The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-09-17

Hildreth had told him that the NOV
ing was q celebration, SO he started
presently to call on Mrs. Hildreth, and
to wish her constant joy. and as many
returns of the day in tho future as
there had been in the past. ''That would
take them far beyond their golden we'd
ding" he thought, and, with q sudden
realization Of the faithfulness of love
which had lasted so long and would last
so much longer if heaven spared them,
he turned his steps to pass the garden
where they had lived together for 90
many years.
Even young ministers feel rise and
fall of the divine spirit within them, and
as this young man stood by the Hill
dreth gate and looked at the loneliness
that was left when all the flowers clus-
tered about an empty spot of sand, a
fresh understanding of the sacredness
OF kindly living came to him, and filled
him with inspired humility. There
seemed so many warm, sweet, simple
truths to tell the world, although he
felt himself almost too young and far
too wisdomless to speak. "Twenty.
nine years." he thought, ''of the most
actual tests of grace-and have not
even reached the point where they be.
another-perhaps I should thank God
for it-and I've never even performed
u marriage ceremony in my life"
He looked about him from TIE site OF
the house to all the things which the
Hlldreths had been cherishing so long.
Il don't see how they can bear to leave
their flowers" he said, with little
sigh; "but then, as long as they take
their love with them, more flowers will
grow It seemed to the young minis
ter just then that grace might be less
varying if he felt more of individual
love; but soon he turned from the gate
| and walked round outside the garden
and down into Live-Oak lane, follow
ing the house. he was still very
young man, and pretty little speeches
went from him sometimes, and so as he
walked he kept repeating: II wish you
constant joy, and as many returns of
the day in the future as there have been
in the past"
He neared the house, and noticed how
daintily it had raised it's vines to move,
and he was wondering if it would be
just the thing for him to tell Mrs. Hill
dreth how much it looked like he1 when
she came to church on wet or dusty
mornings, but before he could decide he
saw that Mr.. Hildreth was standing
several rods nearer to him than to the
house and talking very earnestly, with
his hand on tall Jack Houghton's Shout.
der. The minister paused, for they
looked as if they were speaking in con.
tidence, and he wished neither to go
forward and interrupt them nor to re.
treat. Just as he paused, Mrs. Hildrett
stepped down from the house, followed
by Connie cambridge. The minister
felt that it was awkward to be standing
there in indecision, and he blushed.
No one saw him, however, for Mrs.
Hildreth and Connie cambridge both
stopped with startled look at sight of
the two men who were talking togkth-
er. There were traces of tears about
Mrs. Hildreth's eyes, and Comics face
was white. They stood still for a mo-
ment, and then Connie shrank back to-
ward the door, but Mrs. Hildreth took
her hand. The girls expression
changed and lighted She went for
ward swiftly and touched young
Houghton on the arm. The minister
turned away when Houghton, taken by
surprise, and bending to her, spoke her
name.
Mrs. Hildreth and Robbie moved away
from them and toward the minister,
who stepped to meet them, smiling and
fumbling with his thoughts, for the
words he meant to say were gone. It
happened that he did not need them,
for Mrs. Hildreth turned back and took
the other young people in the house.
Robbie Hildreth's smile was merrier
than ever in his eyes. do you know
the marriage service?" he asked.
''Why-why, of course" stammered
the minister, "but I've never"
''Then it's time you began" said
Robbie Hildreth, and he felt that the
minister was trembling as he took him
by the arm and drew him toward the
door. tits not a dangerous thing, you
kEow," he added, reassuringly. II can
testify, after 20 years."
The young minister flushed warmly,
but his arm grew steadier. "You have
shown what beautiful thing it can be-"
he said. And yet he hesitated in the
doorway, for Mrs. Hildreth was at the
window telling the men outside that
they might let the house stand still
little while; SO the two young people
were standing alone together hand in
bsnd. He could see their faces, and he
felt very sure that it would be an in
trusion If he went forward to speak to
them. But Robbie Hildreth was be-
lind him, pushing him gently, and Mrs.
Hildreth had turned from the window.
\ great stiffness fell like an Invocation,
and, gathering his courage, he went to-
ward them, and his heart stirred nerv-
ously as he rehearsed the marriage
service in his mind.
Afterward, while the house was NOV
ing leisurely along it's way, the minis
ter stepped down from it, and wandered