The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1900-05-02

ton he did not know wnen ne came 10
himself. He was thankful, when he
did recover sufficiently to crawl to his
feet and sit down on the couch. that
Sarah had not seen him. He managed
to get over to his desk and begin to
write something as he heard her COM
ing up stairs. He did not intend to de-
ceive her. His thought was that he
would not unnecessarily alarm her. He
was very tired. 1t did not need much
urging TO persuade him to get to bed.
He awoke Sunday morning feeling
strangely calm and refreshed. The
morning prayer with the Brother Man
came like a benedictlon to them all.
Sarah, who had feared for him owing
to the severe strain he had been en-
during. felt relieved as she saw how
he appeared. They all prepared to 90
to church, the Brother Man and VIII
liam going out for the first time since
the attack.
We have mentioned Philips custom
Of coming into his pulpit from the little
room at the side door of the platform.
This morning he went In at the side
door of the church after parting with
Sarah and the others. He let Brother
Man and William go on ahead little,
and then, drawing his wife to him, he
stopped and kissed her. He turned at
the top Of the short flight of steps lead
ing up TO the side entrance and saw
her still standing in the same place.
Then she went around from the little
court to the front of the church and
went In with the great crowd already
beginning to stream toward Calvary
church.
No one ever saw so many people in
Calvary church before. Men sat on
the platform and even In the deep
window seats. The spaces under the
large galleries by the walls were filed
mostly with men standing there. The
house was crowded long before the
hour of service. There were many
beating, excited hearts in that audi
ence. Mcre than one member felt a
shame at the action which had been
ta:ien ana plight have wished II recall
ed. With the great number of work
lngmen and young people in the church
there was only one feeling; it was a
feeling of love for Philip and Of sor-
row for what had been done. The fact
that he had been away from the city,
that he had not talked over the mat
ter with any one owing to his absence.
the uncertainty as to how he would
receive the whole thing. what he
would say on this first Sunday after
the letter had been written-this at
tracted n certain number of persons
who never go inside church except
for some extraordinary occasion or
in hopes of n sensation. So the audi
ence that memorable day had some
cruel people present, people who mar
rowly watch the faces of mourners at
funerals to see what ravages grief has
made on the countenance.
The organist played his prelude
through and was about to stop when
he saw from the glass that hung over
the keys that Mr.. Strong had not yet
appeared. He began again at a GER
tain measure, repeating 1t, and played
very slowly. BY this time the church
was entirely filed. There was an air
VI tAptCtuHl whiting as lue OTBuu
again ceased. and still Philip did not
come out. A great fear came over
Mrs. Strong. She had half risen from
her seat near the platform to go up
and open the study door when It open
ed, and Philip came out.
Whatever his struggle had been In
that little room the closest observer
could not detect any trace OF tears or
sorrow or shame or humiliation. He
was pale, but that was common; other
wise his face wore firm, noble, peace
full look. AS he gazed over the congre-
cation 1t fell under the fascination Of
his glances. The first words that he
spoke in the service were strong and
clear.
He began to speak very quietly and
simply, as his fashion was, of the fact
that he had been asked to resign his
pastorate Of Calvary church. He made
the statement clearly, with no halting
or hesitation or sentiment of tone or
gesture. Then, after saying that there
was only one course open to him under
the circumstances, he went on to speak,
as he said he ought to speak, In defense
Of his INTERPRETATION of Christ and his