The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-07-30
A Turn Of the Wheel.
TOriginal.I


dead, there was no one to direct her
movements in any respect. Walker
Brooks was an eligible party, being
also wealthy, and, although he was not
intellectual and had no object in life, /
Enid had concluded that their two |
estates united would involve many adj |
vantages. She gave him some encour- |
agement. He proposed and was ac-
copied
In memory of her parents Enid |
built a little church in the town where
she lived. When it was finished she
cast about for some one to take charge
of it as pastor. Laurence Keith, re
cent graduate of a theological semi
nary, was recommended and finally
chosen for the position.
Keith was one of those young men
who from the first indicate that they
are destined to make their mark in the
world He had, first of ALL that requi
site for pastor, the gift of extempore
utterance When he had anything to
say to his congregation he did not halt
nor hesitate for words nor become in
extricably involved in the construction
of sentences.
Being at the head of a church built
and endowed by Enid Ford. there were
many things constantly arising for
them to talk over They invariably
confined themselves to church and
charitable interests, seldom if ever
dropping into that small talk so natural
to young people. Indeed, Mr.. Keith
treated Miss Ford as the owner of the
church of which he was pastor, and
Miss Ford treated Mr. Keith as the
pastor of the church of which she was
owner.
When Mr. Keith had administered
the affairs of the church and its con-
gregation a year Miss Ford said to
him:
Il am very we'll pleased. Mr.. Keith,
with my selection of a pastor for my
church. There is, however. one recon-
mendation you do not possess A cler-
gyman should have q wife. On your
salary, admit, marriage would be I'M
wise, but l can relieve this deficiency.
Your salary for the next year will be
double what it has been"
|
then declined the raise with the condl-
ton, whereupon Miss Ford assured
him that there was no condition at
tached, and he was satisfied. A few
more matters of business were talked
over between them, when Miss Ford
said:
Il have request to make Of you
an invitation to extend to you-and l
don't wish you to be Influenced in your
acceptance by our relative positions.
Perhaps / am making too much Of the
matter. but everything connected with
a girls main event in life, marriage
Is the cause of deep feeling to her"
II can understand that, and it
should be so. What is this invita-.
tion?"
] "Will you marry me?'
] Mr.. Keith looked at the girl in aston
4 ishment, then, instead of making a
4 reply. turned and walked back and
forth for several minutes in deeI
thought. Meanwhile Miss Ford looked
at him, equally surprised.
4 Il do not think" he said at last
8 that such a course would be well fol
q either of US. In q career such as mine
q wealth possessed by my wife would
q be a detriment to me, for my view o.
4 wealth is that it belongs to the poor
II l have observed that however liberia
s. rich people are. their wealth is thei
& paramount interest. With this predis
q position to hold and increase what yol
& have, would advise you to marry I
s. rich man.
& 1t is needless to say that Miss Fore
s listened to this with interest Nj
q Keith had mistaken her entirely. Wha
81 she intended to ask of him was that h
q would perform the marriage ceremOn.
u soon to take place between her ant
a Walker Brooks. He had supposed tina
e she being rich, had considered it he
8 part to propose marriage. When h
Il had finished speaking. instead of in
s forming him Of his blunder she said:
q What you say is worthy of thought
81 full consideration"
A week later Mr.. Brooks received
81 note from his f1ancee stating that sh
81 had come to the conclusion that sh
81 was not the woman she would marry
u that she had resolved to spend her il
s come in doing good only and not i
81 pleasure seeking Mr. Brooks wa
somewhat disappointed at losing s
81 considerable an addition to his fol
81 tune, calculating to spend the unite
81 income in fashionable living. But b
81 weighed the matter and decided ths
81 he would rather give up Miss Ford
81 fortune than see it expended in builC
81 ing institutions. He released her.
81 From this time Miss Ford began
81 rely on her pastor in certain expend
81 lures which she designed on account {
81 his experience in the line she propose
81 to spend the money and because of b
81 administrative ability, which was {
81 the first order 1t was not long b
81 fore their interests became identica
81 Miss Ford furnished the means fl
S5 good. and Mr. Keith saw that Il
- money went into many househo
E2 where it was not only gOdsend, b.
q was expended to a practical purpos
81 One evening after they had been tai
a ing Of these matters Miss Ford said:
81 Mr. Keith. I once gave you an inv