The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-27
The MINISTER'S BUREAU.
BY ALGERNoN GIssING.
Author Etc,
copyrighted 1895, ,by AIgernon Gissing

the maids. Every mother knowing that it
was not her daughter, every maid resent
Iuhy suspicious that il was not herself, Mr.
Dobinson's position became critical in the
extreme. In sheer despair, and if but to
prove the sincerity of his detection, the
young minister resolved that he must faI.
in love
since he was boy of fifteen he had
never Ventured on such a course. and
scarcely now knew how to begin. So for
some time his resolution remained of no
eHect But indirectly it helped him. for
maiuens saw thai he was waking up. and
renewed hope burned in every tender
breast, and designs were laid in those that
were bolder, Oddly enough, Mr.. Dickinson
hlhseH also felt an increase of vigor. He
couId look at his bureau with less dis
may Tor the giriish face that now peeped
out OF each empty pigeon-hole in some
mysterious way seemed to suggest his
dream and to hint at Hudspeth's condi-
ton which he was striving to recall. Just
as forgotten world plays on the tip of
our tongue, the lost idea lowered about
the minister's heart in most tantalising
way. with his eye he could again see the
exact appearance of the words to which
Mr. Hudspeth had pointed, but not for his
life could he make them out.
one Saturday evening, whilst engaged
with his sermon, he had for a moment
lapsed into one of these reveries when there
was loud knock at the front door. It
would not have concerned the minister but
that he knew his mother was at the Mains
TO lea, and that the maid had asked leave
TO go and see her brother. II might be an
urgent call for ministrations; so to sit
stun and ignore the summons was out of
the question. Mr.. Dobinson, therefore, ran
downstairs and opened the door. To his
confusion he confronted Martha Boyd a
broad and buXom young woman of his con-
gregation, aged twenty-four. Martha was
not exactly confused, and accepted the in
vitation to enter. She was most sorry to
disturb him, grieved that Mrs. Dobinson
was OUT but she called about the Sabbath
school. And as they sat opposite each 9TH
er they entered upon the topic which had
occasioned the visit.
The minister answered as coherently as
he was able, but instead of his mind being
centered on the business it was hopelessly
involved in that revere which had been
broken. Martha had come as a living COM
ment on his text, and only as an attractive
young woman could he regard her 1t was
delightful to feel that he was with her
there all alone, and his bashfulness quick
ly passed to nervous pleasantly. Martha
had experience, and was quite able to put
| Mr.. Dobinson at ease, as well as encour-
age any signs of playfulness. So in a few
minutes, when her pretext was disposed
of, they We're talking and laughing with a
freedom that might have astonshed some
of the stricter of the flock.
And there's no truth in that dream
about the bureau, is there, Mr.. Dobinson?'
This was Martha's highest card and she
played it just as she got up, pretending
she must go.
ie
was the earnest response. 1T has trou-
bled me a good deal 1t was such re-
markable thing, wasn't it?"
Most extraordinary! 1 do so wish we
could help you in your difficulty. Haven't
you any idea of the kind of thing that
was required by Mr.. Hudspeth?"
We'll, no, hardly; until quite lately, nc
idea at all, Mr.. Dobinson looked con-
fused, but fixed his eyes on the blue SYM
pathetic ones before him, and felt thrill
of emotion. But that's not true, Miss
Boyd" he exclaimed, fervently "At first
I had not the slightest idea, but now
now I have a very strong suspicion-a
very strong suspicion. 1t is stronger even
since you came in to me-"
"Oh, Mr.. Dobinsonr'
1T is really. In conhdence-don't
breathe a word of Ii to anybody-I am
now sure that 1t was connected with the
subject of-marriage. Did you ever see the
! bureau2"
After some dif1dence, and prevarication
Martha was led upstairs to see the enig-
ma. Mr.. Dickinson was in that oblivious
state common with nervous subjects, when
all common-sense considerations are lost
| sight of His very simplicity deluded him
The feeling of confidence once established
! it was a pleasure to him to expand Mar
! tina now grew nervous. She feared her
! device was to succeed too well-too sud
| denly. She was in no sense a coarse OF
! impudent-mnded girl. IL is true she die
know that Mrs. Dickinson was at the
| Mains, that the servant was out, and
that the question about the Sabbath school
was not of immediate importance, and vel
| had deliberately come 10 beard Mr.. Dob
inson in his manse. So be it. Let US ex-
plain 1t how we can, but by no means
with the help of shower of stones. She
| grew alarmed at the minister's confidence
and the whole of her manner was altered
Unfortunately this made things worse, fol
by perceiving nervousness in his compan.
ion Mr.. Dickinson gained strength.
1T Is a very proper condition, Miss
Boyd, don't you think so? Marriage is an
ordinance of heaven, and is the most beau.
tful state in which human beings car
/ be situated. Don't you think so-dont you
think
Yes, Mr. Dickinson, do" said Martha
in perplexity; but l must really go.
only came for minute or two. and
must have been nearly half an hour"
Il am glad-nay l am grateful that yoI
did come" said the minister, as he follow
ed her downstairs. 1T is kind of you t
let me talk to you like this. Just a min
ute, Miss Boyd"
AS she went to the door she stopped
whilst the minister went into the dining
room The not sun streamed through th'
| passage, and the clock licked in the quie
of the summer evening. Mr.. Dobinsor
came out with flower in his hand. HI
looked at Martha, and she at him.
"Will you take this in remembrance"
"Oh, Mr. Dobnson, l cant-do forgive
me- / never meant"
Martha, stay! You are kind; you arr
beautiful. Ii seems sudden, but don't yoI
think you might learn to love me. low,
nobody else"
do let me go, Mr.. Doblnson"
In her summer blouse, dangling her sun
shade, Martha did look beautiful Al
though plump her figure was not ungrace
f,,I and her colored cheeks were of ;