The Princeton union., 1900-08-16

AANco sas - pttiL Cl lNe loving faJner,S s
plan for their victory in overcoming
the world, the world of what might
have grown to be a very selfish sorrow.
What happened, all that was said in
that little study room after that, is not
easy to tell; but when Mrs. Barton
went out Malcom Kirk went with her.
Dorothy went into her own little room
and prayed, and there was that in her
prayer that revealed to her the loving
rather. For the first time she saw her
baby surrounded by the infinite love,
and when she came back to her work
IN the kitchen there were hope, immor-
tai hope, and a large measure of the
peace Of Christ in her heart
Malcom Kirk got into the farm wag-
on with Mrs. Barton, and they drove
down to the main business street of
Conrad
''Now, Mrs. Barton" Malcom had
said, IF you will wait outside I'll go
into the saloons and see if l can find
your boy. While I'm looking you
might question passersby and ask
them II they have seen the hay wagon
and horses anywhere"
She thanked him gratefully. and he
noted that even in the burning sun her
thin, sorrowful figure trembled and
shlvered, and her lips quivered as if
she were cold. His compassion for her
motherhood increased every moment
God help her." he said as he stepped
down out Of the wagon. '"This boy
is one of the lost ones in this town
that Dorothy and I pledged ourselves
three years ago to rescue. Heaven
give me strength and wisdom to make
that promise good"
He had never been inside of a saloon
in his life. He shrank from the ordeal
before him with all the shuddering of
highly sensitive spirit in the presence
or an ugly, renulsive, hideous evil But
he went at once into the first saloon
on the main street and stopped inside
near the door and looked around him.
1t was not yet 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, but there were a dozen men and
boys in the room, which was quite
large, seated with stools and furnished
with small, round tables.
At first his entrance attracted no at
tentlon. a few of the men We're
lounging at the bar. The rest were
seated at the tables. But as he re-
mained by the door two or three of
those nearest him turned and looked at
him. One of the men wars a laborer
who had several times been employed
by MalcOm in odd jobs about the house.
Instantly Kirk walked over to him
and held out his hand. Carver do
you know Mrs. Barton's boy? Philip
is his name. She is looking for him.
He left home Saturday, and she is
sure he is in one Of the saloons some
where
The man looked very much en1bar-
rassed. Hex shuffled his feet nervously
in the dirty sawdust under the table.
Il saw him yesterday. He was in
Ealmer's place in the next block"
THANK you," said Malcom slowly.
"Can any Of you gentlemen tell me
anything about him? Has any one
seen him today?"
No one answered, and there was a
painful silence. The barkeeper, who
had been eying Kirk, suddenly broke
the silence by saying with a short
laugh:
"You won't find him here l won't
say he hasn't been here He knows a
good thing when he sees it. Won't
you step up and take a glass of iced
beer this morning? We keep the best
in the town on tap for preachers"
There was a laugh from one or two
OF the men nearest the speaker, but
Malcom simply looked him in the face
without word. He then laid his
hand on Carver's shoulder and said
softly:
I'm sorry to see you here, Carver.
You promised me you would quit it,
The man writhed in his seat, but did
not say a word. Kirk looked at him
sorrowfully.
Come, Carver; come out of this. III
give You something to do. Don't lose
your soul in this place."
Say said the barkeeper, who had
been leaning with his elbows on the
bar listening, as had also every other
man in the saloon. '*You leave my Gus
toners alone, will you, and mind your
; own business?''
'Thats just what 1 am doing" re-
Piled Kirk earnestly, and, as he spoke,
his pale blue eyes filled with high,
white light. 1T is my business to de-
stroy yoar business. Man, do you
know that just outside that door is a
mothers broken heart that you have
helped to break? And hers is only
one out Of thousands all over the
world. Mind my own business! It is
exactly what intend to do until every
hell like this is wiped out of this
town."
He spoke very quietly, almost softly;
his voice did not declaim, but the un-
usual Quality Of it thrilled everybody
there. He looked into their faces a
moment and with a last appealing look
at Carver ne turned and went out.
'Whewv' said the barkeeper. "First
sermon ever delivered here. Score one
for Parson Kirk"
The other men did not respond with