The Iola register., 1901-11-15

IDENTIFY felt. "Mrs. Clark, | have no
doubt you are greatly surprised to
see me here"
at is n great pleasure. | am sure"
Mrs. Clark murmured. Barbara had
turned around so that the young
minister could not see her face as
she sat partly concealed behind the
lamp on the table. 1t was very still
again before Mr.. Morton spoke.
"You know, of course, that / have
no preaching service tonight. | have
just come from my young peoples
meeting. I"
He paused. and Mrs. Clark looked
attentively at him, and then at Bar
bara. sitting with head bowed and
cheeks flushed, and CLEAN of sud
den perception of the truth began
to shine out of the mothers face as
she turned again toward the min
lister. Barbara had never confided di-
rectly in her mother, but Mrs. Clark
had been blessed with n remarkably
beautiful and true love experience
in her own girlhood, and with all her
faults and misunderstanding of Bar
bara during the trial of her expert
ment with Mrs. Ward she had in va
rious ways come to know that Bar
bara had grown to have much inter-
est in the brilliant young preacher.
Barbara had probably made Sc
rious mistake in not giving her moth
er frank confession. But Mrs.
Clark had never really supposed until
now that the minister might have n
feeling for Barbara. She began to
feel certain of it as she rapidly noted
Mr.. Morton's evident agitation and
the look that he gave Barbara as he
stopped suddenly.
eve are glad to see you, | am
sure" Mrs. Clark said, coming to his
rescue Through the memory of her
| own sad loss and all her recent
trouble rose the sweet picture of her
husbands wooing. If Barbara's hap
piness for life now consisted in her
possible union with this good, strong
man. Mrs. Clark was not the mother
TO put needless obstacles in the way.
In this matter her mother had a GER
tain largeness of character which
Barbara did not at that time COM
prehend.
Mr.. Morton had grown calmer. He
began to talk OF matters belonging
to his church and his plans for the
social settlement. Gradually Bar
bara recovered herself from the first
moments panic. She came out from
behind the defense of the lamp. and
began to ask questions and take part
in the conversation.
But STILL" she was saying after
half an hours talk had been going
on, 81 do not quit, see how you are
going to interest Crawford people IN
the plan you suggest until you have
made Il practical beginning, even if il
is on small sGale. The people are
very conservative"
That's true" The minister sighed
a little. But ! do not see how you
are going to interest the public in
your servant girls training school un-
til you have demonstrated its prac.
tical usefulness. | don't doubt its
wisdom, of course he added, quick.
ly. But it must require a good deaI
of courage on your part to make be-
ginning in view of what you know
must be the criticism and prejudice
that are inevitable"
AS rar as courage goes" said Bar.
bara, frankly, "it seems to me you
have much more than /. With the
money Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Vane have
promised me, shall be quite indie.
pendent to work out my plan as
please. Whereas you are obliged TO
overcome the prejudice of whole
church full of people, many of whom
do not believe in social settlement
work connected with the church"
IL wish there was some way" Mr.
Morton exclaimed eagerly, absorbed
in thought of his plans, "in which we
could combine your plans and mine
The training school would fit in Sc
beautifully with my IDEAS"
He spoke in his enthusiasm, for the
moment, thinking only of the plans
as existing apart from the persons
But, as Barbara lifted her face to his
and then dropped her eyes, while a
great wave of color swept her cheeks
he realized how personal his eXcla-
nation had been.
And just at that iuncture, Mrs. Clark,
without a word of apology or eXplana-
tion, rose and walked out of the room
Morton blessed her as she shut the
door. There are some things in the
love chapter of youth that cannot be
told except to the heart of youth it.
self.
He went quickly over to where Bar
bara was seated on the other side OF
the table, and before she had time to
be frightened he said, looking at her
with loves look: Barbara, | love
you, and want you to be my wife and
share all with me. viii you?"
Barbara sat all in a tumult, her
heart beating fast, as in dream won
dering at it all. And it sounded very
sweet to her, For she loved him truly.
But she said, as she stood by the table
looking at him: "But-I-cannot. 1t
would be-"
| 0fTAll ma Rarhar. a. .aid q. .,,I