Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-01

Hiiu hhd btSt tt itl Giput Will
ence to my treatment Of him"
| This ended the conference between
| father and daughter. What report he
| made to those who had taken ii
upon themselves to admonish Beatrix
through him was not known. but II
was probably not very satisfactory.
for the feeling against the siren In
creased, and it was not long before
she began to get the cold shoulder
from certain members of the congrega-
ton. One thing was noticeable-the
relations. so far as they appeared be-
tween her and Mr.. Ridgely. were by
no means changed by the fact of her
admonition.
One day Mrs. Hardness met Mrs.
Gooding ON the street, and the two
ladies stopped for chat.
Have you heard the news about our
pastor?" asked the former.
''No. What is it?"
Hes had call"
81 knew 1t. It's all that mink Trixie
Severance's fault. She's driven him
out as she has driven out the others"
''He hasn't accepted it yet"
"But he will. Do you know what sal
airy goes with it?'
'They say 1t is double what we are
paying"
''Then he's sure to 60"
The news spread that the church's
idol had received call, and 1t was gen.
orally conceded that 1t was preliminary
to his leaving the place on account of
having received refusal from Beatrix
Severance. Then 1t began TO be known
that in his new field he would receive
double the salary he was paid by the
First church. Meanwhile the feeling OF
antagonism toward Trixie was growing
like rolling SNOWFALL. Some even sug-
gested that In the event of their losing
their pastor she be brought up before
the church and tried for unseemIy con
duct. But the absurdity of such a
course was apparent when some one
asked in what form the charges would
be made.
One Sunday. after reading the usual
had become generally known that he
had received call he would say that
he had declined 1t and would remain
with the First church.
Great was the establishment at this
announcement. What did 1t mean?
Was the man crazy to refuse a salary
of $1,000 when he was getting only
5000? Those who understood Miss Sew
frances part. or her supposed part. In
these pastoral affairs looked at her in
quiringly. Her face was as passive, as
unintelligible as usual
The only person in the congregation
who could give satisfactory explana-
ton of the matter was Mrs. Gooding.
who said It was so plain she couldn't
understand why everybody COULDN'T see
1t. Trixie had so bewitched the pastor
that rather than leave her he had given
up an additional 5000 year. This
view commended itself to others, and
the impression gained ground that the
minister's departure was only deferred.
Miss Severance was playing him as a
cat would play mouse. Before long
he would depart, call or no call
Meanwhile the power of the young
NAtAes Aihh iOi scpo was DttOl8iilf-
known elsewhere, and calls began to
pour in thick and fast Mr.. Ridgely
did not speak of them himself; they
leaked out through those who gave
them. He declined them ALL
Then the congregation of the First
church began to think that it was his
love for them that kept him. After all
the First church was composed of an
exceptional class of people. Quite like
ly Mr.. Ridgely appreciated the social
advantages Of such a church. This
view was poohpoohed by few, but
gained ground generally.
Finally an announcement was made
by Mrs. Deacon Severance that was
like bomb dropped among the CON
gregation. Her daughter. Beatrix, was
engaged to Mr.. Ridgely. All were
made happy by the news. Their be-
loved pastor would now be fixture
In the First church. From being the
most unpopular member of the congre.
CATION TriXie became the most popu-
lar. All fiOcked about her with CON
gratulations, saying that they were
so glad" that doubtless it had been
through her influence that Mr.. Ridgely
had declined the calls he had received
and now they would have him always.
Miss Severance received their con-
gratulations with the same imperturb-
ability that she had borne their re-
proaches. In due time the wedding
was celebrated. and all were settling
down with a feeling that they were
to retain minister who had been of
fered several thousand dollars a year
in place of the .paltry sum of 5000
when the tranquil waters were again
disturbed The minister announced
from his pulpit that he had determined
to give up all regular pastoral work
and preach the gospel to the poor
wherever and whenever he found an
opportunity. He further stated that
be was happy in having gained a wife