The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-31

but ye're old for your years, pastor, and
have parted wi the foolishness o. youth.
You have some notions / don't hold
with, for I'm the ovid sort-believe and
be saved, believe not and be damned
but ye're no mon to say yea and do
nay. Naa, naa, 1 have seen more than
l said, and though he have the true doc
trine and does some folk good, that
chap Tootle is shoddy stuff
George Egerton, as / have done good
to you and not i'll these years, will ye
count Laura Arkwright as your sister,
and do to her a brothers. part, as We
| will answer to God at the laast dayT
The wind lifted the blind and rustled
in the curtains; the dying man breathed
heavily, and waited for an answer. Eyer
ton looked across the bed, but Mrs.
Arkwright had withdrawn behind the
curtain. Arkwright's eyes met the MN
ister's with an earnest, searching glance.
II will be as brother to your wife
, while / live"
As he spoke Arkwright grasped his
hand and gave a sigh of content, but
when Egerton left the room Laura re-
fused to touch his hand, and her face
was blazing with anger.
"You have been very generous to the
chapel, and we thank you very much
for keeping up all Mr.. Arkwright's sub
scriptions those three years. The work
of God would have been much crippled
had it not been for your liberahty."
DO you know, Mr. Egerton, that when
you talk in that grave, approving fash
ion, as if l were one Of your devout
women-hke poor Mrs. Tootle, who is
REALLY good creature, although her
husband is a sanctimonious idiot, / feel
perfect hypocrite.
why do you always depreciate your
self ....W
do not interrupt me, for l am deter
mined to settle this matter once for all,
l were a saint. You think me good, and
so do the chapel people, 1 suppose, be-
cause l give to foreign missions and
Bible women, and go to the prayer
meeting and attend the special missions.
Do you know why / do those things?"
Eyes, l think So" said the minister,
but | will hear your reason"
Because Mr.. Arkwright believed in
,
-. a better husband to me than
was wife to him, and because it would
be dishonorable not to use his money
for the objects he approved"
And the services? Is that the reason
you are always present, and set such q
good example?" And it was plain the
minister did not take Mrs. Arkwright at
her value of herself.
yes" And Mr.. Egerton, smiled as
one who is giving checkmate.
Because you were Johns friend, and
the only man he ...... loved. and be-
cause. although We have quarrelled sew
eral times, and have been very rude TO
you once or twice, still-and a smile
brought Mrs. Arkwright's face to per-
fection-''we are friends Also"
You have been :. angry with me-"
said Egerton, "when i could not I'M
derstand the reason, but I never doubted
your friendship. If were in serious trou-
bic / would come to you rather than TO
any man."
"Would you really?" Then her tone
changed. II don't believe you, for you
would go to some snuffy, Numbering
old minister"
"And you are good" he insisted, TAX
ing no notice of her petulance. You
are honest, and brave. and high-minded,
and loyal, and :"
"Pious. with a gift Of prayer, you had
better add. How blind you are, for all
your knowledge and -. other equal
tiles. You forgot to add sweet-tempered,
but perhaps you were coming to that"
mo, l would not say that, and ] am
rather glad you are not gentle"-and
minister was very bold-"for you would
not be -. yourself"
"You had your suspicious, then, and
are not sure that am ready for canon-
izing? Do you know / feel immensely
relieved; suppose we celebrate this con-
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