The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-09-08
HIS SERMON.
nY SARAH LINDSAY COLEMAN.

Copyright. 1908. by Daily story Pub. Coz
lac minister paced his study in an
agony Of perspiration and trepida-
tion-awaiting a note from Annette
Within the past four weeAs, since An
nette's coming, his heart that he be-
lieyed safe anchored with Mary, had
! slipped its moorings and drifted out to
Annette. To Annette, who laughed at
him always, who wouldn't hear him
preach, wno looked with soft indiffer-
ence into his miserable eyes and chatted
OF the gay things Of a gay world.
Realizing that his people disliked his
liking Annette, knowing that for four
years they had linked his name with
Mary's honestly admitting to himself
that the linking had been to his lining,
i he tossed through restless, wretched
nights. When he found himself saying
that the people he had loved and served
through four long years were jewellers
in dark jungle of prejudice, he got
down on his knees and asked the Lord
for guidance
On this particular Saturday afternoon
the minister had paced his study, his
hands clasped minister-like at his back,
clinching and unclinching themselves.
He had locked himself in the study to
write a sermon. The college boys had
come to him Thursday and announced
the illness of the man who was to
preach their baccalaureate sermon.
Commencement without brilliant ser
mon was Hamlet without Hamlet.
The minister, remembering a not far
distant boyhood, assented. 1t had
seemed an easy thing to write brilliant
sermon in less than the time allowed
him on Thursday afternoon; on Satur-
day afternoon, when the sun-line crept
past the lilacs, to lose itself beyond the
fence. it seemed to the man that row
of boyish faces lifted themselves from
somewhere about the fence - they
gowed with pride and proprietorship in
that sermon, and again he groaned
Suddenly he ran his pen from top to
bottom of his written words. There was
nothing left-his brain was empty, his
thoughts chaotic-his words, wounded
birds, incapable of lofty thoughts, but
| he registered a VOW not to disappoint
the boys. Commencement was the one
event of the year in the little mountain
town. Then he went step farther-he
| took things out of the Lords and into
| his own hands. He wrote to Annette and
asked her to end his suspense. II he
got Annette, who was of the earth,
earthy, off his mind, there was still time
left to think of heavenly things.
At shutdown the note, daintily per-
fumed was handed into his study 1t
read: In the wisteria arbor at dusk
white gown"
In the twilight the minister hurried
past Mary's house. Mary was his most
faithful church-worker. She taught the
worst boys in his Sunday school; she
! organized end presided over everything
that fourished religiously in the town.
Before Annette came his name had been
linked eternally with hers, and he felt
a warm. thrifty feeling in the region of
his ribs at the linking. slow wave of
shame swept the minister. Never by
single word had he compromised him
self with Mary. but what if she, too,
thrilled when their names were linked.
Mary sat in the wisteria arbor watch
ing the night curtain drop over the far
purple peaks, the mask she had worn
for many days laid aside, her attitude
detected.
The minister's heart pounded rs he
neared the arbor and caught the CLEAN
of her white gown. There had been no
time for romance in his life In his so
years he had never met a woman thus.
He came up to her swiftly, with words
that were tender and strange on his
lips words that swept over her with
the force and rush OF mountain tor
rent.
Mary sat very still AS one drinks in
the perfume of flowers. She seemed to
inhale his words. and swiftly. the min
ister lifted her to his embrace and drew
her head to meet his kiss The kindly
nishtfall covered his sudden pallor, his
arm loosened its hold of her, his
thoughts trailed into darkness.
Mary's voice beat in on that blank
ness, such a wondering. happy voice
that said:
81 didn't lnow-1 never dreamed-I
used to sometimes think you cared, that
Is, | did before she camel thought
why, | was whispering to myself Just
when you came, and saying: Silly,
you've got Gods sunshine and His flow
ers and His birds and lots of beautiful
things left and you want him to be
happy with Annette never knew
this was awaiting to meet me. Did
Annette know? Her eyes were shining
when she left me, and she was laughing
did she?"
Yes, dear" he found himself saying.
And suddenly, in the growing dark
ness, Annette's face looked in on them
The minister put one hand to his head,
uncertainty. Mary's slim white fingers
had slipped into his other hand. like
steel in strength. like silk in softness,
hey drew him.
Annette's voice was but a murmur:
May | break in on your happiness"
he said. lingering on The word, ito tell
5ou that am not all bad, that some
oody's been making me miserable, that
we been making somebody miserable,
)ut that it's oyer-he's coming" with