La Junta tribune., 1907-02-02

noys,d
lie was in anything but a ministerial
mood when he tossed his hat on I'd,
table amid the confusion Of books aud
papers and SAT down In Ills stniy tc
Z think il over II was such n risiiculous
situation that AT first le had been mild
" amused al 4. but now-pshaw. W.
couldn't he ignore IL:
But il had passed the stage wheE
IL could be ignored In the past fhrcs
days he had been told five times that
his congresa Ion would Ike very mueb
to see him married. Nor had these re
marks been the half jocuiar words on
his bachelor condition that he had OF
ten heard since coming TO the church
at I.ittieton. but had been earnesi
words OF advice expressed by the most
prominent members OF his flock
He was popular In the parish, and
his two years' pastorate had been pro
ductive 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 bone
had been the center for q vigorous
church life. the people simply could
not get used to minister In . board
Ing house Besides, there stood the
fine new parsonage empty. Certainly
II was his duty TO live up to the de
mands OF his people. When Miss GIL
bert. the wealthy maiden lady who had
contributed 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 be
would use II In time. Indeed. all IN
known TO his people. vague plans had
been floating through the ministers
head for some months. and he had IRE
quently looked very renectiveiy At the
quiet house beside the church.
But the real vexing. dlsquieiing
point Of the whole matter WAS that the
congregation had not only decided that
he should marry. but apparentiy 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 . most
unreasonable and unministerial dislike
10 Miss Gilbert. member Of his
church whom he had never seen She
was the niece Of the great Miss Gil
bert and had lived with her aunt until
the latter's death. when the great
o.0a k~-xn
Since then the young lady had travel
Ell. so the minister had never seen her.
He had heard great deal of her.
though. and had formed an impression
Of person Of undoubted energy and
ability. accustomed TO have things just
as she wanted and inclined 90 he dom
Ineering Miss Neli'- had ideas of her
own on church music. .'N1i-s Neli' had
designed this and Mad attended to that.
II seemed 20 the minister there was q
little too much OF Miss Neli' every
where.
Tail and muscular and aggressive
himself accustomed TO shouldering
burdens and clearing difiiculiies. the
Rev. Calvin had. OF course. an ideal Of
feminine grace very different from his
own vigorous personality. Indeed. as
be sat thinking In his study that morn
ing a smile rose To the firm iiIs- and
softened 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
plan~ of the people who had made up
their minds that Miss >ell- aud the
minister would lie an eminenfly well
fitted pair.
But the vision faded quickly. and
the many hints that had been dropped
during the last few days flashed In
rapid -ncre-~ion through his mind
Miss NeiI' was coming home next
week lie would he thrown at her
head and she AZ his by his well mean
ing rock until something happeur<i
Oh. be well knew how 10 would 10
done. The opportunities n congrsga-
ton Possesses for annoying its minis
ter and making him do things be dos
not want to do are legion lie supVDs-
ei every lady Of the aid society hsd
planned some function to which ~
must GO and meet Miss Nell n
minister groanesi- Already the suh-
Ject had assumed alarming propse-
tions. He could not. he weuld 81
stay round and be made a fcostal a.
TO he tossed into any woman's arna
Again came unbidsien that aIiarfne
vision of brown hair aud elsqrruf
eyes II was IreTc-terous. How ccus1
they badger him now. just ne his hsnse
was beating more msdiy every ~
fer some one. All II be were snay
sure. Did that friendship. formed Q
few sbo<t mouths axo. that soul saelD-
fyinx fri>n<i-hip. mean "a the gfri -
she vision what IL had come to menD
20 himf Could -. dare he. offer -
his tove. He bad i.p~n living siurR