Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-08
CHAPTER II.
Becoming Acquainted.

ing room, Mrs Herndon again bethought
herself to kiss her niece in a fresh glow Of
welcome, while the latter sank into con-
venient rocker and began enthusiastically
expressing her unbounded enjoyment Of the
west, and of the impressions gathered dur
ing her journey. Suddenly the elder woman
glanced about and exclaimed, .laughingly.
why, I had completely forgotten. You
have not yet met your roommate. Come
out here. Nadia; this is my niece, Phoebe
Spencer"
The girl thus addressed advanced, slen-
der, graceful figure dressed in white, and
extended her hand shyly. Miss Spencer
clasped it warmly. her eyes upon the
flushed. winsome face.
"And is this Nadia Gillis!' she cried. II
am so delighted that you are still here, and
that We are to be together. Aunt Lydia
has written SO much about you that feel
as if we must have known each other for
years. Why. how pretty you are!
Naida's cheeks were burning, and her
eyes fell but she had never yet succeeded
in conouering the blunt independence of her
speech. Nobody else ever says so" she
said. uneasily. Perhaps It's the light"
Miss Spencer turned her about So sn as to
nounced. decisively. II guess I know;
you've got magnificent hair. and your eyes
are perfectly wonderful. You just don't fix
yourself up right; Aunt Lydia never did
have any taste in such things. but I'll make
a new girl out of YOU. Let's go upstairs;
I'm simply dying to see our room. and get
some Of my dresses unpacked. They must
look perfect rights by this time"
They came down perhaps IN hour later,
hand In hand. and chattering like old
friends. The shades Of early evening were
already falling across the valley. Herndon
had returned home from his days work.
and had brought with him the Rev. Howard
Wynkoop for supper. Miss Spencer viewed
the young man with approval, and imme-
diately became more than usually vivacious
In recounting the Incidents of her long
Journey. together with her early impress
sions Of the western country. Mr.. Wynn
koop responded with an interest far from
being assumed.
IT have found 1t all so strange so unique.
Mr. Wynkoop," she explained. 1.-THE coun-
try Is like q new world to me, and the peo-
pie do not seem at all like those of the east.
They lead such a wild, untrammeled life.
Everything about seems to exhale the spirit
of romance; don't you find 1t so?"
He smiled at her enthusiasm, his glance
Of undisguised admiration on her face. Il
certainly recall some such earlier concep-
tion." he admitted. '"Those Just arriving
from the environment of an older civiliza-
ton perceive merely the picturesque ele-
decidedly prosafc."
"Why, Mr.. Wynkoop! how could they be?
Your work Is heroic. cannot conceive how
any minister Of the cross, having within
him any of the old apostolic fervor. can
consent to spend his days amid the dreary
commonplace of those old. dead eastern
churches. You, nobly battling on the from
tier. are the true modern Crusaders, the
knights of the Grail. Here you are ever
in the very forefront of the battle against
sin. associated with the Argonauts, i'm
pressing your faith upon the bold, virile
spirits of the age. 1t is perfectly grand!
r In, Il
a broader conception of life and duty; they
are so brave, so modest, so active. Isis
Mr.. Moffat a member of your church,
The minister cleared his throat. his
not exactly. Do you mean. the mine-owner.
Jack Moffat?"
Eyes. think SO: he told me he owned
mine-tl1e Golden Rule the name was; the
cate his religious nature. He's such
pleasant. intelligent man. There Is a look
in his eyes as though he sorrowed over
something. I was In hopes you knew what
it was. and I am very sure he would well
come your ministrations. You have the
only church In Glencaid. understand. and
I wonder greatly he has neSer Joined you.
But perhaps he may be prejudiced against
your denomination. There is SO much mar
rowness In religion. Now, 1 am an Episco-
palian myself. but do not mean to permit
that to interfere in any way with my
church work out here. I wonder II Mr..
Moffat can be an Epfscopalian. If he is I
am just going to show him that 1t is clearly
his duty to assist in any Christian service.
Isn't that the true, liberal, western spirit.
Mr.. Wynkoop?"
at most assuredIy should be-" said the
young pastor.
'I left every prejudice east of the Mis-
souri," she declared laughingly. "every
one social and religious. I'm going to be
a true westerner, from the top of my head
to the toe of my shoe. Is Mr.. Mcneil in
your church?'
The minister hesitated. 81 really do not
recall the name" he confessed at last, re-
luctantly. II scarcely thirs 1 can have
ever met the gentleman"
inal. and his face Is full of character. He
reminds me Of some old paladin of the
middle ages. You would be interested in
him at once. He is the foreman Of the
do you mean Billy Mcneil. over on Sim
sniwa creek?" broke in Herndon.
81 think quite likely, uncle; wouldn't he
make splendid addition to Mr.. Wynn
koop's church,"
Herndoh choked. his entire body shaking
with Unsurpassed enjoyment. II should
Imagine yes" he admitted finally. BILLY
McNeil-oh. Lord! There's certainly a fine
opening for you to do some missionary
work. Phoebe"
well. and I'm going to-" announced the
young lady, firmly. Il guess ! can read
mems characters. and know all Mr.. Nc
Nell neeQS IL 10 nave SOIHc OHc SHOW an IN
terest In him. Have you a large church,
Mr.. Wynkoop?"
mot large II judged from an eastern
he confessed. with some re-
greet. Our present membership Is COM
posed of eight women and three men. but
the congregational attendance Is quite good,
and constantly increasing"
"Only eight women and three menu
And you have been labor
ing upon this field for five years! How
could II be so Small?"
Wynkoop pushed back his chair, anxious
to redeem himself In the estimation of this
fair stranger.
Miss Spencer" he explained, at Is per-
haps hardly strange that you should mis-
apprehend the peculiar conditions under
which religious labor Is conducted in the
west You will undoubtedly understand all
this better presently. My parish comprises
this entire mining region, and I am upon
horseback among the foothills and up in
the ranges for fully third of my time.
The spirit of the mining population. as we'll
as of the cattlemen, while not actually hos
tile. is one of Indifference to religious
They care nothing whatever for 1t
In the abstract. and have no use for any
unless It may be to marry their
children or bury their dead. I am hence
Obliged to meet with them merely as man
to man. and thus slowly win their con-
fdence before I dare even approacha re-
ligious topic. For three long years / worked
here without even a church organization or