Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-05-14
A Turn Of the Wheel.


Loi1Sy pAl lS ltllIlSl anu IllpllcI DclllG
dead, there was no II 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 ad-
vantages. She gave him some encour-
agement. He proposed and was ac-
cepted.
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. a re-
cent graduate of q theological semi
nary, was recommended and finally
chosen for the position.
Keith was n 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 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 We're
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 it's con-
gregation a year Miss Ford said to
him:
II am very we'll pleased, MI. Keith,
with my selection of a pastor for INV
church. There is, however, one recon-
mendation you do not possess. A cler-
gyman should have a wife. On your
salary, l 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"
MI. hellu thought Il lew moments,
then declined the raise with the condi-
ton, whereupon Miss Ford assured
him that there was no condition at
tached, Il he was satisfied. A. few
more matters of business were talked
over between them, when Miss Ford
said:
81 have Il 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 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."
81 can understand that, and it
should be so. What is this invita-
tion|"
"NNill you marry me%'
Mr.. Keith looked at the girl in aston
ishment, thea. instead of making a
reply. turned and walked back and
forth for several minutes in deep
thought. Meanwhile Miss Ford looked
at him. equally surprised.
81 do not think" he said at last,
that such q curse would be we'll for
either of us. IN Il career such as mine
wealth possessed by my wife would
be a detrimeni to me. for my view of
wealth is that it belongs to the poor.
l have observed that. however liberal
rich people are. their wealth is their
paramount interest. With this predis-
position to hold AID increase what YOU
have, l would advise you to marry a
rich man"
1t is needless to say that Miss Ford
listened TO this with interest. Mr..
Keith had mistaken her entirely. What
she intended to ASK Of him was that he
would perform the marriage
soon to take place between her and
Walker Brooks. He had supposed that
she, being rich, had considered it her
part to propose marriage. When he
had finished speaking, instead of in
forming him of his blunder she said:
t what you say is worthy of thought
full consideration
A week later Mr.. Brooks received Il
note from his fancee stating that she
. had come to the conclusion that she
e was not the oma she would marry;
S that she had resolved to spend her in
' come in doing good only and not in
pleasure seeking. Mr.. Brooks was
somewhat disappointed at losing so
considerable an addition to his for
J tune, calculating to spend the united
income in fashionable living. But he
I weighed the matter and decided that
he would rather give up Miss Ford's
: fortune than see it expended in build
: ing institutions. He released her.
From this time Miss Ford began to
j rely on her pastor in certain eXpendi-
lures which she designed on account of
e his experience in the line she proposed
l to spend the money and because of his
administrative ability, which was of
the first order. 1t vas not long be-
fore their interests became identical.
Miss Ford furnished the means for
a good. and Mr.. Keith saw that the
money went into many a household
where it was not only a godsend, but