The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-07

peculiar happenings OF Ine morning.
and that prospect for early active
service hfnted ct in the brief utter.
ances of me Old scout. Brant was 3
thorough soldier. born into the service
and Deeply enamored Of its dangers;
yet beyond this he reclaimed a man, 4
young man, sEayed by those emotions
Which when al fun tide sweep aside
ali else appertainlng to life.
his had been Q lonely life since
ieayine west Point and joining his
regimen life passed largely among
rough men and upon the desolate
pains For months at a time he had
Known nothing Of refinement nor en-
i6yed social intercourse with the OPP
posite sex. Yet, beneath his mask OF
FEASIBILITY, the heart continued. to
Beat With fierce desire, bidlng the time
when It should enjoy its own sweet
way Perhaps that hour had already
dawned; certainly something new,
something inspiring, had now come to
awaken an interest unfelt before, and
leave him Idly dreaming Of Swallowed
eyes and flushed, rounded cheeks.
{! He was in this mood when he over
took the Rev. Howard Wynkoop and
marked the thoughtful look upon his
pale face.
Il called at your camp" explained
Wynkoop, after the first words of
greeting had been exchanged, as soon
as I learned you we're here in COM
niand, hut only to discover your alb
sence. The sergeant, however, was
gery courteous, and assured me there
would be no dlmculty In arranging a
religious service for the men, unless
sudden orders should arrive. No
doubt may rely on your coopera-
don.
most certainly" was the cordial
response, "and l shall also permit
those desiring to attend your regular
Sunday services so long as we are sta
Toned here. How is your work pros
peringl
There Is much to encourage me,
but spiritual progress is slow, and
there are times when my faith falters
and j feel unworthy Of the service in
which am engaged"
IA mining camp is so intensely ma.
terial seven days Of the week that 1t
must present a difficult field for the
awakening Of any religious send-
ment,s confessed Brant sympathetical-
II. Il have often wondered how you
i consented to bury your talents in such
q place"
The other smiled. but with trace
Of sadness In his eyes. Il firmly be-
lieye that every minister should de-
vote a portion Of his life to the doing
of such a work as this. 1t is both a
religious and patriotic duty. and
there IS rare Joy connected with 1t"
,Yet It was surely not joy saw pic
tnred within your face when we met;
you were certainly troubled over some
problem"
wynkoop glanced up quickly, a
slight flush rising in his pale cheeks.
tPerplexing questions which must be
decided off-hand are constantly aris-
Ing. And just now scarcely know
what action to take regarding certain
applications for church membership"
Brant laughed. Il hardly consider
myself competent adviser in matters
Of church policy" he admitted, yet
have always been informed that all SO
desiring are to be made welcome In
religious fellowship"
theoretically. yes" And the min
ister stopped still In the road, facing
his companion. But this special case
presents certain peculIarittes. The
applicants, as l learn from others, are
not leading lives above reproach. So
far as / know. they have never even
attended church service until last SUI
s day, and I have some reason TO sus-
\ pect an Interior motive. l am anxious
% put nothing in the way OF any hon.
est1y seeking soul, yet confess that
IN these cases hesitate"
But your elders? Do not they share
the responsibility Of passing upon
such applications"
The flush on Mr.. wynkoop's cheeks
Sdeepened, and his eyes fell. "ordi-
narfly, yes; but in this case fear
they may prove unduly harsh. II
feel-that these applications came
through the special intercession OF
certain young lady, and am anxious
not to hurt her feelings in any way, or
70 discourage her enthusiasm"
ttoh, / see! Would you mind telling
me the names of the two gentlemen"
M. John Motfat and Mr. William
Mcneil. Unfortunately, know neither
personally"
'.And the young lady?'
"a Miss Phoebe Spencer; she has
but lately arrived from the east to
take charge Of our new school-a most
interesting and charming young WON.
IN and she is proving Of great assist
Sanee to me In church work"
The lieutenant cleared his throat
and emitted q sigh Of suddenly awak'
ened memory. Il fear l can offer you
no advice, for II, as begin to suspect,
though she sought most bravely to
avoid the issue and dispatch me upon
false traiI,-she prove to be that
same fascinating young person met
this morning, my entire sympathies