The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-26
A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS.

rFrom the Chicago Record Herald.J
A whole community wondered when
Mrs. Grayson died what would become
OF Paul. her 37-yCar-old son. who was
an ordained minister and preached in
the same pulpit his father had occupied
before him, but who had never lived
apart from his mother.
Paul GraysOu was popular as
preacher having a special gift of ora
tory and sincere interest in saving
souls AS a pastor, however, he was
failure in the eyes of his flock, since
he never visited at their homes except
TO conduct a marriage, christening or
a funeral In spite OF his feline attach
ment to places he had some new and
progressive ideas and did not believe in
house to house visits or wish TO be one
of any family except his own. He thus
eluded matchmaking mothers and wills
ing daughters. although he gave no in
dicatiOn that he knew any such COM
hinatiOn Of danger existed. His world
OF women was bounded by that excel
lent woman. his mother. Now that she
was gone his people looked for him to
marry and even selected eligible sis
ters'' for consideration, but Paul Gray
son lived along at the old parsonage
with hired attendant and preached the
word as acceptably as ever in a state of
single blessedness. Finally his deacOus
took il upon themselves to make h
friendly call and suggested that he take
a wife.
ton. Whose wife shall I take?"
The deacons were shocked, not know
ing their classics WELL and they hasten
ed 10 mention the name of a pious
widow some years older than himself.
Paul C5raysen shook his head.
You married to please yourselves
must do the same by choosing my own
ideal My wife will belong to me, not
TO my congregation"
The deacOns meekly bowed their heads
and walked away. They We're afraid OF
their pastor even while they called him
"a spoiled child. for they could not
manipulate him to fill in any of the oIo
inches. And they admired him in their
secret hearts for his breaking away
from the old traditions
His wife will never preside at sewing
societies and church fairs for raising
money to buy a new organ" remarked
one disgruntled member.
Mr. Grayson believes in giving the
money outright to buy an organ and not
letting the sisters work themselves to
death making cloth pen wipers and
cardboard air castles. which they buy
back again themselves" said one Of the
overworked. I'm not sure but he's
right"
The question as to the identity of the
pastors ideal was burning one. Paul
Grayson was not an attractive man 10
the average female eye. He was tall and
gauut. Ike our Lincoln of blessed mem
ory, and his clothes hung on him much
aH Aurg might ndi2 on 2 post OF the
telegraph sort. and his face was cadaver-
Gus. But when he preached that face
lighted UP with the intelligence that
caDtivated his hearers. who felt always
that he had message for them and
were never disappointed. When he ex-
changed with a brother minister his
people stayed at home or went reluct-
antly in obedience to his expressed
wish They often wondered why he ex-
changed so frequently. but the truth
was his ideal lived in the other parish
and he had a message to her which sh.
refused TO hear. A few years younger
than himself. she looked on life with the
critical Judgment Of a woman who had
learned to think for herself Myra. Ben
net was truly an ideal. and she had coil
Nictlons OF her own. One Of these was
that wife was not necessary to the
happiness Of Paul Grayson.
he IS too well satisfied with his life
and himself" she said to friend. whu
Endorsed the suitability Of such nafrl-
honlai venture 4 should be without a
mission in life If 1 married Paul Grav-
son we are the best of friends. and I
nope always Will be. I considered the
question seriously when his mother died
- reared Paul would miss her greatly
ana might be hampered in his work. but
see now comfortably he lives without
ner-l am afraid 1 should prove a dis
turDlng influence in his home life.''
he must be lonely" suggested her
friend, with no companion but an oI6
servant" al oiO
y touched on that side of his life. and