Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04


The summer following his sophomore year at COL
lege he spent in Europe the guest of a good-na:
urcd, stupid youth whom he had tutored Before
ne entered the divinity school he made a tour of
Alaska. In the visits to which his vacations were
mainly given tip and in the academic triun,phs that
he never neglected to secure, Miss Sophie saw al
most equally the hand of God At last, when he was
twenty-five years old, the Reverend Stephen Ortiz
being fully equipped direct the souls of men, ac-
cepted his first parish.
They speaking of Stephen when his letter
came-the women who sitting, in the warm
late afternoon on the narrow porch of Sophie Bur
chell's shabby little cottage But the coincidence
was not as remarkable as though the talks between
Miss Sophie and her friends not invariably OF
Stephen and of the glorics he so steadily accum,i-
lated. Whatever their private view OF the young
man himself. they all shared nowadays, the tender
hypocrisy that made them admire what she touch
ingly presented, probe for what she did not
spontaneously offer. They knew SO we'll that
Stephens account of hmself-at school, at COL
lege in the mnistry-had always been the wide
solid fabric upon which her affection had cmbroid-
cred its flowing pattern; and it was with these in
visible tapestries that the walls of her life were
hung, it was from to another of their splendid
scenes that her eager spirit pcrpetually futtered
They begged her to neglect them while she read
it, and settled back in their chairs arranging their
kind faces in lines of wonder and admiration-for
from Sophie Rurchells Stephen it was matter of
wide report that there but kind of news to
expect. But, as she read, the tender smile on So
phies face stiffened little And without rereading
the four hastily written pages she replaced them in
the envelope. There perhaps why
she should not have read the letter aloud. The
that in her brief reading of it seemed scorch and
shrivel her secret; it being announced
Stephen said, in Chicago But jealousy that was
stronger for the moment than any pride in him kept
hare t. H.
had not, these women should not know. Not guess
ing that her artless face and fdgeting hands told
plainly story of suppression she placed the letter
in her belt and faced her guests nervousy.
Its quite disappointment to me- she confessed
with her quaint habit of understaement Stephen
WON'T be home this month, after all"
Emily barrow, Sophie's minister's wife. was the
possessor of rich experience that included more
than one summer at Chautauqua. Does that mean
he's going to summer school Miss Burchell:"
she discerningly suggested These young clergy
men getting to be restless intellectually"
Little Dora 1hstlewac had the courage of her
conservatism, Il always think that intellect isn't
cverything even in preacher she daringly inter
rupted; and explained, pously: 1T seems to me
they ought not to put too great strain upon their
bodies they will fail when their hocks need them
Does Stephen keep we'll, Sophie?"
"Oh, PERFECTLY" Sophie paled at the thought. cot
course he does overtax himself she added, with
subdued pride. "IIe did at college and he does now
for his people. But have thought about it--and
watched hn-and believe it must be that-God
gives him strength | don't want to seem to boast
about Stephen, but isn't it true-Eveyn dear, you
know about such thngs-sn it true that the men
who have done great things in the world have always
been able to-disregard the laws of health ttle?-
not too much. of course:"
The slight, blond girl spoke with more decision
than her delicate face suggested II think that such
man as Stephen Ortiz she said calmly under
stands much better than we can his own capacity
for work"
VERY true declared Mrs barrow with author
ity And Mr.. Ortiz cannot be frail. His appear
ance suggests unusual strength A big manly man."
He probably would be called handsome
Sophie suggested with worship in her faint voice
"Why, | should say that he was conceded Mrs
barrow. Particularly in gown. Does he wear
one, Miss Burcheli"
He has in this Chicago church." Sophie confessed,
happily. Not before"
Beautiful. isn't it, testified Dora Thistlewaite
OF the picture thus presented Every beautiful in
deed"
Unlike the others, Evelyn Guest had not been dis
tracted from the main point you didn't say why
he isn't coming Miss Sophie" she now demanded.
SIS he to take vacation?'
"His vacation he's to spend in mission yyork--his
church, you know. does so much Of that sort of
good lie may be mere in October. | could not
make out"
Discrimination to her; and her head ached
when, at last, she alone with her letter--the
dreadful letter that Stephen had written. In Sophies
nnocently rigid schedule of sentiment this was the
most significant letter that could ever pass between
them; according to that schedule, it should
also have been the cnderes But with a brevity
that almost brutal, Stephen had told her OF his
engagement to young woman whom he had come
cett ,.,rE and be- H..
infer that the alliance he called it, was a social
triumph for himself. They to continue their
work together, among their poor people. during the
summer. Like himself his ancee was an orphan;
and her name was Mary Hollineer
Until the summer dusk clouded into night. Miss
Sophie sat alone in her room, in the little Gre
tonne cushioned rocking chair where she had sat and
held Stephen when he was little boy Eager in
dulgent rereadings Of the letter lying open her
lap had reconcied her to its cruel missop:
Miss Sophie believed she knew what a son would
feel and do. Stephen had done otherwise, What
.