The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-22
THE EVENING STOR "
The Affnisfer's Surprise.


(By Katherine Young Thaxter.)
The Rev. Calvin Morris was quite an
noyed.
He was in anything but a ministerial
mood when he tossed his hat on the
table amidst the confusion of books and
think 1t over. 1t was such a ridiculous
situation that at first he mad been
mildly amused at it, but noW-pshaw!
Why couldn't he ignore It?
But 1t had passed the stage when it
could be ignored In the past three
days he had been told five times that
MS congregation would like very much
to see him married. Nor had these re-
marks been the half jocular words on
his bachelor condition that he had often
heard since coming to the church at
Littleton, but had been earnest words
OF advice expressed by the most prOmi-
nent members of his flock.
he was popular in the parish and his
Two years pastorate had been prcduc-
tive OF good results, but there had been
one thing lacking.
Accustomed for years before his ad-
vent to the service of a most devoted
minister and his able wife whose home
church life, the people simply could not
get used to minister in a boarding
house. Besides, there stood the fine
new parsonage, empty. Certainly it
was his duty to live up to the demands
of his people. When Miss Gilbert, tho
wealthy maiden lady who had contribu-
ted so much to the church, both in
money and good deeds, died two years
ago the parsonage she was building for
the church was not quite finished
The Rev. Calvin Morris knew he
would use it in time Indeed. all IN
known to his people, vague plans had
been floating through the minister's
head for some months, and he had FIRE =
quently looked very refiectively at the
quiet house beside the church. If he
could only have the one he wanted
there, he could soon find use for the
parsonage.
But the real vexing, disquieting
point of the whole matter was that
the congregation had not only decided
that he should marry, but apparently
had fixed on whom he should marry.
This was assured the night he took
tea with Mrs. Thorpe one of the most
active ladies in his church, when the
chief topic of conversation was Miss
Nell Gilbert
Now, Mr.. Morris had taken a most
unreasonable and unministerial dislike
to Miss Gilbert a member Of his
was the niece Of the great Miss Gill
bert, and had lived with her aunt until
the latter's death. when the great
house on the hill had been closed.
eled. so the minister had never seen
her He had heard great deal of
her, though, and had formed an i'm
preston of person of undoubted en-
things just as she wanted and inclined
to be domineering. Miss Nell had
ideas of her own on church music
Miss Nell' had designed this and had
attended to that. 1t seemed to the
minister there was a little too much of
miss Nell1 everywhere.
Tall and muscular and aggressive
himself, accustomed to shouldering
burdens and clearing difficulties, the
Rev. Calvin had, of course. an ideal OF
feminine grace very different from his
own vigorous personality. Indeed, as
he sat thinking in his study that
morning a smile rose to the firm lips
and scftened the austere lines into
which he had framed them. as he saw
in his minds eye petite. graceful
form, soft, appealing dark eyes and
masses Of cloudy brown hair Alas
for the plans of the people who had
made up their minds that Miss Nell''
and the minister would be an eminent
~ well-fitted pair.
But the vision faded quickly and the
many hints that had been dropped dur
ing the last few days flashed in rapid
succession through his mind. Miss Nell
was coming home next week. He would
be thrown at her head and she a his,
by his well-meaning flock, until some
thing happened. Oh, he well knew now
it would be done. The opportunity a
congregation possesses for annoying its
minister and making him do things he
doesn't want to do are legion. He sup
posed every lady Of the Aid society
had planned some function to which he
must go and meet Miss Nell The
minister groaned. Already the subject
had assumed alarming proportions. He
could not, he would not, stay round and
be made a football of, to be tossed into
any wOman's arms
Again came unbidden that aIluring
vision of brown hair and eloquent eyes.
1t was preposterous! How could they
badger him now, just as his heart was
beating more madly every day for
some oneI All! If he were only sure!
Did that friendship, formed few short
months ago, that soul-satisfying friend
ship. mean to the girl of the vision what
it had come to mean to him2 Could
he dare he, offer her his love? He had
been living since then in a beautiful
dream. Suppose that dream should be
fulfilled?
He hesitated. Dreaming had been so
sweet, he feared the awakening Dare
he risk. 1.-The last leaf?' With bound
he sprang to his feet He could and
the choice of a wife anyway, and, il
fortune favored him. give his officiuus
congregation a surprise and a sharp
lesson.
A short phone message to a neighbor-
ing town secured a supply for next
Sundays pulpit. urgent business out
of town." was the message left for the
church officers, and the minister found
himself on the train bound for the east
and the vision"
The minister's wooing was brief and
punt, out MISS Helen ALWater was not
very much taken by surprise. The nc
quaintance begun in Scotland the pre-
vious summer had ripened fast on ship
board on the return passage, and been
brought to fruition by some months of
correspondence. She even consented to
a speedy marriage, and as she was
living with q married cousin in Boston
the minister took his bride from there
ten days from the day he left Little
ton.
But the blissful days of his honey
moon failed to blot out entirely the re-
membrance of his church and his
work and his people. True, in the tu-
multi of happiness that had possessed
him since that day when their clumsy