The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-02-19
The Laurens Advertiser
$I.5o Per Year in Advance.
The Minister'S
Christmas Pres Mt

conscientious man; moreover, he was
very much in earnest, Since his ar
rival in their midst, nearly q year ago
there were few in his congregation who
had not felt the sympathetic touch of
his large love. But there was one to
whom his heart went out in eager
sympathy, yet for whom he felt that he
had done practically nothing.
Blanch Mereton led the choir, taught
IN the Sunday school and helped in all
church entertainments. She was q
calm. quiet girl with nothing beautiful
about her save her earnest eyes and
exquisite voice. Rumor had it that q
couple of years ago she had been not
unsuccessfully wooed by the young
lawyer over the way; that a estrauge-I
ment had come between them-one of
those senseless things that spring from
such trifles that the cause is lost sight
of in the effect. Rumor further stated
that since those troublous times,
Blanch had never been like her old
self. That the love of her life had
gone out in the dark, leaving her the
emotionless being nobody understood.
1t was this hat the minister
OF DeerwOod heard and believed, and
it was this young woman toward whom
he felt that he had failed in his duty.
Time and again he had resolved to
offer her the assistance his calling de-
manded, only to let each favorable OPP
portunity for speaking slip through his
fingers while he shrank from intruding
upon such delicate ground. Truly,
fools rush in where angels fear to
tread.
He had compromised with his con-
science while the sitting summer
months struggled through their weary
existence, telling himself that he would
be filter for the task in the fall. But
the busy fall had slipped away and he
sat in his study with his Christmas
sermon before him, facing the bitter
accusations of a relentless conscience.
Blanch Mereton's quiet, white face rose
before him like n reproach. She was
unhappy and he, her minister, ordained
consolation, had not made one effort tc
allay her suffering. He plunged his
face in his hands, goaded by such pain
as only an eager, earnest soul may
know. To speak to her at the risk OF
hurting her or to let the glad Christ.
mas tide pass and leave her.
He started up with a strong mans
impulse to tramp away difficulties, but
his eye fell on the close written sheet:
and he stopped, staring down at then
mechanically. Gradually, as he stared
the troubled lines left his brow ant
his eyes began to brighten.
Peace on earth; good will TOWARD
men,"
He caught up the written sheets arc
tore them into bits.
An hour later, when the old house.
keeper opened the door, she found hel
young master writing eagerly, and hel
summons TO tea was received with al
absent shake of the head.
In fact, tie minister drank no ter
that night. HIS sermon finished, he
snatched up his hat and ran out whis'
thing like a boy. He saw his way clear
toward making her happy.
Strange that he had not thought oil
it before. "The best way to right a
wrong is to undo it," How fortunate
thet the choir's tenor should have O
cold.
The tenor, perhaps, would have re-
" hlS tuIu VI tuOuSHl, DuU IDG
minister's coantenance was gravely
sympathetic and the sick man was
touched by the tremor In the PASTORS
voice. He little suspected that it arose
from suppressed anxiety lesth he should
be recovering too rapidly.
81 won't be able to damage the
CAROLS" he said reluctantly, and the
sympathetic pastor Rugged himself
with glee as soon as the door closed
behind him.
cover the way" to the lawyers was
q matter of a mile or more, but to this
the minister gave not a thought-even
though he had had no tea.
Will you sing tenor2" he asked as
he took possession of the rug before
the lawyers study fire.
"Tenor2"
Yes, in the carols, you know. L
have just seen Gleason; he says he
will not be able to manage them."
"Stuff."
"He has a cold"
The lawyer thought q moment and
shook his head.
"Better get somebody else. Pm
out of practice"
The minister smiled his quick, happy
smile.
There are three days yet and we
practice every afternoon"
"So1ry, but 1 haven't time.n
"See here, old man, you'll have to.
There is not another tenor to be had.
1t will spoil our carols"
The lawyer hesitated, frowning at
the fire.
"Look here, Leland, you are a man
of sense and honor. You have heard
these COMPOUNDED rumors."
"Oh," responded the minister cheer.
fully, CT would not mind that. Besides
1 will explain to the lady"
Lady, rumorf"
Yes, and that other one"
Well, suppose you do touch her on
the subject. If it will not cause her
embarrassment L can accommodate Won
on that little matter of the carols easlly
enough. But you understand that
before 1 would risk annoying her your
carols might go to the demnition bow.
vows"
The minister laughed with nervous
joyousness.
"l'll drop you a line tomorrow" he
said as he went out resolved to see
Blanch Mereton and settle the matter
before he slept.
"Do you know something" he be-
Gan with cuatOmarv dirpctnaoa no -