West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-17

his will. for a summer IN the noun
tains.
SO IL was with a mingled feeling of
annoyance and anticipation that he
left the hotel porch and hurried to his
room Once there. he pulled out a bi.
cycle suit that had done little service
few years ago and. putting IL ON.
surveyed himself with critical eye.
Sort OF spindle shanks I am. sure
enough" he grinned to himself as he
thought OF the sturdy figures OF the
other men who We're TO make up the
party. 81 suppose IL would be a good
thing for me TO get littbs more desh
On my bones"
I'VE thought we'd take the steam
launch 20 the Willows. ns we feared
the hard tramp would he little too
much for you. parson." said one OF the
men, patting his shoulder genially, as
he Joined the group.
I'm sorry 10 have you change your
plans for me-" DIR. Meredith replied, a
little stifiy, for he felt at a disadvan-
tage with these vigorous men.
"Oh. we shall enjoy the SAIL" Miss
Curtis interrupted. noticing his annoy
ance. And you must all drink In n
great deal OF this sweet. wholesome
air. when we get little way from
land want to try some new deep
breathing exercises that read about
the other day"
you see. doctor" exclaimed another
man. "you're Ia the hands OF a re.
former. an advocate OF all sorts OF
newfangled notions. If you want to
save yourself from this reform move
ment. Or. Meredith. you'd better get
right out now and swim ashore"
"oh. ! think I'll venture TO go on.
especially as l can't SWIM" replied
DIR. Meredith genially.
Cant swfmr one of the other men
exclaimed. Wen have, 10 give you
lesson this afte~ioon. for vigorous ex-
ercise OF oil sorts IL another plank I'm
our platform"
mo: you can't take Or. Meredith In
swimming this afternoon" said Miss
Curtis decidedly. "The water IL too
cold for him yet Walt TIL he has
breathed this invigorating air n little
longer"
"Oh, I'm as well as began DR.
Meredith, but as he looked Mt the men
and women near him, who were brim-
ming over with vitality. he hesItated.
He had intended to sny. II am as well
as the rest OF you:" but. being a truth.
full man, he could not He might say,
"As ! need to be-" but that was not
true either. How much better he
could do his work II he had the mus.
cles OF these men, their breadth OF
chest and their vigor! But before he
could think OF way to end his SEN
tence some one exclaimed:
"Oh. no; you're not as well as you
can be. Well make another man OF
you I'm another month";
II cannot stay another month. My
congregation needs me-" he replied
quietly.
but your vacation was to last two
months. was It notr' Miss Curtis
asked. Most city pastors have that"
Yes" the man admitted. my peo-
pie did offer Inc two months. but" de.
cidedly. II do not intend 10 take so
long"
But. really. DIR. Meredith" Miss Cur.
tbs snid. you must not go back for an
other month"
"Oh. ] shall be as well as needs be
In n few days" the man replied stub.
bornly, and at this moment the boat
bumped against the dock. and they
were at their destination.
IL had been years since John Mere.
dith had INDUCED IN a real picnic. At
first he hardly knew how to behave.
but soon he began to feel the spell OF
''tbe open" and TO come more into sym.
pathy with bis companions. That they
were right IN thinking that a good
body was a good thing he was obliged
70 acknowledge 10 himself. and before
the day was over he was almost per.
suaded that some Of the tenets Of his
philosophy were Incorrect lie had
about come 20 this conclusion when.
late IN the afternoon, they decided to
take walk to a nearby farmhouse.
On the way DIR. Meredith Jagged be.
hind. thinking many thoughts. He
was comparing himself, frail and
tired, with these vigorous people and
was considering how much more he
could do IN the cause he loved n he
were well and strong. But would he
not be apt 60 forget the spiritual n ne
spent 80 much thought and time upon
the physical7 Would ne not become.
as he feared these people were. too
much absorbed In the joys OF living7
Miss Curtis herself charming with
her wonderful vitality. even iovable
IN her sweet personality, was, he told
himself sharply. too insistent on phys.
ical well being
lie was trying to persuade himself
OF the truth OF this last statement
when suddenly down the road came a
whirl OF dust, the noise OF escaping
steam, dozen piercing shrieks. and IN
a second the ruin Of q great touring
car. with its msngled occupants, lay
before them.
Instantly Dr. Meredith and his com.
panions rushed forward. but at the
sight Of the flowing blood the clergy.
man found himself growing faint
Half dazed, ne leaned against n tree
and watched the others stanching the
streams OF blood. binding up broken
arms and improvising litters. Were
these the men whom he had so read
ily condemned as idlers IN the vine
yard7 Was this the woman whom he
had thought "mere butterhyT' Must
he stand aside while these people did
their deeds Of kindness7
He tried TO pull himself together and
move toward them. hut his eyes closed
suddenly. ana 10 feit the hard ground
beneath him.
II was more than a month later that