The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-17
The Young
Minister
Was Called

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They were good co look upon, the
two young people who sat In the lit
tie parlor; but IT was not 80 much
mere physical beauty, as it was cour-
age, energy, and high purpose In
their faces, which made them SO at
t. active.
Yes" she was saying, 1T is q
crisis in our affairs. II you should
have call, we could be married at
once, but there seems to be more
ministers than calls just at present"
and she smiled a little sadly.
And IL | don't get cali"
1T means another year of waiting"
she finished for him. MIR. Mayhem
wants me to stay, but there is a stem
ographer he can get the first of March
II | should leave him then; but If |
stay at all he wants me for the whole
year"
The young man got up and paced
the floor restlessly, then he came and
stood before her, looking down at her
with troubled eyes.
Another year, Elinor," he cried.
I'VE can't waste all this time in wait
ing. There must be some way"
They were silent for a little, then
she said, you spoke of place where
you are going as candidate next
Sunday. Perhaps they will call you."
Not much hope | am afraid" he
said. Il haven't had any encourage
ment. The society Is nearly dead.
Ever so many ministers have been
there and they all get discouraged in
, short time. They are even talking
of closing the chapel, and not having
minister at all. | am going out there
as mere matter of form-this re-
quest for candidate is probably the
dying gasp. 1t is too bad, for there
are good people there, but you know
how 1t is-a struggling society, strug-
Cling against itself mostly"
Elinor looked at him. "You would
not get discouraged" she said quietly.
He looked up quickly. NO" he
said. mot If | had you with me-"
you would not depend on me-" she
said firmly. You did not before you
met me, you overcame obstacles and
opposition and would not give up. 1t
seems to me you are just the kind of
a man that little society needs. You
say all those others got discouraged.
That was probably why they failed.
Doesn't 1t look to you like a glorious
opportunity, David? Think how we
could work there and help those peo
pie and bring them together"
you are right, Elinor," he cried, his
eyes kindling Il have been blind not
TO see It before, but now | will go
there and do my best for them-Tll
put my whole heart into 1t, and we
/, will hope that they may call me, and
that we can begin our life work to-
gether there"
She smiled at him. 81 know you
will succeed" she said with convic,
tion.
1t was on a Tuesday that the big
next Saturday a young man alighted
from the electric car, quite late in the
afternoon, and inquired the way to
Elisha Gerry's house. Upon arriving
there he informed Mrs. Gerry that he
was Mr.. Scudder, the new candidate
She invited him In, and after taking
on his coat and hat he sat down be-
side the alright stove and held his
chilled fingers out to the grateful
warmth.
1t was evident that Mrs. Gerry was
troubled about something. She spoke
hesitatingly. II am sorry, but ! don't
believe there will be any service to.
morrow"
mo service repeated the young
man in surprise.
II am afraid not. You see there
has been such an awful storm that
the coal that was ordered has not
/ been delivered, and there is no wood
there so we cant have any fire. Be,
sides, the janitor is laid up with
rheumatism and has not dug any
paths and 1t always drifts dreadfully
in front of the chapel-so you see we
really can't have a service. We ought
to have sent word to you, am aw-
fully sorry"
Mrs. Gerry" said the young man,
and there was a certain tone In his
voice that made her look at him
sharply. He had risen to his feet.
His shoulders were very broad, his
head was thrown back and his chin
looked square and determined, while
there was an expression in his blue
eyes that made them look black.
"Mrs. Gerry" he repeated, 81 have
come 30 miles on the steam cars, 10
on the electric and 21s on foot, and
have been ever since o'clock this
morning doing it.--on account of
poor connections-in order that there
might be service here tomorrow
morning. There is going to be a
service here tomorrow morning"
The last words were spoken quietly
but somehow they carried weight.
Il believe you have the keys to the
chapel" he went on, in a business
like way, will you kindly let me