Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-11-28


character of the fancy intuitiVely;
but the knowledge that he believed
himself a sore sinner was as indie
finally comforting as his wise silence.
Day after day the little minister
cheered, strengthened and encour-
aged her, heroically regardless OF the
meaning glances cast toward them
by women whose hair was not yellow,
and bv men who considered facetious
speeches concerning tiirtatious par
sons and the latitude of the
cloth day after day he induced
her to postpone further compact
with the Giant Despair at least
until she had made effort a lit
tie longer. And all went well until
the afternoon when he was powerless
to fight the recurring battle with her
Because Of the determined compan-
ionship and questioning of the ascetle
maiden lady who wanted his views
upon the Athanasian creed question
and also to talk about the yellow
haired woman. The little minister,
whose gentlemanly instinct never al
lowed him to discuss one woman with
another, found anxiety disposs essing
his patient and polite boredom as he
noticed that the yellow-haired woman
was leaning through instead of over
the rail But before he could
carry out his swiftly formed resolu-
ton to go to her Immediately there
was the fash of falling figure, sud-
den commotion-and he realized that
the long-dreaded circumstance had
come TO pass.
He was in the water almost as soon
as she was. Three other men made
themselves ready, but were trifie
slower. for various reasons. Before
they reached the rail the little minis
ter had caught hold of the yellow
haired woman-who struggled and
fought him wildly.
Don't save me-" she gasped. moan
ingly ~ can't help struggling, but
I don't want to be saved. Please,
please let me drown"
For all answer he slipped a hand
under the little, round, delicate chin
which told such a clear story of the
weakness which loves and finds il
hard to resist temptation, pushed her
at arms'-length from him, and swan
as strongly as he might until a rope
came to him over the stern of the
ship. First she was drawn on board
safely, then he followed and was hur-
ried downstairs for brandy and hard
rubbing. Almost before the two
combined brought warmth and vital
ity back to the limbs which were so
insignifcantly weak and untitled to
contain the mighty spirit which up
held them a message came to his
stateroom. The yellow-haired wom-
an hoped he had not been injured in
coming to her rescue; she would like
TO see him TO say Thank YOU" when
ever he should feel inclined to leave
his berth. She herself had been com
manded by the surgeon to remain mo-
tionless for some hours.
When the asles and staterooms had |
4
little minister traversed the former
and stood at the side of the yellow
haired woman-pathetically weak and
young-looking in her physical weak. /
ness and spiritual abasement At /
sight of him she broke into sobbing, |
regardless of the now sympathetic
stewardess, who considerably slipped I
from the room.
"Why did you rave me?" she asked /
him. still weeping you knew | want /
ed to die. / want to die now, as God 1
hears me, although | have learned 4
this evening just how sweet il would
be TO go on living-if one only had
chance to start over"
And then il was that the soul OF
the man and the gentleman stood up
in the eyes of the preacher, and the
divine instinct which had healed so /
many sins and sorrows failed not the |
little minister, even though the rem
edy required was unusual
II, too, learned something while /
down in the water" he said. with the /
hesitating precision of one who re-
cites lesson but hastily learned. l
81 learned that my life will never be
quite perfect, never quite what IL |
should be, unless you consent to be-
come part Of it, my-my dear win 1
you'-his manner as reverential as 4
though she had been the most con-
ventional Of conventional good wom-
en,"-"honor me by promising to be-
come my wife?"
The hope and the wonder which /
flashed out in her face transformed 4
and TRANSPORTED IL; hut the glory
died out a moment later.
"You are only saying this for char
ity's sake, to save me, to give me an
other chance" she told him.
"No." answered the little minister,
with quiet tenderness and gentle de
termination, you are quite, quite
mistaken. my-my dear. l am saying
il because I love YOU"
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