The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-09-15

lM slightly forward in her faith.
, er's pew as the door from the
! pastors study into the auditorium OF
, ST. Margaret's Church opened and
, closed Then she leaned back with a
: little sigh.
This made the sixteenth candidate
for the pulpit since the resignation OF
Rev. Emmanuel Boyce. They had
ranged all the way from the young
collegian. with his sleek. dark head.
clean-shaven jaws and palpably built
out shoulders to this
Her eyes went TO the nervous hands
arranging the papers on the reading
desk-hands which. in some unac-
countable way. spoke OF failure and
disappointment-to the well-brushed.
threadbare coat. with its carefully
darned triangular tear on the sleeve.
She felt suddenly sorry for Rev. John
Tinsdale.
Possibly she was the only one who
even tried TO follow him as he plowed
his near-sighted. nervous way through
page after page OF manuscript.
| And possibly. also. three months be-
fore she might not have done so. but
the song OF the springtime was singing
itself In Marion Schueler's heart, and
the abundance OF her happiness over
flowed in pity for those less blessed
than herself
When the service was over John
Tinsdale left the platform and stood
with clasped hands In front OF IL. He
had no need TO unclasp them. Not one
person out OF that vast congrega ton
came forward to speak to him. And
no one suspected that the young man
was slowly but surely drinking the
dregs OF very bitter cup.
For year past the thought that his
ministry was failure had haunted
him night and day. And he had made
OF this service a test He would preach
in a strange church to a strange peo-
pie.
No one would be biased for or |
against him IL anyone, even a l-..le |
child. said afterward that he had help |
ed him he would keep on. II not
His eyes grew hard and bright with |
bitter certainty as the people moved
slowly out. Then he became suddenly
aware that someone stood beside him.
1t might have gone hard with John
Tinsdale just then II 10 years OF love
and allegiance to another woman had
not run like a bright thread through
his life. for the girl who had come for
ward to speak to him was the very EN-
bodiment Of beauty and happiness.
'Mr. Tinsdale." she said eagerly. IL
want TO thank you so much for what
you said this morning. really think
you were sent here to save me from
selfishly absorbed in-my
,wn-joy."
John Tinsdale took the hand she |
leld out, though he hardly saw her
ace for the mist which had suddenly |
isen to his eyes. The quick revulsion
Il feeling left him dizzy for a mo
neHt. He was to keep on,
When she ran down the rear stairs
4 the church to speak to the janitor
pom the following Sunday. n figure !
TODD at the foot which looked sadly '
ut of place within the fashionable pre- !
incts Of st. Margaret's.
At another time Marion might have q
why women with colorless I
air and eyes always affected neutral G
nts In dress. But something beauti- r
NJ in the pale face, something which u
nwittingIy told the story OF years Of
ieerful self-sacrifice, held her mind 3
-om other thoughts.
Miss Scbuelerl- The girl I'm drab u
ivanced slightly. with her eyes fixed y
tently on Marion's face.
The latter bowed. her dark eyebrows ',
Using themselves slightly I'm vague }"
irprise.
II came here from Carson Centre y
purpose to see you" ~
.'Indeedl"
Miss Schueler smiled. and the other - y
ri WINGED at the new beauty It added "
her face. u
,out you - since last Sunday she ~
oke out. cbokingly. OF
"Hei whoT 10
"John-Jobn Tlnsdale. O. I don't '"
that I've seen your
Marion opened the door OF the ladies'
rlor hastily and drew the other wo- su
IN aside. Gently she forced her into co
chair and, drawing another before vi
took the cold, Iifeless hands In her
m. m
Now" she said. steadily, tell me no
10 you are. Not his wifeT" "y
mo, but-we have been engaged for 70
int years" =