Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-07-06
My Cynical Friend
[OrigInal.l

question to the quick. One of his ia
vorite hair splitting points was the de-
NAL of spontaneous good. He granted
there are good people in the world, but
maintained that they are good because
II is their interest to be good.
l did not meet Hinckley for several
years after our leaving college, and
then, curiously enough, it was at a
meeting Of the Salvation Army.
why. Hinckley," exclaimed, "who-
ever would have thought to run across
you In place like this. Surely you
must have got rid of your cynicism.
If you don't find disinterested good
among these people you'll not find it
anywhere"
Not at all" Hinckley replied. ''These
people have a living to make the same
as you and l. This is their way Of do
ing it,"
but what brings you hereT
wait awhile and I'll show YOU"
Pulling out his watch he glanced at II
and drew me to seats where we could
converse In low tone without being
overheard. Like all well organized
shows" he went on, "these Salvation
lists save the best till the last. There's
lassie to appear In a few minutes l
want you to see"
Presently Captain Ida Sherwood
came upon the platform and began to
speak. 1t seemed to me that If I had
not seen her-had only listened to her
voice. would have been convinced of
her love for her work. But that heav-
emily face contrasting with the poke
bonnet which surrounded Il, her ex-
preston and her accounts Of her work
In rescuing the lost--it seemed to me
that the Saviour in woman's form had
come back to earth.
II am glad" l whispered to Hinck.
ley, that you have found one who is
capable Of breaking down that mis-
anthropy of yours"
"She hasn't broken down what you
call my misanthropy," he replied, "but
she is capable Of breaking my heart"
When the meeting broke up we went
OF for little supper together, and
Hinckley told me that Captain Ida
Sherwood would soon have an oppor-
tunity to show her preference for her
work to him, for he intended to pro.
pose to take her to a comfortable home
and make a good wife and mother Of
her.
''But suppose" said, "she declines
to marry you unless permitted to fol.
low the life she has chosenr'
'She won't do that" he replied. "Shs
loves me-"
The next time I saw Hinckley he
was bitter against the Salvationists.
THE whole thing Is a fraud" he said.
There is but one among them who is
not making all they can out Of It; she
Is sincere"
captain Ida SherwoodT
"Yes"
"Why do you except herr
Because she loves me as love her,
and she won't leave her work because
she loves II better than either me or
herself"
"H'm," I replied musingly. "well,
having found one sincere person
among them, perhaps In time you will
find others. But IL you love her and
wish to possess her why don't you per
NIT her to go on with her work after
marriageT
"She says that a marriage between
a Salvationist and one absorbed In get
ting rich would be no marriage at ALL"
/ met Hinckley on the street not long
after this, and l scarcely knew him.
He was walking abstractedly, with his
eyes staring vacantly before him, and
did not see me till tapped him on the
shoulder.
"Why, Hinckley." exclaimed,
whats happenedr
Nothing"
''Nothingv
"Jim, I'm wearing out" he said, his
reserve suddenly breaking down.
Business mattersT'
mo I'm getting rich. Everything
touch turns to gold. It's in the heart"
1.-The Salvation lassieY
eyes"
"Can't you strike a COMPROMISED
"A woman doesn't know what the
word means"
'Can't help your
He shook his head mournfully, broke
away from me and went on
One night passed the Salvation Ar
my headquarters and, seeing great
crowd entering. went In with the
throns. l had no sooner entered than
I saw there on the stage the cap
tain, and beside her in flaming red
shirt stood my old friend Hinckiey. I
was rubbing my eyes to make sure that
e was he when Q Salvation o6lcsf ID
vanced and announced that Recruit
Henry Hincklsy and Captain Ida gher-
wood would soisnniss ths bonds Of
matx1mony. I waited for the service 10
- ever. then Isft . quietly q possible.
I did not care 10 meet Hinckiey o. b
have him know mat I had witnessed
his humiliation.
Whsn I saw Hinckiey again there
q