Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-20


ten unpaid or the recipient of boxes
which sometimes were so clearly in
the nature Of charity that no self re-
specting man could take and use the
contents?
All this and more crowded into NAL
CONS mind as he stood there that night
by the ruins of his church and home.
The same thoughts were also in the
mind Of Dorothy, and with it all it
seemed. too, as If to both Of them came
half suppressed doubt as to the
course Malcolm was on the point of
taking.
Don't you feel that we have tried
our best to keep that promise we made
that night in the church," Dorothy
asked, as she nervously pushed her
foot against one of the stones at the
corner of the foundation.
Malcolm did not answer at first. Then
he said evasively, as If he had been
thinking of something else, I'm sure l
can do as much with my pen as can
in church."
Dorothy did not look up or speak for
0OIAAO NlAAC. 1ACu ouC oClu Will IdluCT
eager emphasis:
"Why not write at once to the editor
and tell him that you will accept his
OfferY
III WILL" said Malcolm in low tone.
They stood a little while longer by
the ruins, and then turned away and
went home. Somewhere in the great
spaces of the infinite to Malcolm and
Dorothy it almost seemed as if a sigh
from an angel Of light breathed over
the sleeping town that lay on the black
ened surface of the prairie. What they
felt was the inner uneasiness Of spirit
that the promise they had made three
years before had been. if not broken,
at least not lived out as it might have
been. In Malcom's heart as he said to
Dorothy. 81 WILL" there was distinct
uncertainty of feeling There was a
lack Of spontaneous joy at his action
which he knew we'll enough meant that
somewhere he had not been true to the
best that was in him.
Nevertheless in the morning he wrote
the letter in answer to the editor, &C.
cepting the position and asking him to
give him time to sever his relations
with the church. etc.
He took the letter and went out early
after breakfast to mail it, He would
hand in his resignation at the weekday
church meeting and write to the super
intendent later in the day.
He was thinking It all over as he
neared the main street. when q farm
wagon drove up noisily and stopped
near him.
'Oh. Mr.. Kirk. will you come right
out to The Forks with me? Phil is in
a terrible way and has been calling for
you all night"
1t was Mrs. Barton. and her thin,
eager face looked down at Malcolm as
she sat there looking at him anxiously.
Into Malcolm Kinks heart there came
Il distinct shock. almost as if he had
been detected in doing selfish thing.
Here again was this appeal for help
coming at time when it seemed to
him as if the burden he was carrying
was too great for him.
He looked up at Mrs. Barton.
why. certainly. III go right out
with you." he said, every instinct of
helpfulness in him rising and going out
toward the cry for help.
Just then carver came walking by.
Kirk had the letter he was going to
post in his hand.
Say, Carver, will you mail this let
ter for me as you go by the Officer"
Malcolm asked, and Carver eagerly
took tie letter, more than willing to do
Mr.. Kirk favor.
Malcolm at once got up into the wag-
on with Mrs. Barton, and they drove
out Of town rapidly. Carver stood
watching them a moment, then he
turned and went on down the street.
At the first saloon he hesitated, but
finally went in. Before noon he had
gone into three or four different saloons
that lay between him and the postof-
fee, and the letter remained in his
pocket forgotten.
On their way to "The Forks" NAL
com learned from Mrs. Barton that
while Philip was on his back, unable
to leave his bed, one of the farmer
boys living on the next ranch had
brought out several bottles Of whisky
and struggled them into the house.
The result was that young Barton was
having delirium tremens while in the
terrible condition caused by his de-
bauch at the time of the great. fire.
His mother had spent a fearful night
with him, and at last, desperate and
heartbroken, dry eyed, but weeping
her blood away within. she had come
into town for Kirk.
1T is all of the devil, this drink bust
ness" groaned Malcolm as he went in
to the house and into the room where
Phil Barton lay:
Never in all his life had Malcolm
Kirk seen such sight. Barton knew
him as he came in. and he spoke his.
name. Then he began to curse in the
most awful manner. The lower part
of his body was paralyzed, but his
arms moved necessarily, and his head
rolled back and forth on the bed
while he called on all hell to blast ev-
cry living creature on earth.
Malcolm put Mrs. Barton out of the
room and shut the door. Then for
three hours he spent the most trying
period he had ever known by the side
Of q suffering and sinful human being.
At the end of that time Barton lay
quiet, and Malcolm was weak and
trembling. wet with perspiration and
unnerved as If he had been facing
some great peril. The doctor came Just