The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-04-23
ering sun vas pouring . perfect ssc,

Come In" he exclaimed. csrelessly,
and barely glancing up. We'll, what
is II this time. Mrs. Guffy?"
The landlady had never before seen
this usually happy guest in his pres
ent mood. and she watched him GU
riously.
"A man wants ter sec ye." she an
nounced. shortly. her hand on the
knob
''Oh. I'm in no shape for play TO
night: go back and tell him so"
Sure. an it's aisy 'nough ter see
thet wild half an eye. But this un isn't
thet koind OF man, an he's so
moighty perlite about II. OF jist cudnt
sind the loikes of him away It's
'Missus Guffy, me dear madam, wud
| We be koind enough to convey me com
| pliments TO Misther Robert Hampton.
and request him TO grant me few
minutes of his tonne on an important
natter Sure. an what do ye think
of thet?"
Huh! one OF those fellows who had
these rooms?" and Hampton rose to
his feet with animation.
The landlady lowered her voice to
an almost inaudible whisper.
IT'S the Rev. Howard Wynkoop.-
she announced. impresslvely. dwelling
upon the name. The Rev. Howard
Wynkoop. the Presbyterian missionary
wouldn't tibet cork yer"
1t evidently did, for Mr.. Hampton
stared at her for fully . minute in an
amaEement too profound for fit ex-
preston in words. Then he swal.
lowed something in his throat.
SHOW the gentleman up" he said.
shortly, and sat down to walt
The Rev. Howard Wynkoop was
neither giant nor dwarf. but the ver2
| fortunate possessor OF a countenanco
which at once awakened confidence In
| his character. He entered the room
| quietly. rather dreading this interview
with one OF Mr.. Hampton's well-known
proclivitIes. yet in this case feeling
| abundantly fortified in the righteous.
ness of his cause. His brown eyes
met the inqulsitive gray ones frankly.
and Hampton waved him silently to-
ward a vacant chair.
"Our lines OF labor in this vineyard
being so entirely opposite" the latter
/ said. coldly. but with intended polite
| ness. the honor OF your unexpected
, call quite overwhelms me. | shall
have 20 trouble you TO speak somewhat
softly in explanation of your present
mission. so as not TO listurb a young
girl who chances TO be Sleeping In the
room beyond"
1T was principally upon her account
ventured TO call" Wynkoop ex.
planned in sudden confidence. Might
| see herr"
Hamptons watchml eyes swept the
others face suspiciously. and his
hands clinched
"Relative?" he asked gravely.
The preacher shook his head.
Friend OF the family. perhapsY"
mo. Mr.. Hampton. My purpose n
coming here is perfectly proper, yet
the request was not advanced as Q
right. but merely as a special priv
ilege."
A moment Hampton hesitatcd. then
| he arose and quietly crossed the room.
holding open the door. without q
word being spoken the minister fol
lowed. and stood beside him. For
several minutes the eyes OF both men
rested upon the girls sleeping form
I and uptirned face. Then Wynkoor
| drew silently back. and Hampton
1 closed the door noiselessly.
We'll" he said inquiringly. "wha,
does all this meany~
Let us sit down again." said the
| minister. "and | will try TO make my
| purpose sufficiently clear. am not
here TO mince words. nor do | bellows
| you to be the kind Of a man who wous
respect me IL did. ! may say some
thing that will not sound pleasant. but
| in the cause of my Master | cannot
| hesitate. You are an older man thar
/, Mr.. Hampton; your experience 10
| life has doubtless been much broader
than mine, and II may even be that In
point OF education you are likewtss
my superior Nevertheless. as thu
| only minister OF the gospel residing 10
| this community II is beyond question
my plain duty to speak few words 10
you in behalf VI this young lady. and
her probable furnss. trust not to be
offensive. yet cannot shirk the require
ments OF my sacred Office"
The speaker paused. somewhat dis
concerted perhaps by the hardening Of
the lines In Hampton's face.
60 on" commanded Hampton
tersely. only let the preacher part
slide. and say Just what you have to
say as man to man."
Il prefer to do So" he continued
1T will render my unpleasant task
much easier, and yield us both more
direct road to travel. have been
laboring on this field for nearly three
years. When i first came here you
were pointed out to me as a most dan
gerous man, and ever since then
have constantly been RECALLED by che
stories of your exploits. ! have knows
you merely through such unfriendly
reports, and came here stroagly preju
! diced against you as a representative
of every evil | war against. We have
never met before. because there