The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-18

his call
arrived to assume duties ID the waning light Of
soft January day. Bontgo's van set him down. With
bag bandbox and chest of books at the door
OF the lodgings which Deacon snowden had taken for
HIM The stood the North street. 1t 10 called
Il was a small building. containing Just
half rooms these the two apart for
the minister looked straight upon the harbor Under his
sittngroom window little garden and at the end
OF garden wall, with stretch OF water beyond
st and bark that lay at anchor but stones throw
away. seemed its masts overtoppng the misty hill
that closed the view "A green-painted door was let
the garden wa-a door with two flaps, the OF
which stood open; and through this opening he caught
another glimpse OF gray water.
The lardlady who showed him into this and ct
began explain that the furniture better than
looked hardly prepared for the rapture with which
stared OF the window His boyhood had been spent
in sooty Lancashire town, and to him tho green
DON the quay door and the sly water seemed 70 fail
little short OF paradise.
II reckoned youd like 1T, she said AM to BIO sure,
It's "a blessing you do" Y
He turned his stare upon her for a moment She was
bengn-ooking woman OF about &c. in short-skrted
gray gown and Widows cap
why do you say that?"
BECAUSE leavn' out the kitchen, there's but
rooms you an two me; two facin the harbor
an. two the street Nowi II you'd took dislike
to this lookout, ha the street an
moved In here myself 4 do ike the street. TOO there's
so much more dom.
II think this arrangement will be better every way
Y sald the young minister.
glad From upstairs right down the harbor.
which is pretter again. Wouldee like to see 1t now?
swerln the door, too. There's back door at tho end
O. tho passage You've only to slip bolt an yoam out
in the garden-out boat II choose to keep
But the gardens tidy tteespot to walk up an down
I'm an make up your wi nobody to overlook you
but the folk next door. an they'n churchgoers.,'
After supper that evening the young minister un.
drfted to window instead He paused for minute
or two With his face close to the and then flung
kp the sash. north wind breathed down the har
boz. scarcely rufns the water Around and above him
the frosty sky with nnumerabe stars and behind
barks behind the long chine OF the eastern
hill. a soft radiance heralded the rising 1t
the noon while he waited her thin horn pushed
up. were. through the furze brake the hills SUM
NIT and mounted into the free heaven With up
the minister followed her course for
twenty minutes consciously Sobservant for he was
thinking his ambitions and at his time OF life these
are apt with the Though possessed with
good work In this small seaside town. he intended
Troy should but steppngstone in his Journey
He go far. And while he meditated his future.
forgetting the chill in the night air being decided
for him by stronger will than his own More than
this that will had already passed into action His des
tiny actually launched on the full spring tide that
sucked OF the gray wall at the gardens end
slight sound drew the minister's gaze down from
the moon to the quay upper flap OPEN
allowing OF moonlight to pierco the straight
Z black shadow OF the garden wall. e&.s
In this square OF moonlight framed the head
and shoulders OF human being.
The young felt slight chill down his spine
He leaned forward the window challenged the
apparitlon batting his Tone all people bate 1t at that
who are you?" he demanded. ''and what Is your
business here 2?
There was no reply for moment. though he felt
voice must have carried to the door. The figure
paused second two. then unbarred the lower flap
OF the door and advanced the wallis shadow to the
centre bright grass plot under the window. 1t
was figure young woman. Her head was bare
and her sleeves turned to the elbows. She wore
cloak her from the night air, and her
shortskrted fock open at tho neck AS she
up her the window, tho minister could see
by the moons rays that it was well favored
'Be you the preacher?' she asked resting Q hand
her hip speaking softly to him. 81
II am the new Independent minister
t"Then I've you.'' .s4,a#}
Z "Come for r.,
''Iss my names Nance Trewartha, an you zen wanted
across the water, quick possible Old Mrs SHADES
4 a-dyn' tonight yondcr.' 3s
"she wants ne?'
She's your congregation, can't die easy TIL
you've seen her reckon she's got something pom her
mind; an was to fetch you over quick as could
AS she spoke, the church clock down In the town
chmed out the hour and Immediately after ten strokes
solnded on tho clear air. @
The minister consulted his own watch, and seemed to
I bo considering
Very Welt" said he. after a pause. I'll come =
suppose i must by the ferry,
'Ferry's closed this two hours. an needn't wake
in the house. I've brought fathers boat to the
ladder below an I'll bring you back again You've only
for,tis8a brave distance ~
- Very we'll III suppose it's really serious !, @
MORTAL I'm glnd you'll come = she added, simply
The young man nodded down In friendly manner.
and going back into tho ROOM SLIPPED on his oyercoat
picked up his hat and turned tho LAMP WI
Then he struck a match found his the back door
and unbarred It, The girl waiting for him, still in
II the centre of the grass plot 85ss ;s is5
glad you've come" she repeated, but this time
there was something like consralntin her voice As o
pulled softly che moved and the way down
& to the water side.
From the quay door long ladder to the
water low water one had to descend twenty feet or
tie
81 ss e2's
do not want help.
FITS bsn sss naSa
gently away from the hosted the small forssai!
her stood beside him Tor a
moment with her hand on the tileI
make fast the foresheet she said, suddenly
The young man looked helplessly at her. III had not
the slightest idea Of her meaning did not, IN fact know