The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-22

on his report, out made very little real
progress. He laid the miniature on
lis table and tried to write with the
no progress at all then, and the close
of the week found him walking his
room in great uncertainty of heart aud
mind.
On Monday the week following he
was obliged to go down to Boston to
consult some authorities in Settlement
work, and when he came back the
next day the Gilbert house was closeu,
and Dorothy and her aunt had gone to
Beverly.
1t was the very next day that Kirk
saw in a Boston paper the name Of
Francis Raleigh, arrived a few days
before from Liverpool on the Cepha-
lonia. Looking over the columns a
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 Malcolm
Kirk to instant action. He knew witt.
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 nc.
deceive himself. He knew what such
a conservation meant. He faced, open
eyed, the entire meaning of a minis
ter's career in a 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. | cannot go to my work
without speaking to her. My love for
her is honest and true, and if God
grant that she can love me and share
my life with me-
He left the rest unspoken, and, 60
ing back to his desk, he sat down.
trembling a 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 it's wisdom.
He tool the afternoon train for Be-
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 a
blow aimed at his poverty, his OBSCURE
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 n 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
b made Kirk feel at ease. She had
not the remotcst idea that he was in
love with Dorothy or what was the OBJ
| ject of his call, and i'll a 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. ! shall be glad to do
So" replied Malcolm Kirk promptly.
All the while he was fast arriving at d
determination to tell Mrs. Penrose
what he had come for.
Il believe you met Mr.. Raleigh
while you We're abroad? He was tell
ing us something about you this morn.
ing"
"Was heY' said Malcolm Kirk quiet.
ly. yes, | met him on the Ceplla.
lonia going over. We had several lit
tie visits together. | enjoyed them"
Mrs. Penrose was sitting where she
could see from the reception room win
dow the stretch of beach. She looked
out and said: 81 don't see them comin:
yet. They will be here soon, l think
You were saying. Mr.. Kirk, that you
enjoyed meeting Raleigh. Excuse IN,
If | say that he spoke in warmes
terms of you. He told us about you
care of that poor baby. He wondere,
what became of it afterward."
Its quite a long story" said Kirk
but pardon me, Mrs. Penrose, if
don't try to al it nor.-. ] want to tel
you why ! am here. love your niece
and l am going to ask her to be m,
wife"
CHAPTER VI.
WHOM COL HATH JOINED TOGETHER LIE
NO MAN U AsUNDER."
He q come directly to his subject