Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-23

and the fact sank into the missionary's /
heart. He knew that there was some |
thing wrong with a man who never |
smiled. He set himself to investigate, |
in the hope that he might render some |
assistance, and came, very correctly, to !
his preliminary conclusions. Then he |
tried to secure an interview, but Stan
ton was never alone.
In reality the young lawyer had sim
ply discovered that of all disagreeable
things which he would instinctively
put away he was himself the most dis
agreeable, and in choice of evils he
was putting himself away by keeping
others about him. Many troubled
soul had done the same before, but he
knew nothing of such sentiments, either
in himself or in others.
At last the missionary succeeded in
| finding Stanton alone on deck early one
morning. He made few preliminary
remarks concerning the human duty of
bearing one another's burdens, and
said:
"You have more friends on board
than any of US, yet you seem to me to
be in need Of a real friend and to lack
| one. 1 wish that you could accept my
sacred Office, rather than its unworthy
holder, and give me your confidence"
do 1 act like one depressed?'' Stan
ton asked, absently.
You do, sir, and you are" replied
the missionary. "You are the life of the
steamer, but your own heart is not in
it, Do not be angry, sir. Remember
! that my only desire is to serve you.
Let me even say frankly that you have
seemed to me like one struggling with
an unfortunate love-affair. Am L not
| correct?'
"You are correct" said Stanton.
al am sorry, very sorry" the mission
airy replied, with look and voice say
ing plainly that he too had suffered,
long ago. ''Was she unworthy?" he
asked, gently.
"She was exceptionally worthy"
Stanton said.
"That is something to be thankful
for" the missionary exclaimed, glad to
find something consoling. ut is we'll
that you do not repent having cast your
pearls to swine"
Il am thankful" Stanton replied,
with more energy than had been in his
voice for many day. He was looking
backward.
'Does she love another?" the mission
airy asked.
mo"
There again you are fortunate,
Surely you must still have hope.'
Il have"
Good. Keep it. Hope deferred
makes the heart sick. and your heart is
sick. 1 knew 1t. But hope is the anchor
to the soul, after all. Don't let the
anchor go. Was there opposition?"
''No."
Sometimes n little opposition is real
ly necessary stimulus. Why did she
| refuse you?''
: "She did not refuse me-
Scan it be that you are so sensitive a:
to suffer all this simply for some fan
| cied lack of reciprocation in her face?'
E 81 never saw her face"
e my friend, you astonish me. Pv,
heard of matches made by correspon
/ | dence or by mutual friends, but nevet
! believed much in them. Tell me of thi
? one. Was il by writing?"
: 81 never wrote to her. never saw
e her handwriting but twice.
"Then the mutual friends who hav
e brought about this suffering must hav
|, weight OF responsibility"
t 1--WE have no mutual friends" sal
4; Stanton.
g 'Sir, you amaze me. Who and wha
g | can this woman be?"
''She is my wife," said Stanton.
t ''Sir, you are jesting."
l. ''Sir, am not testing. You appeale
e to your position for the right to ask m
d such questions as you chose. 1 hav
answered each truly, so help nae God.
1. "Sir, you bewilder me. You astoun
10 me-"
\. "Sir, the same conditions have pei
picked, amazed, bewildered and a
founded me too, quite enough to az
count for any slight depression whic
= may have attracted your attention
- must be obvious to you that little benz
- fit can be derived through conversation
where the immediate effect upon 20
is the same as the more deliberate effe'
- on me. I trust that you win respe'
what to me is a very painful subject, an
never refer to it again"
>, Whatever the conclusions at whiC
the missionary arrived they were sur
ly not unlxind, for during the last dii
ner on board he rose at the table ar
cordially thanked Robert Stanto
Esquire, on behalf of the passenger
the officers, and the crew, for his u
falling cheerfulness and his untiriI
good Offices to all, making the voyage
much pleasanter and making them G
=. better for his being among them.
- The sentiments were incomprehe
sible and intensely disagreeable
ne Stanton, and yet there was somethil
in them which set him thinking al
= gradually opened his eyes
>, at was small thanks to me-" he sa
- to himself, as he thought the matt
over on shore. Il never exerted myss
In that way before. simply because