Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-07-21

had been west. Now the loss Of the
parsonage with nearly everything II
contained was added to all the rest.
Little woman" said Malcom that
evening after he had been to "The
Forks" Eve have very little left except
our good looks. and the balance is IN
your favor"
They were sitting in the little room
kindly offered them by one Of their
church members and had been talking
over the situation with the frankness
that had always characterized their
married life.
"I used to read in the novels" said
Dorothy, with a peculiar smile, "about
the girl who married the poor but gift
ed young man and spurned the rich
and highborn suitor, but l never
thought should be material for such
story myself"
Malcolm looked at her, and deep In
his heart there was a battle going on
that he hardly dared to analyze. He
only knew that he longed somehow to
be able to grapple q physical, tangible
something and fight 1t for Dorothy's
sake and prove to her that he could
be more than poor man.
"Malcom," Dorothy said as she came
over and sat down on q stool near by
and put her hands in his great brown
palm, looking up at his sober, anxious
face-"Malcom. once for all, If l need
to say it. | am not afraid Of being
poor. l trust you. You do not think l
will add to your burden by being weak
at such a time as this? Was it not
through sickness and health, for bet
ter, for worse. that I vowed to give
you all I have and am until death do
us part"
Malcolm Kirk caught up his wife,
and a great shadow swept out Of his
soul, and q great burden fell off his
heart. He had not really doubted Dor
othy's ability to face any possible
event in their lives, but he eagerly
welcomed her loving unconditional
statement Of it.
Nevertheless he began bis struggle
FOR a new church and parsonage dur
ing the weeks that followed with
vague questionings Of his choice Of a
place for his life work. He no longer
had any fears for Dorothy's sake. But
he found himself longing to give her
what he could not give from any hu-
man foresight in the Home Missionary
field where they now were.
1t was at this time, with this expert
ence personal and peculiar to his mar
ried life, that Malcom Kirk, fighting
against great odds, began a work in
Conrad that had the furthest possible
results on its after life. This work
was an attempt to unite the various
churches in q combined and constant
crusade against the saloon. Matters
were nearing crisis for the temper
ance cause. All over the state meet
ings were being held. The agitation
for q prohibitory amendment was
growing into such proportions that men
who felt the pulse Of the common peo-
pie predicted victory. And still the
whisky forces sneered ut the posi-
bility Of an amendment.
Kirk succeeded In uniting the five
other churches with his own In se-
ries of union meetings during the week
as we'll as on Sundays. His own church
secured for the use of worship little
storeroom on the main street while
waiting to hear from the Church Build
ing society to which they had made
application for a grant Of $500 to help
rebuild church and parsonage.
Together with all this work In the
town Malcom was constantly sent for
to speak in the district schoolhouses.
His reputation as temperance talker
was growing. He often went out dur
ing the week and spoke to crowded
houses, returning late at night.
1t was during his absence from Con-
rad on one of these schoolhouse cam
paigns that one evening four letters
came to him, and Dorothy opened
them, as Malcolm had always asked
her to do, in order that answers might
be sent in case he was detained from
home several days at time.
The first letter was from the super
intendent of the Home Missionary So
ciety and read as follows:
Rev. Malcom Kirk, Conrad. Kan.:
Dear Brother-It Is with great regret that the
society Is compelled to announce to many OF the
brethren who are commissioned on the frontier
that, owing to q lack Of funds In the New York
treasury, it will be impossible to forward the
quarters salary when due. 1t is with the greatest
possible regret that / am obliged to make this
statement, but it is unavoidable. 1t is probable
there may be delay OF three or four months be-
fore the money can be sent. Meanwhile your
church must be urged to do all 1t can for your
support until the weathier churches respond to
the special appeal now being sent ont by the 30.
cety in behalf Of the missionaries at the front.
am, your brother, etc.
The second letter that Dorothy open
ed was from the Church Building So
ciety expressing great regret that, oW-
ing to excessive calls from other fields,
the society did not have the funds to
spare at present to assist the unfortu-
nate church at Conrad, but hoped to
be able to do so at some future time,
etc.
Dorothy hesitated before she opened
the next letter, and In spite Of her ef-
fort at self control a tear fell with
hot splash on the envelope. She knew
only too we'll what a real disappoint-
ment the letters she had already open