Mower County transcript., 1907-09-18

nance; don't you nnd IT so!
He smiled at her enthusiasm, his
glance of undisguised admiration on
her face IT certainly recall some such
earlier conception" he admitted.
'Those just arriving from the environ
ment of an older civilization perceive
merely the picturesque elements; but
my later experiences have been de-
cidedly prosaic.'
"Why, Mr.. Wynkoop! how could
they be? Your work is heroic. 1t is
perfectly grand! Why, the very men
/ met seem to yield me broader con-
ception 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
cheeks reddening.. "Mr. Moffat? All,
no; not exactly. Do you mean the
mine-owner, Jack Moffat?'
Eyes, 1 think so; he told me he
owned a mine-the Golden Rule the
name was; the very choice in words
would seem to indicate his religious
nature. You have the only church in
NAVA~RAAs i uAuOA okSAOs sSAu "OAAAC3
greatly he has never Joined you. But
perhaps he may be prejudiced against
your denomination. There is so much
narrowness in religion. But l left
every prejudice east of the Missouri y
she declared, laughingly, ''every one,
social and religious. I'm going to be
true westerner, from the top of my
head to the toe of my shoe. Is Mr..
Mcneil in your church,"
The minister hesitated. 'I really do
not recall the name," he confessed at
last, reluctantly. II scarcely think I
can have ever met the gentleman"
"Oh, you ought to; he is SO intense
ly original, and his face is full of char
acter. 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 Bar " ranch,
somewhere near here"
. do you mean Billy Mcneil, over on
Sinsiniwa creek?" broke in Herndon.
Il think quite likely, uncle; wouldn't t
he make a splendid addition to Mr..
Wynkoop's church?" -. --, --
Herndon choked, his entire body
shaking with ill-suppressed enjoy
ment. Il should imagine yes,' he ad-
mitted finally. BILLY McNeil-oh,
Lord! There's certainly fine open
ing 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 l know all
Mr.. Mcneil needs is to have some
one show an interest in him. Have
you large church, Mr.. Wynkoop?"
mot large if judged from an east
ern standpoint" he confessed, with
some regret. "Our present member
ship is composed of eight women and
three men, but the congregational at
tendance is quite good, and constantly
increasing"
only eight women and three men!"
breathlessly. and you have been Ia
boring upon this field for five years!
How could it be so small?"
Wynkoop pushed back his chair,
anxious to redeem himself in the esti-
nation of this fair stranger r
Miss Spencer" he explained, "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 well as of the cattlemen, while not
actually hostile, is one of Indifference
to religious thought. For three long
years | worked here without even a
church organization or building; and
apparently without the faintest en-
couragement. Now that we have a
nucleus gathered, comfortable build
ing erected and paid for, with an in
creasing congregation, begin to feel
that those seemingly barren five years
were not without spiritual value
She quickly extended her hands.
"Oh, it is SO heroic, so self-sacrifcing!
/ am going to help you, Mr.. Wynkoop,
In every way I possible can-I shall
certainly speak to both Mr.. Moffat and
Mr.. Mcneil the very first opportunity.
feel almost sure that they will join"
The unavoidable exigencies of a.
choir practice compelled Mr.. Wynkoop
to retire early, nor was it yet late
when the family circle also dissolved.
and the two girls were themselves
alone.
+ The light was finally extinguished:
the silvery moonlight streamed across
the foot of the bed; and the regular
breathing of the girls evidenced slum-.
ber.
CHAPTER XII.
Under Orders.
It was no pleasant assignment to
duty which greeted First Lieut.. Don
aid Brant, commanding Troop N, Sew
enth cavalry, when that regiment
came once more within the enyirons
of civilization, from its summer ex-
#ercises in the field. Bethune had de-
3yeloped into a somewhat important
post, socially as well as from a strict
" military stand dpoint, and numerous,
indeed, We're the attractions offered
there to any young officer whose duty
called him to serve, the cnlnrs ~, tho,aos