The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-03
CHAPTER NJ.
A MOMENT OF DOUBT,

him, noted the expressions on his face.
When lie finished the letter from the
Boston magazine, he looked up.
"Well:" said Dorothy slowly, as if
Malcolm had asked a question.
Its a great Offer" said Malcolm. He
was evidently very much moved by it.
And he rose and walked up and down.
Finally he stopped near the door
II shall have to go out doors and
walk off the excitement" he said, look
ing ct Dorothy, with faint smile She
was familiar with that habit. Malcolm
had often done that when tired of the
cramped quarters of his little study in
the parsonage.
He walked to the table. took up his
hat and went to the door. He opened
it and then turned back to Dorothy,
who sat with her elbow on the table
and her chin in her hand thinking.
will you go with me, dear?" NAL
com asked quietly.
She rose without a word and, put
ting on her hat and cloak, Went out
with him. They walked out of the
yard, and then, after moment of hest
tation, they turned and went down the
narrow board sidewalk toward the
main street of the town.
1t was almost II o'clock. Nearly
all the stores were closed, but every
saloon was wide open. AS they went
by one of the largest on the first bust
door recognized Kirk and touched
their hats, saying very respectfully as
they did so, Good evening. Mr.. Kirk
Good evening, gentlemen" replied
Malcom, touching his hat. He passed
on with Dorothy, but with all the in
ner conflict going on she had time to
think of the little incident and say to
herself proudly, Even the loafers and
drinkers respect my husband"
And it was true. because they knew
in their hearts that Malcolm Kirk low
ed them, wretched, useless creatures
as many Of them We're, down at the
very bottom of the human scale, down
where nothing but love could reach
them
houses they could hear the jingle of
spurs on boots. the wild laughter of
the women and the clink of glasses at
the bar.
Dorothy shuddered and drew up clos
er to Malcolm. To both of them it is
probable that there was borne in upon
| them the lost abandoned life that al
ways goes with the liquor trade. the
desperate, lawless character of young
men and women who represented so
large a part of the social life of the
town. What a relief it would be to
| get away from it ALL back to the cul-
ture and refinement of books and COM
panionable people and the life of free
dom from moral struggle for the life
| New England home that might be
theirs for the taking!
They had walked through the street
and were out on the prairie road before
either of them said word
Then Malcolm said, while he pressed
Dorothy's arm close to his own:
What do you think had better do?'
She was not prepared to have him
ask question, and she was not ready
with an answer.
What would you do in my placer"
he asked after waiting for her to an
swer his first question.
Don't ask me, Malcom," cried Doro-
thy almost tearfuily.
He bent his head and in the starlight
saw her face moved with unusual eX-
element.
lit is true" he began to talk to him
self, tit is true, as he says. the press is
as powerful as the pulpit in these
days could certainly do as much
good that way as any. l feel as if
could use my pen for the good of hui
manity"
Yes, yes!" Dorothy cried eagerly.
She spoke as if Malcom's words had
been q great relief to her. Then She
Went on almost passionately:
What can you do here. Malcolm?
You can slave yourself to death out
here with this little church and never
accomplish much. You cannot do the
church work and the writing too You
will break down under it. How can
you ever build again, with the hard
Il
away and winter coming on? And
your salary, little as it is, so cruelty de-
layed. it is humiliation to keep on
this narrow. pinched life, with no COM
panionship to speak of, no money to
buy new books. with dead lift on a
poor struggling church that will wear
your life out before you have reached
your prime ] don't mind for myself,
Malcolm, you know. 1t was for bet
ter, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
but it seems to me your life will be
simply thrown away if you remain out
here. Such an offer as this will not
come to you again probably. If were
YOU
She stopped. and Malcolm eagerly
|, waited for the rest.
IF l were you" Dorothy went on
strongly, 81 would answer the letter ut
once and accept the offer. want to
see you succeed in life. want to
have the world know your strength as
do"