Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-20
MALCOLM KIRK
A Tale Of Moral Heroism
in Overcoming tho World. A..
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON.
Copyright, 1900, by the Advance Pub. Co.
|CONTINUED. |

CONTINUED.
Dorothy hesitated before she openet
the next letter. and in spite Of her IF
fort at self control a tear fell with s
hot splash on the envelope. She knew
only too well what a real disappoint
ment the letters she had already open
ed would be to Malcolm.
The third letter bore Boston post
mark and was from the editor of re
ligious paper. 1t acknowledged the re
ceipt of an article sent by Malcon
some two months before aud retained
it with view to publication when tht
press of matter already accepted woult
permit. etc. Payment for the article
would be sent when it was published.
Dorothy'S face flushed with pride Al
Malcon's success as Il writer. and al
the same time she could not help feel
ing that if the editor Of that paper on
ly knew how much they needed the
money he would pay for the article
when he accepted it instead of keeping
tie author waiting until it appeared in
print. But she was unfamiliar with
the customs of magazines and news.
papers in this respect, and she rejOic'
ell after all. that her husband had
been able to write anything that sucl,
a famous paper wanted.
The last letter also bore a Boston
postElark. and after reading the let
ter Dorothy laid it down and rose tv
walk the little room, while her cheeks
burned with excitement and her eyes
flashed with light that had not been
seen in them for many days. The let
ter read:
My Dear Mr.. kirk-For several months we have
been considering your name in connection with a
vacancy editorial board and have at last
decided unanimously to ask you 10 assume the
place OF assistant under the chief editor OF the
magazine. We have been led to this decision by
Our knowledge of your work the German
scholarship three years ago and also from a pc.
rC>Al oi several articles recently written by you
and printed in The Boston Review. In addition to
this we Know of your work in Conrad through
Mr. Wilson. Your old seminary cassmate. who
last year was on our board for time. We make
you this offer and hope you will your way to
accept. The salary will be 5000 year. with
oFiMrturit! OF increase. The press is as power vi
the pulpit in these days, and you may be sure
your lis tu.n"ss will not be shortened lessened
by mating this change. We await your reply
hoping it will be favorable to US.
I1ere followed the name of person
who was at the head Of one of the
most influential papers published in
New England. Dorothy knew well
enough how much Malcolm thought of
the man ana how often he had en-
pressed his admiration for the charac-
ter of his literary work.
She picked the letter up and read it
through again. What was there in
Conrad. this wild, uninteresting west
ern town. struggling against a fnan-
cial depression and IL future as we'll us
past failure of crops? How could
Malcolm ever rise to any place worthy
Of his powers in this little church, so
feeble aEA so poor? 1T is true" she
found herself saying: 1T is true lie
chose the ministry as his life work.
ana he has often said he would not do
anything else. But
She went to the door and stepped.
out On the little porch 1t was after 10
o'clock and Il frosty night Down the
main street she could see the lights
from the saloons There was a brawl
going Oh in front of one of them, but
that was cemmOn-a group of cow
boys gallOping down the street, firing
their pistols as they came. That was
not unusual Dorothy shuddered.
What Of that promise she had made
with Malcolm to try to redeem the lost
OF Conrad? Was it worth while, after
all? 1t would be so much pleasanter
to live in Boston. They could have
things and live as other people lived,
and after awhile her husband would
DecOme famous. and
"Well. little woman, won't you take
cold out here?"
It was Malcolm, and he led her into
the house again. She had not seen
him come. He had unexpectedly fin
ished his engagement and been able to
return much sooner than he expected.
She saw as he came in that he was
very tired. but was making brave eff
fort to appear cheerful and contenteA.
She hesitated about showing him the
letters, but he had already seen the
open envelopes on the table, and his
hand went out toward them. Dorothy
stood between him and the table.
will you read them in the order I
say" asked Dorothy.
"Certainly. Must l get ready for
bad news?" he asked soberly.
1T is for you to say" Dorothy an
swered. And she gave him the letters
in the same order that she had opened
them and stood watching his face
hungrily as he read them.
CHAPTER XII.
A MOMENT OF DOUBT.