The Ocala evening star., 1908-05-01
A Turn Of the Wheel.
IOriginal.l

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 ad-
vantages. She gave him some encour-
agement. He proposed and was ac-
| cepted.
In memory of her parents Enid
built little church in the town where
she lived. When it was finished she
| cast about for some one to take charge
of 1t 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 a pastor, the gift ofFextempore
,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 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 50 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 it's con-
gregation a year Miss Ford said to
him:
II 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 wife. On your
salary, admit. marriage would be un-
wise. but can relieve this deficiency.
Your salary for the next year will be
double what it has BEEN"
! Mr.. Keith thought few moments,
then declined the raise with the\cOndi-
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:
81 have a request to make of you
an invitation to extend to you-and
don't wish you to be Influenced in your
acceptance by our relative positions.
Perhaps am makingjtoo much Of the
matter, but everything connected with
girls main event in life, marriage,
is the cause of deep feeling to her."
II can understand that, and IL
should be SO. What is this invita-
tionY'
"Will you marry me?"
Mr.. Keith looked at the girl in aston
ishment. then, instead Of making a
reply. turned and walked back and
forth for several minutes in deer
thought Meanwhile Miss Ford looked
at him, equally surprised.
81 do not think" he said at last
I that such a course would be well fol
either of us. In career such as mine
wealth possessed by my wife would
be a detriment to me. for my view o1
| wealth Is that it belongs to the poor
I have observed that. however liberia
! Nrich people are, their wealth Is theil
paramount interest. With this predis
position to hold and increase what yor
> have, I would advise you to marry {
rich man."
1t is needless to say that Miss For(
listened to this with interest. Mr.
Keith had mistaken her entirely. Wha
she intended to ask of him was that b,
would perform the marriage ceremon!
soon to take place between her an(
Walker Brooks. He had supposed tina
she. being rich, had considered it he
part to propose marriage. When b.
had finished speaking, instead Of in
forming him Of his blunder she said:
What you say is worthy Of thought
full consideration"
A week later Mr.. Brooks received
note from his fancee stating that sh'
had come to the conclusion that sh
was not the woman she would marry
that she had resolved to spend her In
come in doing good only and not II
pleasure seeking Mr.. Brooks wa
, somewhat disappointed at losing s
4 considerable an addition to his fol-
tune, calculating to spend the unite'
:, income in fashionable living. But b