Gilpin observer., 1900-04-19

Island or the religious difference OF
the community. as the other preachers
had been in the habit of doing. He ap-
peared to be ignorant about these sub
jects. Apparently he took the religious
interest OF a community with three
churches for granted. He made good
and he had the congregation respond
in the reading OF the scriptures. AL
together, the services seemed exceed
ingly short, but the cautious consulta-
tion of watches showed it to have been
OF the usual length.
The people had expected to be greet
ed in condescending sort of way by
their pastor. Such was the custom But
this young man-his name, by the way.
was the Rev. Thomas Kite-appeared
to think ne ought to be greeted by
them. He waited rather modestly for
the older people to welcome him, and
was gracious, but not over cordial. For
once Green Island had to do it's half
OF brotherly friendliness. Hitherto it
had basked in the condescending. yet
propitiating, smiles of it's clergymen.
The Rev. Kite gave a house-warming
in his barn presently, and invited ev-
erybody. 1t was in the afternoon, and
he had games, and got up football
eleven. No one knew how he succeed
ed. Even baseball had languished hith-
erto at Green Island. Also he invited
three young fellows to go rowing up
the river with him the next week, to
be gone all day. And as no one in
vited him to dinner, he asked the dea-
cons of the church and their wives to
dine with him. He had Miss Wessles,
spinster OF the discreet age and char
acter presiding over his domestic af
fairs.
Green Island went home from this
remarkable house-warming in a flut-
ter. To begin with, it wanted to know
where the Rev. Thomas Kite got the
money for all this entertainment.
Moreover. it would be pleased to ascer-
tain how he was to find time for sup
ping and boating and football playing
and the like. His conduct with the
young ladies was carefully reviewed,
but no one was able. even after the
most strenuous efforts, to say that he
had paid more attention to one than
the other.
Every one was at church the next
Sabbath-lterally every one. But still
the Rev. Kite neglected to mention
Green Island or its prospects or condi-
ton. spiritual or temporal. fIe COM
planned of no lack of interest He
merely said he would take the Bible
class for a picnic the following Thurs
day, md asked that the ladies's socie-
ty arrange for a picnic for the younger
Sunday school scholars. Without
knowing it, Green Island De.an to en-
joy itself. 1t began to find Itself inter-
esting. 1t was profoundly compliment
ed when the Rev. Kite put The sta mp
of approval on Nina Cutters singing
by inviting every one to hear lier at
his house one autumn evening. 1t was
vastly entertained by the Tennyson
readings he gave Monday right. All
Of these affairs were held ir tie large
room in the renovated barn, where the
great red brick fireplace was, and the
shelves of books, and the piano, and
comfortable, plain chairs. Miss Wess-
les had grown urbane. She wore a
blue gown and high ribbon collar.
and she developed a genius for enter
tanning which had been hitherto unsus-
pected. She dispensed the simple hos
pitality of the place with a gracious
air. Green Island, which had always
supposed there must be a big spread
of cakes and pickles. jam and meats
wondered at the calm countenance
with which the young minister served
few cookies or crackers and tea. But
1t concluded, after n time, that this
was sensible. if somewhat conspic-
uously frugal.
At the end of year Green Island
found itself in state of activity. 1t
had two literary societies. a singing
club, a class in lathe work of an orna-
mental character, guild of fine needle
workers. a civic committee who cut
weeds down beside the streets, cleaned
up unslghtly dumps. made a flower
garden in the school, and rescued the
cemetery from unseemly neglect More
over, II had golf links north of the
town. and the Rev. Thomas Kite was
president, major-domo, crack player.
Green Island people began to wonder
why more folks didn't move to town.
and to marvel If anybody left it. 1t
began to talk about its interesting so,
cial circles. 1t thought it would be n
good thing for the railroad If 1t should
come there. And 1t concluded. finally,
that 1t couldn't afford to let the Rev
Thomas Kite go to some other town
two Sundays out of every three. So 1t
multiplied his salary in ratio. and even
went the length OF paying what it
agreed to.
He made this town" said Deacon
Fennig to his daughter. There's no
getting around that. II was because he