urge her to go on. But he did not.
As she looked at him subtle change came
over her mood. She suddenly dropped her eyes
Il wish you would advise me- she said with
some humility. Then with tmd interrogation.
II try to be-
Then you'll know what to tell me-
Mercer was struggling with himself that ne
might be- able to advise her without the slight
est reference to his own feeling. What was the
affair to him personally? Absolutely nothing
When he should have passed a few months work.
ing among these people he would go on to an
other field and he should never see this girl
again.
see this girl again" shook him II they had
been something tangible. Was 1t possible that ne
had esteemed himself strong because nothing OF
consequence had ever tried his strength?
Yes" he answered quickly. Il shall know
what to tell you. Don't marry that man. Don't
do 1t. Is 1t that you want great space-inuch
to do? Is 1t? Answer me? Will your enthusiasm
Mercer's eyes blazed across the space between
him and the girl. He was fighting against q
primitive furious temptation to go out ana
throttle that yellow-haired youth, lest this giI'
might be persuaded to marry him. He wantedu
be In the open air and wrestle alone against tns
unheard-of emotion. The very atmosphere mere
was alive with the presence OF Temple
Mercer wished also to stand there and look AZ
| her-to stand there forever and look at her lie
| did not understand II at all. He did not In tne
| least believe In anything like this. No weii-resu
| lated mind ever succumbed to anything OF TINS
| kind
His thoughts ran on in such fashion as ne
| stood there meeting the glance or Temples warm
| colored dark eyes 1t was Impossible 10 zen
| whether eyes OF such a hue were really warm
or only had that appearance Temples lisht na,,
was rumpieu COUluseuiy. '"c h"u
afresh when she and Sally had been singing oy
| themselves after Miss Drowdy had left them
| There was always much II the unusual IN tne
| girls appearance; perhaps this appearance was
intensified now.
| "Will It lastg'
Mercer repeated his question authoritativeIy;;,,
| "Oh" exclaimed Temple. I'm sure II VII.
! Still, how can tell? never experienced ren rev..
| gion before But Sally has. Only hers doesm
| hold out. She has the POI. er. you know. Inv
| Holy Ghost gets right hold Of her" ,.,.
| Temple said right holt with an uncohse''1>
| but perfect negro intonaton.
| Mercer inwardly shrank from these phraSe.s.; 80.
| Its the helping others-the being OF usen LIE
| whether the thing Is rea, or not. 4,
| But Mercer found that he ,ould not 90 on s -,
| that way He would not make the attempt any
more. Ian, l.. ..ted
"Do you love young Dalvecker7 ne a'As'
| abruptly. -.
| spectacle"
do you love him."
| Temple drew q little nearer. ~
| "You see," she said Ia connaenuai to"e, ,ov
| don't believe In that kind OF thine INV INV.
better than that II doesn't amount u my
| thing" ,. IA n,rted
| Mercer was confounded. His sister had nntv. n',s
| at this But when man came TO stano oppv'sr IN
| such face and have the owner OK II spe@~ -
| this way the effect was confusion. s.d-
| Mercer made vp his mind. And ne never "e'
| tated after ne had decided ,.~s
"Since you feel that way, ne said anu s 80
| YOU want to work In the vineyard, maIIy "a a.
| Join me in this glorious labor. We VIII usn'
| gether on the Lords SIDE --'-.-- 49,
(Te - continusdl