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

Penrose's mind that the daughter Of
John Gilbert had made her definite
glad choice of this awkward, unhand-
some, poor young minister as her fu-
ture husband. She could not deny
mat the young man was a gentleman;
also that he had very superior quail
ties of mind and heart. But the fact
remained that he had no prospects ex-
cept his Home Missionary field and a
somewhat uncertain income from. oc-
casional writings.
When she pictured Dorothy in a sod
house or a dugout or q shanty In that
vague, wild. uncouth place called 'out
west" living in a parish of plain, I'M
cultured people, such as she placidly
took for granted lived on the prairies,
Mrs. Penrose felt as if Dorothy's
strange choice was the strangest thing
she eve knew.
And yet she loves him truly" she
said to herself as Dorothy and Mai
com Kirk came in that morning, both
of them gloritied by the greatest thing
in all the world. Dorothy had never
looked so beautiful. Kirk had never
felt so like a giant in possibility.
Dorothy had anticipated remon-
strances and opposition from her aunt.
She was surprised and gratiied to find
how calmly Mrs. Penrose accepted the
matter. Even when Malcolm Kirk ex-
pressed his wish, gravely, but with
firmness, that they might be married at
once and go together to the new par
ish to begin their life together Mrs.
Penrose offered no decided objection.
"You are neither of you Children
she finally said to Dorothy, with a sad
smile. "You know your own minds by
this time. | want you to be married
here in this house, of course. 1t seems
very sudden. But l don't blame MI.
Kirk"
"Of course not" said Malcolm Kirk
decidedly as he looked Dorothy in the
face.
So it came about that a month later
the president Of the seminary faculty
came down to Beverly one morning,
and Dorothy and Malcolm Kirk We're
married in the presence of a very few
of Dorothy's Hermon friends and two
u > CliSSlldIeS WHO udu DGGu
settled over parishes near Boston.
Kirk had made all his preparations for
leaving. A few days before he was
married the president of the faculty
had surprised him with the announce
ment that the sales of his pamphlet
had been set aside by the publishers
for the benefit of the seminary, but by
InqnjOln11c Tnpcnnt tho ortirn oy,,o,,,+
something over 5000, was now at
Kinks disposal. Malcolm Kirk was
not going to be a penniless bridegroom
in any case. He had already received
since his re-urn from abroad several
checks for writing he had done dur
ing his last year in the seminary and
while in London. So he was able to
start toward the new home with much
courage and the knowledge that Dor
othy would not miss too many of the
old luXuries.
But Dorothy, once she had given her
heart to Malcolm Kirk and said to him
that she would share his life, entered
upon a new and contented experience,
such as in all her luxurious life She
had never before felt. 1t is perfectly
true that she loved him without con-
dition. She put her hand in his with
the trustful confidence of a child, and
it is no exaggeration to say that she
would have been happy with him any
where, rich or poor. famous or OBJ
scure, success full or defeated.
The train whirled them OH into the
west. Into the land of the pra!ries.
Into the land OF new things, of those
vague possibilities that always go with
an untried community. And Dorothy
every moment felt more and more con
tent. Malcolm Kirk satisfied her ideals.
His noble nature was continually re-
vealing to her new phases of his Chris
tian purpose. He had enthusiasm, and
he was the only mar who had even
been able to kindle hers. The thought
that they were to work together filed
her with a heavenly delight. She re-
joiced in his strength, his manhood, his
inward life.
AS for Malcolm Kirk, be was trans
formed by all that he now possessed.
His poor Home Missionary church be-
came to his thought a gigantic engine
of power, with this glorious woman
now his wife, who was to be by his
side henceforth. He trembled at the
extent of such a love and consecrated
1t every moment to the infinite eternal
life that belongs both to this world and
to that which is to come.
They reached their journeys end at
the close of a day and entered the
town by night. There was quite a lit
tie gathering at the station, curious to
see the new minister, and the superin-
tendent himself, who happened that
> week to be in that part of the state,
was present to welcome them and in
troduce hen to a little handful of
their parishioners.
There was a parsonage, a furnished
house Of five rooms, close by the
church. A supper was ready for them.
A little company came in afterward to
greet them, and the people seemed to
be truly glad to see them. The sight
of Dorothy's beauty astonished them
all. She was a little amused at the ev-