The Ordway new era., 1906-10-19

lie now-I Chreestian."
But the un-American Americans
failed to appreciate the superiority OF
domestic stuffs or the beauties OF na.
tive talent; and with each rash admis.
sion the warm smile of welcome would
gradually relax until ShalmaI saw only
a look of cold disdain--the novelty OF
hearing the truth was too recent an
innovation yet to encourage as a fad.
The disillusioned customer would put
away her purse with defrauded air,
and the embryo reformer would fold
up her goods and go on from village
to village along her suburban route
Three weeks of tribulations sufii.
cient to discourage one to the religion
born. then Shalmai was reduced to her
last rootlet "of all evil"
Her employer wondered. then grew
wrothy. and finally anxious. as her re.
ports came from the various towns
she was making such small sales that
one machine could overstock her mar
ket, while she was not realizing
enough in profits to provide her with
the essentials of life. Vexed and per.
picked at this sudden turn of affairs
he was conjecturing whether 1t was
Shalmais lack of learning that had
sold his goods so readily before TAX.
ing" or whether it was her over-eth.
ical education that was losing sales
for them now. when Kernish came
into the Office to hear somewhat OF
her. and to him the manufacturer of
Illinois oriental embroideries relieved
his mind with regard to his fears for
Shalmai and also his opinion OF the
folly of that pledge.
With the eagerness of lover long
ing for pretext to again look on his
adored. Kernish volunteered to go out
as rescue expedition to the too thor.
oughly Christianized convert.
Whatever Emory Kernish's original
intentions may have been. they
| seemed to undergo subtle change
on realizing the ravages that her
weeks of hardship had wrought on
Sha!mai.
He came upon her as she was drag.
ging herself and her pack through the
slush of country road Her gay gar.
ments were wind and weather frayed |:
she was soiled.. exhausted. disheveled
she appeared no longer dethroned
princess of the house OF Judah. With
the furnishing of her fine feathers
Shalmai lost caste with her suitor-
. and the expression that came over his
face was neither sanity nor pleasant
to look upon.
But Shalmai saw only her lover OF
the mission coming to meet her. and
she fell into his arms with the limp.
ness of rag doll and wept her glad
relief.
"why, Shalmai," he exclaimed.
81 have kept the pledge. but behold
to what 1t has brought me-" and sho
hushed her sobs to hear the commen'
dation of her Christian lover. 1t came.
ut was n foolish promise to make.
and a more foolish compact to keep
| Bat 1t is over now. You must leave
the reforming of the world to those
better able to cope with it. Your
place is here. safe sheltered In my
forever and forever"
Her tears sprinkled him afresh,
| like April showers with the sunbeams
shining through, as he kissed the
pomegranate glow back into her cheek
and consoled her with forecasts of a
| future where he and she were soon ia
| tourney back to the shores of the
zithern sea and there live Just for
each other.
I'VE will have one grand wedding
at the mission" mused Shaimai, with
blissful naivette.
Kernish flushed guiltily. then fal.
tered: 1T won't be necessary-a
marriage just now might be fatal to
nv prospects, Shalmais stunned
silence encouraged him and. drawing
her closer. he went on more glibly:
Ceremonies are merely form. Shal.
mai. Marriage is simply business
contract. and no more requires the
services of preacher than an or
binary partnership requires the in
tervention of an attorney. A coven-
ant between two loving hearts should
| be more sacred than the ordained
phrases of the ritual l hereby prom
Use to love and cherish you with a
greater constancy than many who re-
uuire a legal oath to hold them." and
he stopped to kiss the ripe red
mouth, but Shalmai sprang away
from him in sudden realizing horror.
"Is this what you Chreestians call
following in His Steps?" she cried
out in sharp pain.
Not exactly in His steps. but in
the footprints of others less perfect
-Solomons. Davids. and-be reason.
able-wait. Shalmai." But Shalmai
had caught up her pack and fled like
a frightened fawn across the fields.
leaving Kernish much disturbed as to
the report of him she might carry
back to the mission, and its possible
effect upon his consular expectations.
When safely lost from Kernish In
| the shadows OF the early twilight.