Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-21

Wolldl. Il JIOuSNl II was matter
/ for children"
He stopped to clear his throat He
had suddenly become husky in
speech.
| Il, too, have been ILL., he contin-
[, ued, III physically morally also. |
nave been weak as water who
strove to excel There was a hymn.
whereof long omitted the first
verse for you know that though we
sing no hymns in public exercise, we
are not debarred in private. The
hymn you nav know it, begins;
Art thou weary art thou Ian.
guild art thou sore distressed'?"
4 Now. for years passed that verse
over scornfnlly. even commented
publicly on the f1accid stupidity Of
modern hymnologists as compared
| with the Hebrew psalter- a subject.
indeed, to much neglected. If man
were languid and the rest, it was be-
cause he had not enough to do! He
needed stimulus and work! But dead
Ily sickness and a gnawing at the
heart have taught me different,
Strange strange that a woman may
occupy such place in mans
thoughts. that because of her he may
suffer even to the wasting away of
the body!"
The Cameronian minister was silent
for a while. One could almost hear
his desires grinding on his will.
! Il would tell you" he said, yes
confidence for confidence: But have
not the right. Some months ago did
my duty--or what | thought to be my
duty. | debarred man who had been
a sinner, from the communion did
| it publicly. He was the father Of the
woman / love. thought beforehand
that | had measured the bitterness Of
the cup given me to drink and found
that | was mistaken. 1t was tenfold
| more bitter. I had weighed the cost,
and 10! it proved hundred times
heavier" Again he paused, laying his
hand affectionately on Vic's shoulder.
Therefore. Mr.. Morris, nearken to
me. |, Benjamin Irongray have the
right to speak. Who hath it IL not /?
Would do my duty again? Certainly
but in different way-between
man and man, face to face, not vita
public speech that makes dispeace. So
might have-found the Eve designed
for me-the companion promised. But
-ah, we'll. Morris, go your way. A
man needs good woman far more
than she can ever need him. There
| fore give her of your first and best Do
not take anything for granted. Let
her choose. Leave her the open door
OF pity--as |, alas did not do I shut
1T in the face of my love, because Of
the man, her father. knowingly did
! it, being the man ami"
| And from his study window silently,
sombrely, Mr.. Irongray watched the
young man depart on his errand. He
noted with a certain approval, that
Vic did not walk any longer as II all
the town belonged to him. But there
were deeper things in the heart Of Mr..
Irongray than that-reproaches, and
sufferings, and silences.
Presently the quiet of the house
palling upon him, and printed books
becoming an adherence, without
meaning power to hold the attention,
/ he took up his hat and went out. He
chose the little footpath which skirted
the privet hedge. still marked by the
curve which had been Phil Calmont's
armchair, in the days when he came
to confide in little Miss Nunsby.
The Reverend Benjamin Irongray
stood moment looking over the little
| green gate of the man to whom he had
denied the sacrament, for words which
he had deemed public profanity. He
saw a brisk fitting shadow within that
crossed and recrossed the open win.
COWS, round which thronged the roses
and Virginia creepers. Then he sigh
ed and went his way heavily, never
dreaming that Rose Nunsby also had
watched him from the very moment
fhe had left his own door, And she had
had to pass right from one side of the
house to the other to do it, too!
But that. of course. was because her
duty called her there.
CHAPTER VI VII