Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-09
BORN TO JERDE
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON
Author Of I'm HIS STEPS," JOHN QUESTION CLASS"
EDWARD BLAKE" Etc.
lcopyright, lpoe BIZ chArl.. N shsldon.,
BY CHARLES M. !

Charles n. Sheldon,
Father died last year." said Bar
bara, returning the young woman's
look Of interest.
Its rather strange I have not met
you before" said Miss Dillingham;.
"You have been shut in on account
of your fathers DEATH" She looked
at Barbara's simple black silk dress,
which was Barbara's one party dress,
very plain, but in perfect taste in
every way. "But thought 1 knew
all the Dillinghams of the Vermont
branch. Mother will want to meet
you"
"Is she here to-night?" asked Bar
bara.
Eyes. She's in the other room some
where. All! There's the new minis
ter Of Marble Square church, Mr..
Morton!" Miss Dillingham; exclaimed.
II didn't know that he had come yet.
I think he is perfectly splendid. Have
you ever heard him preach?"
Eyes, I heard him once" replied
Barbara; and the next moment Mr..
Morton had caught sight of them,
and came out into the hall and greet
ed them.
Good evening, Miss Clark. I'm very
glad to meet you again. And you,
Miss Dillingham;" he said in his sim
pie but hearty manner.
You are good at remembering
Names" said Barbara, because she
could not think of anything brilliant
to say. GIVE understood that one of
the difficulties for ministers is the
task of remembering so many peo-
ple."
Eyes, I've heard Uncle James say
spoke up Miss birmingham, brightly
Uncle James is rector of St. Marks
in Crawford" she nodded by way of
explanation to Barbara-"I've heard
him say that he could remember
names that began with certain let
ters, but that he was completely for
getful of others. 1t must be very nice
to have distinguished memory for
peoples names. 1t is such pleasing
flattery to the people who are adj
dressed. Every one likes to be re-
membered. He takes it as a special
compliment"
Il don't know that can claim any
special faculty in that direction" the
young minister replied, smiling.
"Your names come near the begin
ming of the alphabet, C and D. Per-
haps that helps me. The farther ono
gets into the alphabet, the more in
70
comes"
TITS very disappointing explana-
ton, Mr.. Norton" said Miss Dilling.
ham, laughing. "We hoped, at least
] did, that it was something personal
about ourselves that made YOU re.
member u.s."
What. for example?" said Morton.
gravely.
For example, our-our looks, or.
Miss Dillingham; turned to Barbara.
What gA22ula you say, Miss clark2"
'sor our occupations" Suggested
Barbara, coloring little.
But we've no occupatiops,v said
Miss Dillingham;, carelessly. cat
least, haven't any since finishing at
Vassar. Mother wants me to study
photography. What would you saw.
Mr.. Morton?"
"I2" Tho young man seemed un.
prepared for an answer. 80, | should
say you would take very good pic
ture"
Now, that's certainly compli.
Ment, Isn't it, Miss Clarke" she ex.
claimed, laughing again. "And vet
they told me you couldn't talk small
talk, Mr., Morton"
Il was trying to retrieve my blum
der about the memory of the Names"
said Mr.. Morton, laughing with them.
But, if you really want my opinion
about the photography, ] think it
would be a good thing for you to
learn it, ! believe everyone ought to
have an occupation Of some kind"
Even society young women?'
Yves. even they" Morton answered
with his characteristic gravity, which,
however, was not at an gloomy or
morose. Young women like Miss Dill
lngham liked it, and spoke of it as
fascinating, 4he reason it was fas-
einating was that it revealed genu-
Inc seriousness in life. Not morbid,
but interesting.
What would you have us do, then?
What ccan society girls like Miss
Clark and myself do?"
Miss Dillingham; asked the question
seriously, or thought she. did.
Really, ! am not competent to de-
termine your duty in the matter"
the young man answered, looking
earnestly at Barbara, although Miss
Dillingham; had asked the question.