The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-07-14
CHAPTER II.
NIIAK HNfs ~
KIRK RECEIVES HIS SECOND CALL AT


Kansas. want you to take church
out there. You're just the man I've
been looking for. Don't say No. for l
must have you"
Kirk looked at the superintendent
thoughtfully. Was this the second call
he had mentioned?
There's this scholarship. l feel the
need Of the training abroad"
"All right Go on with that. But
there's church that will be ready ID
you ut the end OF your year there. Its
In the growing town OF Conrad and
great opening for hard work. The
man there now will Leave ut the end of
the year"
Kirk said nothing lie looked out OF
his window Right across the campus
stood the beautiful residence OF Doro-
thy Giibert's father. II was not the
first time he had looked In that direc-
ton.
.Of course" continued the superin-
tcndent briskly, you understand the
church is home missionary church
and cannot offer you a large salary.
They can raise perhaps $i00 or possi-
bly, $500. The society will grant 500
or $3.50. You could count on about
$500 probably"
Kirk was silent. lie turned his head
away from the window and glanced
around his room. The shabby backed
books. the simple pieces of furniture.
the faded carpet, the meagcr furnish
ings. all smote him keenly. Ii was not
the first time his poverty had thrust It.
self upon him coarsely, but he seemed
to feel II more deeply than ever. Az
he faced the superintendent who was
waiting for n reply Kirk had a most
astonishing and absurd feeling come
over him. He was not thinking about
his German scholarship or about the
superintendent The superintendent
would have been smittcn into bewilder-
ment IL he could have rcnd Kinks
thought. What Kirk was saying to
himself was. How can Dorothy Gil
bert and | live ON $500 year In aV
home missionary churchw
We'll" the superintendent spoke.
with n slight trace OF impatiencc,
what do you say? Give me favor
able answer. You aan make your mark
out there; plenty of hard work. but a
good field. Tell me you'll take IT,"
VERY well. I promise to take the
field II II is open when finish my
studies abroad"
Kirk spoke quietly. but his lips closed
firmly. and he turned his head and
looked out over the campus again.
There was n little more Talk between
them, and the superintendent went out
The minute he wns gone Kirk pulled
down his curtains and locked his door.
Ii was little after noon. and the reg
ular commencement dinner was served
MT 1. lie walked up and down his
darkencd room talking TO himself. His
future was Mt last decided~~at least for
n time. lie had some place I'm the
world. Some one wanted him lie was
ambitious. as n Christian gentleman
should be. lie wanted to do great
things In the kingdom of God on earth.
Could he do them In that little home
missionary church?
1t was not nj MI contrary TO his reg
ulnr habits OF life that he kncclcd down
and prayed. 1t was prayer OF thanks
giving and also one of petition. Ito
knew with perfect clcarness as no
kneelci IN his dnrkencd room that no
loved Dorothy Gilbert with all hIa
might. The complete ahsurdIty Of hIa
position had nothing 70 do with the Z
fact That no loved her. she was rich.
she was accomplished, she was benuti-
full. she was OF nm old and distinguish
cd family. but he loved her. He was
poor, he was plain looking. he had no
prospects beyond his scholarship and
500 or $500 year In home mission
bert II made no difference that his
Christian training seemed to rebuke
his choice OF one so far removed from
him IN every way. That did not de-
stroy his feeling for her and did not
change II. In his prayer he cried for
wisdom; he asked to be led by tho
Spirit
lie was not the man TO wreck lIfo
OF Christian service on q passion of tho
heart even II is hunger were never
fed. But when he arose and went over
TO the alumni hall to join the clnss>,
there at the final banquet he carried
with him the knowledge that the fll-
ture for him must have Dorothy On
bert with II " he would do or be oil
TINT he felt he lad right 90 prny fon
The week that followed commence.
ment day NJ Ircrmon found Kirk al
most alone In the seminary building.
lie had been employed by ono OF the
professors In doing some special copy
Ing Of book manuscript. In q few
days this would be finished. Nc had
fixed on the following Thursday TO snll
for Liverpool. lie had determined 10
begin his studies as soon as possible.
He had been TO see the president OF
tho faculty about hid scholarship aud,
TO his great relief, found that nc was
L..