Mower County transcript., 1902-12-17
,sfing years lie before him.

the most careful manner he knew how
and walked straight across the campus
to her house. ! @.-> -
! AS he went up the steps he heard the
piano. Dorothy was playing. When
he was in the hall, he glanced into the
parlor and saw Francis Raleigh stand
ing there. ,~.
Then a fit Of timidity seized him.
Something in Raleigh's face and man
ner made him feel that it was impossi-
BILE to see Dorothy Gilbert with the
| gifted artist. He asked the servant If
| Mr.. Gilbert was at home and said he
| wanted to see him few moments. ,
1t was the nearest to lie that NAL
com Kirk ever approached. However,
when the servant ushered him into Mr..
Gilbert's library he was not sorry to
have talk with the publisher.
| Mr.. Gilbert had been abroad. Kirk
asked him several questions about cit
| les and people on the continent. He
grew every moment more interested
| and staid for more than an hour. M.
Gilbert insisted on presenting him with
two or three copies Of Baedeker and
followed him out into the hall when he
finally rose to go, wishing him sue
cessful year of study.
The piano had stopped, and the door
into the parlor was closed, but Kirk
could hear voices, and it seemed to him
that they were unusually earnest. He
imagined he could detect tone of
pleading In one Of them.
He went out into the night and walk
ed the seminary campus under the
grave elms for two or three hours. He
felt disappointed. He went over his
prospects. He viewed from all sides
his position as man with q career,
and before he let himself into his dingy
room he had gone down into depth of
self depreciation that measured a val
ley Of humiliation for him.
But when he awoke the next day he
determined, with dull obstinacy that
was a part of his character, that he
would see Dorothy Gilbert before he
went away. And when evening came he
walked over to the house again.
She was playing the piano again, but
this time alone. She turned around
/
were glad to see him, and before he
had time to think of any possible shy
ness he was talking about his pros
poets, the places. be expected to visit.
the methods he was planning to use.
! AS the talk went on Dorothy Gilbert
grew more interested. Kinks voice had
something to do with it. But aside
from that he was at his best while
talking about his life work. Dorothy
forgot that he was a theologue.s Sew
eral times she was startled at her re-
sponse to his enthusiasm. He had
planned an original trip abroad, and
the details Of what he intended to do
reused her native intensity to see re-
suits.
But right in the midst Of his explana-
ton Of what he expected to do in Lon
don Kirk paused.
81 heard you playing the 'Traume-
ref when l came in, Miss Gilbert, Will
you please play it again?''
Dorothy looked surprised ct tie alb
rupt change, but without wc!tl went
to the piano and began. Xii: knew
enough about music to know that she
played we'll, better than any ole he
had ever heard.
! When she finished, she turned about
and said: "You will hear some good
music while you are abroad, MI. Kirk.
The Germans, especially, furnish the
people with the very best music in the
parks and gardens at very small
price," y
She suddenly colored deeply as she
thought he might imply that she was
thinking of his poverty, Of his inability
to hear expensive music in expensive
places. If he thought Of it, he made
no sign that she noticed. But he said:
II shall never hear any better music
than have heard tonight"
The minute he had said it he felt the
same timidity seize him that came over
him the evening before. But it passed
away quickly, and, to his relief, he felt
q certain inward strength and indomi-
table courage fill him.. Dorothy was at
first amused at the compliment; then
she was suddenly excited by it. Kirk
was as simple hearted as child. He
had revealed his secret in the tone and
manner of his words. It was the last
thing in the world he had expected to
do when he came. But greater and bet
ter and wiser men than Malcom Kirk
have done as 1e did. '..... :.
He rose at Snce and walked straight
over to the fireplace. On the mantel was
a miniature Of Dorothy, painted by q
New York artist, a young woman who
was famous for such work. ,...
~ have no right"-Kirk Spoke with
out tremor-::.but If | take this and
keep it for year sacredly to guard it
from every eye but my own and never
to speak Of it and then return it when
come back IT.. i,:fS;< IT, Il - ~
She was so surprised that her self
possession failed her. 4 Kinks hand
was on the miniature with a mastery
that Dorothy noticed even at that mo-
ment. '-&V 81 z> 5@s: .=s. ##z.:#tz {.