Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-07-25
A Tale of Moral Heroism In Overcoming the
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON,

81 certainly could do as much good
that way as any,"
He was silent again. They had
reached a place where the road branch
ed off to "The Forks" They turned
and went back toward the town. When
they reached the first houses, they took
the street which led past the ruins of
the church and parsonage. They SEEM
ed to do this without saying to each
other that they would. Their walk
back had been in silence.
When they reached the corner where
the church and parsonage had stood.
they stopped and looked at the ruins.
These were mournful, as such ruins
always are. The foundation line Of
the church building looked pitifully
small to Malcolm as he thought Of the
little congregations that had so often
met there for worship or the prayer
service. And still he could not even
there, as he viewed what seemed like
failure in life, he could not shut out
of his sight the picture Of Dorothy and
himself as they had gone into the
church that first night Of their ar
rival in Conrad three years before and
had there made together their solemn
promise to redeem the lost Of Conrad.
Were they about to break that prom
ise because difficulties had come into
the struggle? Was it possible that
they were going to declare themselves
beaten in the attempt to overcome?
Were they about to choose the easy,
comfortable physical life and shun the
agony Of the spiritual conflict with
evil forces? Were they about to run
away from duty as towards? Was it
duty to remain in Conrad? How about
IF he had any real strength that way,
ought he to abandon the cause at this
critical time? But how could Dorothy
live this life Of privation? How could
be go on with his meager salary, hu-
inflated by being in debt to the trades
people and dependent for his living on
the spasmodic giving Of the churches
that Endorsed" home missions, to be
sure, but left the Home Missionary Of
ten unpaid or the recipient Of boxes
which sometimes were so clearly in
the nature Of charity that no self re-
specting man could take and use the
contents?
All this and more crowded into Nal
;,,I ha orr q niOht
by the ruins Of his church and home.
The same thoughts were also in the
mind of Dorothy, and with it all 1t
seemed, too, as If to both Of them came
half suppressed doubt as to the
course Malcom was on the point Of
taking.
Don't you feel that we have tried
our best to keep that promise we made
that night in the church?" Dorothy
asked, as she nervously pushed her
foot against one Of the stones at the
corner Of the foundation.
Malcom did not answer at first. Then
he said evasively, as if he had been
thinking Of something else, "I'm sure l
can do as much with my pen as l can
in church"
Dorothy did not look up or speak for
some time. Then she said with rather
eager emphasis:
"Why not write at once to the editor
and tell him that you will accept his
offer"
81 WILL" said Malcom in a low tone.
They stood a little while longer by
the ruins. and then turned away and
went home. Somewhere in the great
spaces Of the infinite to Malcom and
Dorothy it almost seemed as If sigh
from an angel Of light breathed over
the sleeping town that lay on the black
ened surface Of the prairie. What they
felt was the inner uneasiness Of spirit
that the promise they had made three
years before had been, If not broken,
at least not lived out as 1t might have
been. In Malcom's heart as he said to
Dorothy, 81 WILL" there was distinct
uncertainty Of feeling. There was a
lack of spontaneous JOY at his action
which he knew well enough meant that
somewhere he had not been true to the
best that was in him.
Nevertheless in the morning he wrote
the letter in answer to the editor, ac-
cepting the position and asking him to
give him time to sever his relations
with the church, etc.
He took the letter and went out early
after breakfast to mail it. He would
hand in his resignation at the. weekday
church meeting and write to the super
intendent later in the day.
He was thinking it all over as he
neared the main street, when farm
wagon drove up noisily and stopped
near him.
"Oh. Mr.. Kirk, will you come right
out to The Forks with me? Phil is in
terrible way and has been calling for
you all night"
1t was Mrs. Barton, and her thin,
eager face looked down at Malcom as
she sat there looking at him anXiously.
Into Malcom Kinks heart there came
a distinct shock. almost as if he had
been detected in doing q selfish thing.
Here again was this appeal for help
coming at a time when it seemed to
him as If the burden he was carrying
was too great for him.
He looked up at Mrs. Barton.
"Why, certainly, III go right out
with you," he said, every instinct Of
holnf,llDeSS in him rising and going ont
toward the cry for help.
Just then Carver came walking by.
Kirk had the letter he was going to
post in his hand.
"Say, Carver, will you mail this let
ter for me as you go by the office"