Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-26

-----D in the interim
They were all thinking Of II, and he was
conscious that they were comparing the
Bentley Parker whom they remembered
with the Reverend Bentley Parker who
had reappeared among them.
The rain drove across the veranda and
splashed in great drops on the windows.
The lake beyond was renewing its youth
from the clouds. The people whom Mrs
Congdon had summoned for tea were
glad OF an excuse for staying indoors.
They We're chiefly young idlers from the
nearby cottages, representing the wealth
and fashion of half dozen cities OF the
central west. They Stunned Mrs. Cong
don's functions in fair weather. but her
fireplace was the widest at Harbor Point,
and on stormy days her hearth was Ia
vorite rendezvous. The Ransoms' house
was Just over the way. and Mary RAN
som was in and out Familiarity in the easy
summer social habit that prevailed at the
point She was lamenttng now that she
had come Two years before she had de-
clined to marry Bentley Parker, and her
refusal had seemed final; she had imas-
ined that II blotted him out, and that
she should not see him any more.
There had been good deal OF talk
about him when he abandoned his clubs,
his yacht and the polo grounds TO study
theology. 1t seemed ineXplicable that
man who hod at least million dollars
of his own, and who was. moreover,
good fellow. should elect the ministry, OF
all things. They said 1t was because Mary
Ransom had refused TO marry him: and
this was half true. She had refused 10
marry him. and he had been a good deal
cut up over II, and had Immediately gone
tramping on a long journey with a friend
who was sociologist. They had stolen
rides on freight trains. worked as farm
hands and dug trenches beside Italian
laborers. TO the end that the sociologist
might obtain data for a thesis
There came a moment when the dreary
drudgery of this outing ceased to divert
Parker. He lay in cheap lodging
house at Buffalo one night and thought
1t all over. He had always been able to
get what he wanted by ringing bell or
signing a check. without thinking very
seriously about people who worked much
harder 10 get considerably less. HIS
friend, the sociologist. had suffered HIM
self to be locked up in jail in his pursuit
of material, and Parker was lonely; ana
in his loneliness, for the first time IN MS
life he thought seriously about his fel-
low men His lodging for the night cost
him - cents and up to this time he
had looked upon silver quarter chiefly
as convenient form of pour boire. which
might suffice as a tip for the boy who
cared for your coat at restaurant. IL
would have been easy to go. His frlend,
the sociologst. would not mind. The ex-
cursion had been a lark on Bentley's part
and he could quit whenever he liked. but
he was surprised 10 find that he had no
impulse TO give it up. He heard the NUT
tering of a tipsy Swede on one of side OF
him and the lusty suore of an ltallan
trench digger on the other, and was struck
with a new and uncomfortable pity for all
Of their kind. II would be easy to get
identified at a bank and procure money
enough to carry him home in a private
car If he liked. or he could telegraph TO
y; nIot TO
Buffalo for him: but these things did not
appeal to him as he thought them over.
He had spent a fortnight as laborer on a
railroad in which he was stockholder.
under a section boss who Swore in a dlSa-
greeable way and occasionally knocked a
man down for being dull; and he had load
ed coal into the bunkers Of lake vessels
at the Buffalo docks until his back ached
and his conscience pricked him as he re-
called occasions when he had grumbled
over the tedious coaling of his own yacht.
He hated violence. and il seemed TO him
that in this new world with which he had
been making acquaintance there was
nothing else: and Bentley Parker not only
disliked being cursed by employers and
bosses. but il hurt him to hear other peo-
pie profanely abused.
His friend had emerged from jail re-
joiCinG in fresh data. and found Parker
wearing a new gravity. He thought that
Bentley was tired or sick and urged him
TO leave. but Parker asked questions that
tion--an interest that continued after his
friends work had been finished and they
had gone home together.
Parker had never been as frivolous as
he looked, but he had suffered as simple
natures do from the careless scrutiny Of
world that is afraid to accord SIM
plicity its due lest there be some decep-
ton in II. There was a good deal of the
boy in him-the gentle friendly. well
bred boy. His money had not spoiled
him; and at his university he had been
the most democratic and the most popular
SUDDEN, and by no means the most bril-
liant.
The people at Mrs Congdons tea knew
little of the mental processes by which
Bentley Parker had resolved to use his
substance for the benefit of the poor. or
how il came about that he had entered
the ministry, which was the thing that
staggered them most They said among
themselves that he had always been err
ratio. but that there had been a serious
side to him: they all knew that nothing
in his life made this step unfit; but his
money, they said. made it preposterous
So hush fell upon the company for a
moment: then they crowded about him
with many ordinations.
Hello. parson!' called Tom Gardner,
one of Parkers old friends. lis II the
bad weather that has driven you In. or
did you pine for a sniff of the flesh
pots?"
You don't do me justice. Tom.
wanted 10 see the old familiar faces
ana we wanted 10 see you, TOO, old
man.
Gardner had rested his hand on Par
ker's shoulder affectionately and he dis
missed his friend reluctantly to the 9TH
ters who came crowding up. Parker
smiled down upon them with his friendly
gray eyes-a little shy, a little more re-
strained than of old. He was sincerely
pleased to see them again. He had once
been a hero among them. The things he
did he had always done better than any
OF the rest of them. and no one ever be-
grudged him his honors To be sure, his
performances had been of a somewhat
impermanent character: and yet II is
something TO be able to drive a four-in-
hand with distinction: and the cups that
man may win at tennis or golf or by
sailing yacht have a value after all.
lie was a big fellow. with an air of
Vigor and determination about him. and
not even remotely suggestive of the tame
ascetic type Those who thought he had
been led away by the charm of stained
glass windows and choral vespers did
not know BENTLEY Parker.
Mary Ransom was the center of a little
group OF men who were laughing at some
jest as he drew near. When she greeted
Bentley he felt the old question and chal-
lenge in her brown eyes. 1t had been her
way TO lecture him. She could be Nip
pant with other people; but with him she
had always been severe.
This is surprise.' she exclaimed
II didn't expect 10 see you here. I
thought
"Wel?"
Il thought you had renowned this sort
of thing-the devil and all his works"
ut isn't so easy-giving up things; and