Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-04-18
BORN TO SERVE
By Charles Fl. Sheldon.
Author of ssIN HIS STEPS, .IoHN KINGS
QUESTION Glass; edward
BLAKE, - Etc.
CHAPTER VIII.
MINISTRY is DIVINE.
fcopyrizat, 1900. By Charles i. shsldoa-)

MINISTRY IS DIVINE.
Mr. Morton broke very embar-
RAISING silence by saying in quiet
voice, although his. manner showed
still the great excitement that he evil
IDENTITY felt: Mrs. Clark, 1 have no
doubt you are greatly surprised to
80 lie here
1t is great pleasure, I am sure,'
Mrs Clark murmured. Barbara had
Timed around so that the young
minister could not see her face as
slr sat partly concealed behind the
EASsp on the table. 1t was very still
-ain before Mr.. Morton spoke.
You know, of course, that I have
ma preaching service tonight. I have
just come from my young peoples
Letting. Il
BE paused, and Mrs. Clark looked
at;cntively at him, and then at Bar
bara. sitting with head bowed and
checks flushed, and a gleam of sud
den perception of the truth began
30 shine out Of the mothers face as
she turned again toward the min
ister. Barbara had never confided di-
rectly in her mother, but Mrs. Clark
had been blessed with a remarkably
Eea.Ets full and true love experience
in her own girlhood, and with all her
faults and misunderstanding of Bar
tara during the trial of her expert
ment with Mrs. Ward she had in va
rious ways come to know that Bar
ba-a had grown to have much inter
est in the brilliant young preacher.
Barbara had probably made a Sc
Fious mistake in not giving her moth
err a frank confession. But Mrs.
Clark had never really supposed until
now that the minister might have
feeling for Barbara. She began to
feel certain of it as she rapidly noted
&r. Morton's evident agitation and
the look that he gave Barbara as he
stopped suddenly.
We are glad to see. you, I am
SURF" Mrs. Clark said, coming to his
rescdc. Through the memory of her
c. sad loss and all her recent
tron lie rose the sweet picture of her
husbands wooing. If Barbara's hap
pines for life now consisted in her
possible unioR with this good, strong
man Mrs. Clark was not the mother
co r.lt needless obstacles in the way
In his matter her mother had GER
ta,r largeness of character which
BARBARA did not at that time COM
prehend.
Hgr. Morton had grown ca1mer. 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
hogan to ask questions and take part
In the conversation.
But STILL" she was saying after
half an hours talk had been going
en-. 81 do not quite see how you are
going to interest Crawford people in
the plan you suggest until you have
made pl actical beginning, even if it
IS on small scale. The people are
very conservative"
That's true" The minister sighed
n little. "But T do not see how you
are going to interest the public in
your servant girls training school I'M
til you have demonstrated it's prac-
tical usefulness. / don't doubt it's
wisdom, of course" he added, quick
~. but it must require a good deal
h. courage on your part to make be-
ginning in view of what you know
mlist be the criticism and prejudice
tEat are inevitable"
rs far as courage goes" said Bar
bafa. frankly, sit seems to me you
hare much more than I. With the
nlsaey Mrs. Ward and Mrs Vane have
n missed me, 1 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.
II wish there was some way" Mr..
Morton exclaimed, eagerly, absorbed
sn thought of his plans, s'in which we
could combine your plans and mine.
The training school would fit in SO
: beautifully with my ideas"
He spoke in his enthusiasm, for the
ripment, thinking only of the plans
as existing apart from the persons.
Dat, as Barbara lifted her face to his
and then dropped her eyes, while a
great wave of color swept her cheeks,
be realized how personal his excla-
nation had been
Alnd just at that iuncture, Mrs. Clarf.