The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-07
AMusE:MENrs.

except the poor creature herself. The
minister listened patiently to her long,
iaDored, tedious recital; ana IL soms-
times he felt as II he would go wild
with lmpatience when he Thought of
Marguerite. he promptly forced him
self In punishment to concentrate mis-
MIND and soul even more than before
on the object before him that de-
manded SO much of his pity ana his
nelp.
Here was a soul for him to succor
and save; and what was his own
hearts ease to that?
IL was Late that evening before the
little minister returned home after
having found home for his distressed
protege. He should have felt a thrill
of gratitude for duty done and a sense
OF humble satisfaction for his success
IN bringing back the straying one to
the right road.
He blamed himself for not feeling
II. But the more he tried to feel con-
tent because he had done his duty, the
more his soul sank in him and the
heavier did his heart seem.
me Rev. Mr.. Dubois, though
most devoted minister, was none the
less an intensely human man; and all
the satlsfac tion in doing a duty could
not lift him from the dependency
that he was in. for he felt sure that he
mad lost any chance. if he possessed
one, with Marguerite Van Dieman.
His belief was strengthened to con-
viction next day when he called to her
mouse, wondering what he could say
to gain her pardon. 1t was charac-
terlstic of him that it never entered
his head to explain to her what had
kept him away. That would have
seemed like cant and self-praise to the
| little minister.
The only excuse he could offer was
"parochial business" And he realized
sharply that would seem a paltry ex-
cuse, though he didn't consider any
thing in the line of his duty as paltry.
So he sent up his card in low
spirits; and he was not surprised,
though he was grieved, when the maid
returned and said that her mistress
| begged to be excused and added a re-
quest that he write to her, saying
, what she could do for him.
Another man might have felt Of
tended and naughty. The little min
lister was too just for that. He went
home quietly and wrote a very simple
little letter telling Miss Marguerite
Van Diemen all that was in his heart.
He begged her forgiveness for not
keeping the appointment, and ex-
planned it by saying: "a little matter
of church business came up to keep
me. l could not evade it, though I
/ assure you that it was great sorrow
to me to be kept away"
Then, in his mind he wrote "Finis'
to his romance and turned sturdily to
his work on the unfinished sermon.
Twenty minutes after he had dis
patched the note his door bell rang
again. This time the little minister
did feel that there were dramas in lit
tie things. He laid down his pen and
thought
He heard the maid open the door.
He heard soft voice ask for him.
Before he could rise a gown rustled
and Marguerite Van Diemen came to-
ward the open library door. -
81 have brought you the answer to
your note myself said she. She held
up her hand. Before tell you what
it isl she continued very hurriedly,
with her breath coming short and fast
and her eyes shining, ''let me tell you
something else. Do you know what
have always abhorred the most? The
next to that L object to the practicing
| that breaches too mucn of what it
does!''
The little minister looked at her
with questioning bewilderment in his
dark eyes.
Marguerite Van Diemen made a few
steps forward and toward him.
II saw you last evening on the
| street with a young woman" she went
on. 81 was a little angry that you
| should have thought of anything ex-
! cept our appointment. This morning
went to carry some medicine to old
Mrs. AnSton and found that you had
taken the young woman there to
nurse her. She told me what you had
said to her and what you had done
for her.
"Will you forgive me for seeming
to neglect you?" faltered the little
minister.
watt" said Miss Van Diemen. ct
still wanted to test you. 1 wanted to
see what you would do. So l waited
till you wrote. If you had tried to
explain more than you did-why. then,
perhaps, I would not have brought
you my answer"
And as she came toward the
minister with her hands held out, even
the modest Rev. Philander did not
need anything more to tell him what
the answer was.-(Copyrighted, 1903,
by Associated Literary Press.)