Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-12-21

IN HER PLACE SAT- GIRLIsH FIGURE
from any other dwellings and lighted
by one small lamp which sent its rays
through the narrow window, he fol-
lowed the men through the door into
n barely furnished room. On cot
In the corner lay child, small and
wasted. marked with deaths stamp,
aud beside her sat the weeping moth
e. Some strange mystery haunted
the room What were these poverty
stricken people trying to conceal: The
clergyman shook off the feeling and
opened his prayer book at the Dap-
tismal service.
Having performed his mission. ac-
eompanied by the two men, he was
passing clump of trees on his way
home when one of them stopped sud
denly and, pulling a long bladed knife
from his pocket, flashed ii before the
young rectors face and instantly point
ed 1t toward his heart. He uttered a
piercing shrek.
Ugh said John Hare as the sound
Of his own voice wakened him and he
sat up In bed. What an ugly night
mare Then. with look mt his watch,
ut is high time | was up anyway,
with fifty parochial visits before me.
| must make sure that not single
family has Il cheerleSs Christmas to-
morrow"
l. oh l,4 MIC nf a
face, gentle eyed, yet CHEEKY, hanging
In q frame on his wall. And if there's
any persuasion in John Hare'S poor
elOquence he won't have a cheerless
nor . lonely Christmas the next 10Th
of December"
This young rector had come to
SpOttSfeld, rising manufacturing
ciS. three years before, after serving
as curate in a large city parish. He
had transformed his new congregation
from Il disgruntled, quarreling COM
munity composed of few rich and
many poor to great family interested
In each other and respecting his Christ
like principles. And incidentally his
strict resolution for a busy bachelor
hood had been somewhat disturbed by
pair OF interested. laughing eyes
which belonged to the daughter of a
factory owner.
This energetic, but rather shy, young
woman was famed and loved among
the poor and sick of Spottsfield for her
gentle and unpretentious way Of help
ing when and where she was needed.
Though Of different faiths, she and
John Hare met often while on eXcur-
sions of mercy He had seen her, too,
at her fathers home, where he was
popular as a dinner guest because OF
his appreciation of a good cigar and
his broad, forceful views on Christian
ity.
As he dressed that morning before
the festive holiday he realized that the
human heart cannot be denied its sus-
tenance one beating in touch and
sympathy with It and that one fair
girl had woven her charms about him
80 completely that he could no longer
refrain from telling her Of it, even
though OF late she had rather seemed
10 avoid him when he crossed her path
and was even chary of her conversa-
tion when he dined at her house.
During the long busy day she was
constantly brought TO his mind in the
homes he visited. A forlorn old wom-
an told Of the coming Of Miss Ruth
with yarn for the next years knitting
and q boz of sweets. 4 grateful moth
Al.
s.aygl and nurscl the baby back to
lie. In the poorer homes be heard Of
the baskets OF Christmas goodies she
had brought with toys and warm nit
tens for the children.
1t was 10 O'Clock before the rector
had finished the days task. and when
he reached home he threw himself,
quite worn out on the couch in the IL
brary. Not ten minutes seemed to
have elapsed when the sound "Br-r-r-r"
through his sleep wakened. him sud
denly TO the realization that some one
was ringing the bell with the evident
Intention Of rOusing the entire house
hold, and as he stepped into the hall TO
open the door he was amazed to see
the hands on the old fashioned clock
pointing to l.
Sir. we've come to get Mr.. Hare.
The baby's dying, and my wife wants
n minister" announced one Of the two
men who stood on the step facing the
tired rector
The memory of his vivid nightmare
had not recurred TO him since the morn
ing, but at the words 'baby's dying it
II all flashed before his mind, and he
hesitated an instant with some misgiv-
ings. Quickly pulling himself together
and throwing off the vision, he ex
claimed:
I'm Mr. Hare Where la your ba,