The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-08-04
Wbell The beart Is Young.


THE vestry door of the church of St.
i John the Evangelist opened about
an hour after the Sunday morning serv-
ice and spruce figure passed slowly
down the asphalt walk to the street
pavement. 1t was NJ. Auguste, the lit
tie organist.
NJ. Auguste had come to a determi-
nation within the past hour. The sun
prosperity was beginningt to shine up
on this middle-aged Alsatian, and he
felt the elation of spirit. He had a
good position as organist, he had a
large music class, he had composed a
successful march, he had bank ac-
count. He would have more; he would
share his happiness; he would marry.
Practical thought came back to him
with the eating of his Sunday restau-
rant dinner. His pint bottle of cheap
wine stimulated him to an act
courageous. He would seek the wife
of the minister, and ask her help to
find him suitable mate. He had heard
that she made many matches among
the church people.
In this state of mind he went to the
house of the minister, DR.. Dahl, and
tleman, to her great surprise. She had
merely speaking acquaintance with
the spruce little organist, but she came
to him at once, and expected to hear a
tale of woe or distress. Her surprise
may be imagined when the excited AL
satan, in compound of bad English,
German and French, poured forth his
hearts desires, his thoughts, his hopes,
and besought her assistance in finding
him a proper life companion. The
hopelesness of the task struck her at
once, but the earnestness of the Or
ganist gained her sympathies. She
questioned, she deliberated, hesitated
and was lost. Ere an hour had passed
she had promised him her assistance.
Il will Introduce you to such ladies
as would be suitable, you understand -
she said, ''you must do your own court
ing, etc.
''Oh, yah, suitable" he nodded, smil-
ingly; sat ISIS suit you an suit me, as
it's great affaire for me you un'er-
stand''
Mrs. Dahl watched him away in the
direction of the park with misgivings.
Shrewd she might be, but she could not
fathom the feeling of this poor alien,
who felt that now, at late day, he
might build nest and find heart
mate.
Mrs. Dahl was a sympathetic wom-
an. She entered the interview in het
diary and memorandum book On Mon
day she discussed the matter for a half
hour with her husband, sthen prepared
list from the church record of such
widows and maidens of uncertain years
as she thought suitable to M. Auguste's
age and circumstances. The next step
was to bring about meetings. She ar
cial; she secured widow as piano
pupil for him; she asked two spinsters
to tea on a certain evening and invited
NJ. Auguste to meet them. The sew
enth and last candidate she would ask
to ride out with her and include the
organist in a drive to distant park
Then monsieur would confide in her
his choice, his emotions. The rest
could take care of itself.
No fault could Mrs. Dahl find with
monsieur's conduct. He appeared at
the church social, obedient to her hints
as to appearance and department.. He
was soon presented to several ladies,
whom he treated with reverentialp polite
ness, but his gaze kept wandering to
the bouquet of young maidens who
laughed and jolzed with the youths of
the Luther league and the Endeavor
At Mrs. Dahl's suggestion he even
escorted one of the widows to her home.
and was cordially invited to call upon
her in the future. The widow pupil
was exceedingly kind to him, but he re-
garded her with curious eyes, eyes
that had something pathetic in them.
On the occasion of Mrs. Dahrs tea NJ
Auguste met the two maiden: ladies of
good family upon whose virtues Mrs.
Dahl had discoursed to him the day
before. One played the piano for him
very weH, the other was paragon as
far as housekeeping qualities were con-
termed.
Still monsieur rewarded not Mrs.
Dahl by a sign of preference. Quite
puzzled by his reticence, the minister's
wife chose the next day for her drive,
and placed by the side of the sensitive
organist the last of her several eGgi-
bles. This candidate was younger,
handsome and more worldly than any
lady the aspiring musician had met.
She was merry, she was pleasant, and
exerted herself to please monsieur
He smiled freely; he was even yoluble,
but he made no sign to the astonished
Mrs. Dahl that he had any choice. In
stead his eyes kept their puzzled ex-
preston during the whole drive.