The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-02-15
The MINISTER'S
SURPRISE
by.
Katherine Young TbGxfer>
Copyright, 1906, by P. C. EASEMENT
Copyright, 1906, by P. C. EASEMENT

The Rev. Calvin Morris was quite an
noyed.
He was in anything but ministerial
mood when he tossed his hat on the
table amid the confusion OF books and
papers and sat down in his study to
think it over. 1t was such ridiculous
situation that at first he had been mild
Iy amused at it. but now-pShaw! Why
couldn't he ignore it?
But it had passed the stage when
1t could be ignored In the past three
days he had been told five times that
his congregation would like very much
to see him married Nor had these re
marks been the half jOcular words on
his bachelor. condition that he had of
ten heard since coming to the church
at LittletOn, but had been earnest
words of advice expressed by the most
prominent members of his flock
He was popular in the parish, and
bis two years passionate had been pro
ductiye Of good results, but there had
been one thing lacking.
Accustomed for years before his ad
vent 10 the service Of n most devoted
minister and his able wife whose home
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
Il was hisS 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 he
you'd use it in time. Indeed, all I'M
known to his people. vague plans had
been floating through the minister's
head for some months, and he had fire.
suently looked very reflectively at the
quiet house beside the church.
But the real yeXing, disquieting
point Of the whole matter was that the
congregation had not only decided that
he should marry, but apparently 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
GiIbert.
Now, Mr. Norris had taken i most
unreasonable and unministerial dislike
to 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
house on the hill had been closed.
Since then the young lady had travel
ed, so the minister had never seen her.
He had heard u great deal of her,
though, and had formed an impression
Of a person Of undoubted energy and
ability, accustomed to have things just
as she wanted and inclined to be dom
Gneering. Miss Nell" had ideas of her
own on church music Miss NelP' had
designed this and had attended TO that.
1t seemed TO the minister there was
little too much OF Miss NelP' every
where.
Tail and muscular and aggressive
himself, accustomed to shoulderlng
burdens and clearing difficulties, the
Rev. Calvin had, of course. an ideal OF
feminine grace very different from his
own vigorous personality. Indeed, as
he sat thinking in his study that morn
Ing a smile rose to the firm lips and
Eoftened the austere lines into which
he had framed them as he saw in bis Z
minds eye a petite, graceful form.
soft, appealing dark eyes and misses
Of cloudy brown hair. Alas for the
plans Of the people. WHO had made up
their minds that Miss Nell" and the