The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-26
CHAPTER II.

KIRK RECEIVES HIS SECOND CALL AND
ACTS UPON 1T.
'T'm superintendent of missions for
Kansas. l 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. feel the
need of the training abroad"
"All right. Go on with that. But
there's church that will be ready for
you at the end of your year there. It's
In the growing town of Conrad and
great opening for hard work. The
man there now will leave at the end of
the year."
Kirk said nothing. He looked out of
his window Right across the campus
stood the beautiful residence of Doro-
thy Gilbert's father. 1t was not the
first time he had looked in that direc-
ton.
"Of course" continued the superin-
tandent briskly, you understand the
church is a home missionary church
and cannot offer you a large salary.
They can raise perhaps $400 or possi-
lily $780, The society will grant $500
or $3.50. You could count on about
$500 probably"
Kirk was silent. He turned his head
sway from the window and glanced
around his room. The shabby backed
,;, ,,;a aF fr1vp
the faded carpet, the meager furnish
ings. all smote him keenly. 1t was not
the first time his poverty had thrust it.
self upon him coarsely, but he seemed
TO feel it more deeply than ever. AS
ae faced the superintendent who was
waiting for reply Kirk had 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 smitten into bewilder-
ment If he could have read Kirk s
thought. What Kirk was saying to
himselg was. How can Dorothy Gil
bert and | live on $500 year in q
home missionary church?"
We'll" the superintendent spoke,
with slight trace of impatience,
"what do you say? Give me favor
able answer. You can make your mark
out there; plenty of hard work, but q
good field. Tell me you'll take it."
every well, l promise to take the
field if it 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 little more talk between
| them, and the superintendent went out
The minute he was gone Kirk pulled
| down his curtains and locked his door
| 1t was. little after noon, and the reg.
| ular commencement dinner was served
at 1. He walked up and down his
| darkened room talking to himself. His
future was at last decided-at least fol
u time. He had some place In the
| world. Some one wanted him. He was
smbitio 7s, as a Christian gentleman
should be. He 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 at all contrary to his reg
ular habits of life that he kneeled down
and prayed. 1t was prayer of thanks
giving and also one Of petition. He
knew with perfect clearness as he
kneeled in his darkened room that he
| loved Dorothy Gilbert with all his
might. The complete absurdity of his
position had nothing to do with the
fact that he loved her. She was rich
she was accomplished, she was beauti
full, she was of an old and distinguish
ed family, but he loved her. He was
| poor, he was plain looking, he had NJ
prospects beyond his scholarship ant
$500 or $500 year in home mission
ary church, but he loved Dorothy Gil
bert. 1t mate no difference that hi
Christian training seemed to rebuk'
his choice of one so far removed from
him in every way. That did not de
stroy his feeling for her and did no
change it. In his prayer he cried TO
wisdom; he asked to be led by tn
Spirit.
He was not the man to wreck lif
of Christian service on passion of tn
heart, even if it's hunger were neve
fed. But when he arose and went owe
to the alumni hall to join the clas
there at the final banquet he carrie
with him the knowledge that the fl
ture for him must have Dorothy Gil
bert with it if he would do or be a
that he felt he had a right to pray for.
, The week that followed commence
ment day at Hermon found Kirk a
most alone in the seminary building
He had been employed by one of til
professors in doing some special cop.
ing of a book manuscript. In fe'
days this would be finished. He ha
: fixed on the following Thursday to sa
for Liverpool. He had determined
begin his studies as soon as possibl
He had been to see the president {
the faculty about his scholarship an
to his great relief, found that he ws
largely free to study in the way tn;
seemed of most value to himself.
q "You see, it's this way, SIR" he ha
explained to the president. "It will
me. very little good to go to Germa
university and take some special cour
U in language or history feel the nee
Of another method of study. If l CO
use this scholarship to study humf