The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-06-13
lndica ted his ss1sa,ssszal.fsla 3.

Ihat ne was ready for almost any
disease" his good old physician had
told him, and his congregation, after
ne had tainted during service one.even-
lRg, had packed him off. much against
bis will, for a summer In the noun
| tains.
| SO it was with mingled feeling of
| annoyance and anticipation that he
left the hotel porch and hurried to his
| room. Once there, he pulled out Il BIZ
! cycle suit that had done little service
| few years ago and. putting it on
surveyed himself with a critical eye.
Sort of spindle shanks ! 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 Il suppose it would be good
thing for me to get little more flesh
on my bones"
We thought we'd take the steam
| launch to the Willows. as we feared
| the hard tramp would be a little TOO
much for you, parson," said one of the
men. patting his shoulder genially, as
he Joined the group
I'm sorry to have you change your
plans for me-" DR. Meredith replied, a
little stifiy. for he felt at 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
great deal OF this sweet, wholesome
air. When we get little way from
land I want to try some new deep
breathing exercises that read about
the other day."
"You see, Doctor" exclaimed another
man, you're in 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, DR.. Meredith. you'd better get
right out now and swim ashore
"Oh, think I'll venture to go on,
especially as ! CANT SWIM" replied
DIR. Meredith genialIy.
Cant swim!'' one of the other men
exclaimed Wen have to give you a
lesson this afternoon, for vigorous ex-
ercise of all sorts is another plank in
our platform
No: you can't take Dr. Meredith in
swimming this afternoon" said Miss
Curtis decidedly. 1.-THE water isSNpo
cold for him yet Wait till he has
brea thed this invigorating air little
longer"
4.Oh. I'm as we'll as began DR.
Meredith. but as he looked at the men
and women near him, who were brim-
ming over with vitality, he hesitated
He had intended to say. Il am as well
as the rest of you" but, being truth
full man, he could not. He might say
true either. How much better he
could do his work IL 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. Wen make another man of
you IN another month.
Il cannot stay another month Ny
congregation needs me-" he replied
quietly
s.Rut yoar vacation was to last two
Tannths. was it nots" Miss Curtis
asked. Most city pastors have that. Z
YES" the man admitted. My peo-
pie did Offer me two months. but de-,
eidedIy. 4 do not intend to take SO
long.
.4But, really. DR. Meredith Miss Cur
lis said, you must not 60 back for an
other month. :
asOh. j shall be as well as needs be
in a few days" the man replied stub
bornly, and at this moment the boat
bumped against the dock. and they
were at their destination.
1t had been years since John Mere
dith had INDUCED in a real picnic. At
first he hardly knew how to behave
but soon be began to feel the spell Of
the open, and to come more into sym
pathy with his companions. That they
were right in thinking that good
body was a good thing he was obliged
to acknowledge to himself, and before
The das vas oTsf he was almost per
suaded that some OF the tenets OF his
philosophy were Incorrect. He had
about come to this conclusion when,
late IN the afternoon, they decided to
take a walk to q nearby farmhouse.
On the way DR. Meredith Jagged be-
hind. thinking many thoughts. He
was comparing himself, fraiI and
tired. with these vigorous people and
was considering how much more be
could do In the cause he loved II he
were we'll and strong. But would be
not be apt to forget the spiritual If he
spent 50 much thought and time upon
fhe phYsical9 Would he not become.
as lie feared these people were. too
much absorbed In the joys OF living:
Miss Curtis herself, charming with
her wonderful vitality. even lovabie
ID her sweet personality, was. he told
himself ssharnly. too insistent on phys
ical well being.
He was trying 70 persuade himself
of the truth OF this last statement
when suddenly down the road came
whirl OF dust, the noise OF escaping
IL - !.