The Van Buren press., 1903-10-17
The Minister'S
Wooing
By JULIA TRUITT BISHOP
I AND" said little Mrs. DarroW
. who the new boarder had ir'
Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

L. who the new boarder had II
ritated to the last degree.
Somehow, it had come to be under
stood that every single minister OF her
persuasion should board with Mrs,
Darrow; and that without exception
they were all benedicts when their
term of incumbency had expired. Her
husband had been minister, in the
first place, and though he had passed
to his reward many years before, her
house was still a home for all the
brethren who wandered her way. The
last minister, a widOwer Of seyera!
years standing, had been mothered by
Mrs. Darrow, and by her had been in
troduced to that pretty Mrs lngle, who
was just laying aside Second mourn
ing" and venturing into the lavender
which was so becoming, AS a result
they had been married just before the
annual conference which called him
to another fold. 1t was conceded that
Mrs Darrow had some talent as a
match maker. Mrs. Darrow had heard
It whispered about, herself, and while
denying that she had anything to dc
with it, there had been twinkle in
her eyes. 1t was not good for any man
to live alone least Of all a minister
She had been a minister's wife-she
hoped she knew what was best f.r all
of them
And now had come this tall and
handsome man Of 3O-and still un-
married, On Sunday, Mrs barrow
from her coign Of yentage in the Amen
corner, looked abroad over the congre,
cation and saw what a large contin.
gent there was Of dcyout young wo-
men: picture hats waving airy plumos;
curling tendrils Of hair; eyes softly
dropping, flushed cheeks-she knew
all the signs of interest in a Christian
life that were ylsiable when the min.
lister was young, did that astuto little
woman in the amen corner Why
there was even old Miss Fannie Jen.
nings, in the very first row, hang.nl
on every word the minister uttered
with such a look,-and casting sc0rn'
full glances between whiles at the
younger sisterhood. She'll come tC
see me now from morning til night
said Mrs. DarrOw to herself when she
should have been thinking Of higher
things; and after she had marked the
text in her Bible she wandered OF
mentally into thoughtful review Of the
picture hats and the faces under them
And Mrs. Darrow and circumstance
proceeded TO lay traps for the Rev
Marcus Fairing. When he emerged
from his study at the call for dinner
blushing young ladies were there, be.
runled and white-aproned and pretend
ing to help Mrs Darrow serve the
meal. and the Rev, Marcus ate absent,
~ and went back TO his study withou
even an apology When he was ready
for prayer meeting on Wednesday
evening, and came forth to walk to the
church with Mrs Darrow, white gar,
mcnts glimmered through the moon
light, and Mrs, Darrow said limo
Gently:
"Oh, MIR, Fairing, Daisy came over
this evening, and made her stop an.
so to prayer meeting with us"
And the young minister walked be-
side Mrs, Darrow and helped her over
the rough places, and talked to her,
and n pretty girl went home from pray
or meeting with flushed face and tear
ful eyes
Mrs. Darrow talked In the most i'm
personal manner, at the SUNDAY even
ing table;
Juliet Marcy sent me word 10 com,
by for her this evening but II is st
far out Of my way=and | find that
don't get about az easily as used 4
Is such pity-she won't have an,
company"
The minister looked up in surprise
Mrs Dane lives next door 10 M!sl
Maryland never fails TO be a
church" +" he said, Mrs, Darrow wa,
filed with resentment II can't 80,
why minister shouldn't think abou
saving the girls and young women o.
his congregation" she said TO herself
"Of course he'll never be able to do a,
much good, holding himself aloof ,hII
way It's enough to mako hca,hens o.
the girls, that's what It Is."
hut when she intlmatcd somcthIn,
Of the Kind to him, In mere abstrac
way there was n CLEAN Of eomethlnI
that might have been laughter undo
his lashes,