Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-01-04
CHAPTER X.

bean enthusie -tcsUv EXPRESSING her
| unbounded e1i ynent O. Che west ana
| of fhe imrrr IONS ca,herCI during
her Journey Suddenly tie elder WON
cn gl2ncel ch-ut and exclaimed.
laush;uciy "Nhr. J bad completely
forrotton. You have nrt yct met your
room mate. Come ont bore. N1rla.
this is my niece. Phoebe Spencer"
The -irl tAus addressed ad-a.ced.
"a slender graceful f-u-o dressed i1
white. and ez-a,sa1 acr hand ehylv.
Miss Spencer ciasnoJ Go warmly. hcr
eyes uron the flushed. vi0srm face.
And is ibis Nailu GUs." she
cried. 81 am SO delighted that you
are stn here. and that we are 90 be
together Aunt LYDIA has written so
much about you that I feel rs If we
must have known each other for
years Why. how pretty you are,"
Naida's cheeks were burning. and
her eyes fell but she had never vet
succeeded in conQucring the blunt in-
dependence of her speech. Nobody
else ever SAYS So" she said. uucasily.
Perhaps it's the liEht"
Miss Spencer turned her about so
as Co face the window We'll YOU
are" she announced docisiveIy. Il
guess / know, you've got magnificent
hair. and your eyes are perfectly won
ocrlul. You just don't fix yourself un
right: Aunt Lydia never did have any
taste fin such things but I'm make
new girl ont of you. Let's go upstairs:
I'm simply diving 10 see our room. and
get some OF my dresses uunacked
They must look perfect frights by this
time"
They came down perhaps an hour
later. hand in hand. and chattering
like old friends. The shades OF carly
evening were already falling across
the valley HemdCn had returned
home from his DAYS work. and had
brought with him Rev. Howard Wyn-
koop for supper Miss Spencer viewed
the young man with approval. and im-
mediately became more than usually
vivaCious in recouutinr the incidents
of her long journey. together with her
early Impressions of the western coun-
try. Mr.. Wynkoop responded with an
interest FAR from being assumed.
II have found Sc AN SO strange. SO
unique. Mr.. Wynkoop." she explained.
The country SIS like a new world 90
mo. and the people do not seem at an
like those OF the east. They lead such
wild. untrammclcd life Everything
about seems TO eXhale the spirit OF ro-
nance; don't YOU find 60 500"
He smiled at her enthusiasm. his
glance OF uudisguiscd admiration on
her face. II certainly recall some such
earlier conception. ne admitted.
Those just arriving from the environ
ment of an older civilization perceive
merely the picturesque elements: but
my later experiences have been de.
cidodly prosaic"
why Mr. Wynkoop! how could
they be? Your work is heroic. 10 is
perfectly grand, Why. the very men
I met seem 90 yield rae a broader con-
ception of life and duty: they are so
brave. $50 modest. so active. Isis
MT. Mofat member OF your church 30
The minister cleared his throat his
checks rcddcning. "Mr. Momat2 All.
no; not. exactly. DO you mean the
mine-owner. Jack Monat2"
Yes. I think so: he told me he
owned mine-the Golden Rule the
name was; the very choice In words
would seem 90 indicate his religious
nature. You have the only church in
Glencaid, understand. and wonder
greatly he BIAS never Joined YOU. But
perhaps he may be prejudiced AGAINST
your denomination. There is so much
narroWncss in religion. But left
every prejudice east OF the Missouri"
she declared, lauehingly. every one.
social and religious. I'm SONG 20 be
true wcsterncr. from the TOP of my
head 10 the toe OF my shoe Is Mr..
Mcneil in your churchg"
The minister hcsltated. 81 really do
not recall the name" be confessed at
last reluctantly. II scarcely think 1
can have ever met The gentleman"
"Oh, you OUGHT to; he is SO intense
y original. and his face is fun OF char
acter. He reminds me of some old
paladin OF the Middle AGES. You would
be Interested in him al once. lie is
the foreman of the Bar " ranch.
somewhere near here"
DO You mean Eily Mcneil. over on
Sinsiniwa cree.Se' broke in Hcrndcn.
Il think quito likely. uacie: wouldn't
he make a splendid addition To Mr.
Wyn&oop's church?"
Herndon choked. bis entire bod.
shaking with nl-suppressed enjoy
ment. Il should imagine yes" he ad
mitted finally BILLY McNeil-oh.
Lord, There's certainly a fine open
ing for You 90 DO some missionary
work. Phoebe"
Well. and I'm going TO-" announced
the young lady. hrmly II guess can
read mems characters. and know all
Mr.. Mcneil needs is 20 have some /
one show an interest in him. Have
you large church. MT Wynkoopg"
Not large II judged from an east
ern standpoint ne 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 |
Only eight women and three mem"
breathlessiy. And you have been la
boring upon this field for five years.
How could it be so small?"