Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-07-04
room In great uncertainty of heart and

On Monday the week following he
was obliged to 60 down to Boston to
consult some authorities In Settlement
work, and when he came back the
next day the Gilbert house was closed,
and Dorothy and her aunt had gone to
Beverly.
1t was the very next day that Kirk
saw in q Boston paper the name OF
Francis Raleigh, arrived few days
before from Liverpool on the Cepha-
lonia. Looking over the columns q
little farther down, he saw In the To-
cal news from Beverly this statement:
"Mr. Francis Raleigh, the Hermon
artist, recently arrived from a years
study abroad, is the guest Of Mrs. Ar
thur Penrose. sister Of the late John
Gilbert"
That was all, but it reused Malcom
Kirk to instant action. He knew with
all the vigor and intensity Of his deep,
honest nature that his love for Dorothy
Gilbert was now the largest part OF his
life. He had consecrated his time and
strength to the ministry. He did not
deceive himself. He knew what such
q conservation meant. He faced, open
eyed, the entire meaning Of a minis
ters career in home missionary
church 'out west"
But looking at it all through dis
passionate eyes he said as he walked
his study: "She must choose between
him and me. l cannot 60 to my work
without speaking to her. My love for
her Is honest and true, and II God
grant that she can love me and share
my life with me-
He left the rest unspoken, and, go
ing back to his desk, he sat down,
trembling q little as he put his face In
his hands and prayed that the hunger
of his heart might be satisfied. He
had made up his mind to act and act
quickly, and once he had decided on
his course he was free from all doubt
as to Its wisdom.
He took the afternoon train for Bev-
erly and reached the place before dusk.
Mrs. Penrose lived In one Of the hand
some summer villas near the sea- The
whole place smote Kirk as with q
blow aimed at his poverty, his obscuri-
ty, his whole future. And yet he said
to himself as he walked up the steps
that there was something in his life
which money and all Its attendant ele-
gance could not buy, and he believed
that Dorothy Gilbert somehow, If she
ever loved any one enough, would feel
the same way toward all the outward
display Of wealth.
The servant who came in answer to
his ring said that Miss Gilbert had
gone out for a walk and had not yet
returned. He at once asked for Mrs.
Penrose. When she came In where
Kirk was standing in the reception
room, she surprised him by greeting
him very warmly by name. He had
merely met her at the time Of Mr.. Gil
bert's illness, but not more than once
or twice and then very briefly.
She was a woman Of great tact, and
she made Kirk feel ut ease. She had
not the remotest idea that he was In
love with Dorothy or what was the OBJ
ject of his call, and in few minutes,
seeing this, he made up his mind what
to do.
Dorothy is down by the beach with
Mr.. Raleigh. They will be back for
tea. You have met him, Mr.. Kirk? l
would be pleased to have you stay and
take tea with u.s."
"Thank you. l shall be glad to do
so," replied Malcom Kirk promptly.
All the while he was fast arriving at
determination to tell Mrs. Penrose
what he had come for.
81 believe you met Mr.. Raleigh
while you were abroad? He was tell
ing us something about you this morn
Ing"
"Was he?" said Malcom Kirk quiet
ly. "Yes, l met him on the Cepha-
lonia going over. We had several lit
tie visits together. l enjoyed them"
Mrs. Penrose was sitting whore she
could see from the reception room win
dow the stretch Of beach. She looked
out and said: 81 don't see them coming
yet. They will be here soon, think.
You were saying, Mr.. Kirk, that you
enjoyed meeting Raleigh. Excuse me
If I say that he spoke in warmest
terms of you. He told US about your
care of that poor baby. He wondered
what became of it afterward."
"It's quite a long story" said Kirk,
"but pardon me, Mrs. Penrose, If /
don't try to tell it now. want to tell
you why am here. I love your niece,
and I am going to ask her to be my
wife"