Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-07-21
AT ARMS LENGTH.


said Rev. Horace Bernard, looking
up from his breakfast with an air O
utter disgust. cts the same ole
story, suppose, gambling anC
drinkingl ! fear no power on eartt
can save him"
His gentle little wife made no an
swer, but looked as if she were
thinking deeply.
When first knew him." he con
tinued, ''he was as handsome anc
bright a young fellow as one could
wish to see, really promising art
list; now, Ellen, solemnly assure
you, it makes me i'll to look at him.
Pah, he scarcely takes the trouble to
dress himself decently." Mr.. Bern
ard was somewhat fastidious.
II suppose he is dreadfully poor,
murmured his wife pitifully.
Poor! Yes, and he deserves to
be poor. have no patience with
him, Ellen. Look OF that"-he
tossed the letter across the table
he expects me to go to him at any
time of the day or night that he
chooses to send"
But, Horace, he says he is ILL.,"
~ dare say he is; can readily be-
lieve it; but ! have my sermon to
prepare, and must attend to that,
whatever is left undone. Well,
Nellie, don't you agree with me2"
Rev. Horace spoke rather sharply,
as if he read dissent in her face.
IF be is so very bad, Horace, per-
haps-" &c.. 49,,
''Oh, he'll pull through, Ellen.
Don't worry about him. I'll go this
evening, but he will have to wait till
then. 1t is of no use, I cannot
preach without taking time to pre-
pare"
So saying, he pushed back his
chair, and retired to his study. He
was q nervous, excitable man, and
the letter h:.d irritated him. All
day long the thought of his ne'er-do-
well cousin seemed to put him out of
tune. His thoughts ran on him in
stead of on the grand text on which
he wished TO fasten his attention:
God is love, and he that dwelleth
in love, dwelleth in God, and God in
him." His ideas on this occasion
were rambling and incoherent; and
though he worked all day and made
more than one beginning, his SER
mon was failure; and there was
nothing to be done but to tear up
his notes and make an entirely fresh
attempt on the morrow.
'Well, Ellen" he said, with an air
of grim determination, II suppose
now shall have to set off to the
other end of the town to see what is
the matter with that fellow. His
wretched letter has spoiled my days
work. He is a worthless scamp, il
ever there was one.
He was still in the same martyr
spirit Of severe endurance when he
reached the shabby house that
sheltered his disreputable cousin.
AS be looked around the forlorn
room, and at its still more forlorn
occupant, who was tossing on a
miserable bed opposite the incur
tanned window, he felt that it was
very hard that member of his own
family should be so utterly lost to
all sense of what was right and
fitting.
81 am very sorry to trouble you,
Horace" muttered the sick, man
(Mr. Bernard made an impatient
gesture at the familiar address),
''but if ] can't get few dollars from
somewhere | shall be turned into the
street. If | had only been well
could have finished that to-day" HI
pointed to a picture on little ease
by the window.
Mr.. Bernard slowly unbuttonet
his coat, and drew out his pocket
book, asking: What do you neeC
besides the rent2" s
II have nothing neither food mol
medicine.
"You should be ashamed of your
self, Martin. You ought not Il
need help again"
Martin made no reply; nor did he
listen to the warnings and exhorta
tons which accompanied the gift hi
had requested. He had heard then
all before, and he consoled himsel
under the misfortune of having tx
endure them again by the reflection
that preaching was his cousins bust
ness. Unhappily, Horace Bernard't
curt, contemptuous manner towards
him confirmed this impression; YET
be was not only eloquent ane
learned, but had most sincere de
sire to do his duty, and to benefit