The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-04-14
The Ambition of Mark Truitt Henry s. 5:

4, expressionless tone that was his
| habit
II guess So" answered Mark I'm
less" with sudden understanding
you'd like me to stay"
Simon hesitated. then shook his
head. mo, ye'd better go same as
always. Courtney'd want We to-
II owe him q lot"
| Simon nodded. "More'n to--any
one else here. Think good deal O
him. don't ye?"
| Yes. Sometimes he's kind o
queer, though"
Simon nodded again. Dye" he
asked unexpectedly, dye believe
what he preaches?"
| why, yes!" said Mark. 'Yes,
s'pose So" he amended.
The dull glance momentarily sharp
ened. Not very much. | expect. Bet
ter believe It hard---or not at all. Its
most time fur church"
| Mark swung heavily-down the path
The fathers eyes followed him visit
fully. One might even have said that
the pity which Q few hours before
had dwelt In the sons glance now
crept into the fathers.
Mark joined the struggling process
sion that moved, stiffly decorous. TO-
ward the house of worship. Once
during the short journey, spring
wagon overlook and passed him: q
girl In the rear seat turned and nod
ded. A wave OF red surged into his
dark face. Until the wagon drove
;rto the church-yard, his glance clnng
to the mass of yellow hair under the
pink hat. Unconsciously his step
quickened.
He found can empty pew near the
door, and entering, leaned back, hall
closing his eyes. A solemn hush fell:
the service began. He followed the
congregation as 1t rose and sat In
hymn and prayer and lesson: but he
moved mechanically, without thought
of worship. To him had come again
that vague sense of distant music
The man In the pulpit feebly strug
Cling against sense Of futility, vas
preaching to him. But the dreaming
youth did not understand; the gentle
sometimes plaintive voice could no,
cispel his vision. Often his glance
sought the far corner where shaft
OF morning sunshine had set mass
of yellow hair ashimmering. The
sight and HIS dreams gave him q new
and daring resolve. The hour sped
swiftly.
Unto Him be glory, anG
majesty. dominion and power.
Amen"
The solemn stately words died
away In q whisper. Again fell the
brief reverent hush.
(: The youth awoke to the fact thai
the congregation was beginning tC
disperse. He went quietly from the
church: In the yard he took station
b. which the farmer folk must pass
to their vehicles and there. as he had
resolved. boldly, in the eyes Of all, he
waited for her. Young farmers, or
their way to hitch up. saw the eager
figure and passed sly comment. He
was not disturbed. The spell was still
upon him. for these heavy-witted
jolers he had but the explorers con
tempt for timid administrative stay
at-homes. - '''''
:, She appeared. q slender girl who
as she moved slowly around the
church, wove q spell over the be
trcusered portion of Bethel, even
I where she had not the subtle aid Of
dreams. She was not small but, neat
ly made, gave an effect Of daintiness
| not characteristic OF the maids Of
| that valley. Heavy fiaxen braids--
almost lifeless in the shadow, burn
ished gold in the sunlight--framed q
dainty face, not regular In feature
but clear-cut as cameo and OF a
coloring so delicate as to seem almost
pallor; spirited face. girlish, and
when occasion called, appealing
Dainty, too, were the white muslin
dress, the pink hat with its nicely
knotted ribbons, and at least In ad
vance of the fashions regnant In
Bethel; over her shoulder, at grace
full angle. slowly twirled a small
white parasOl.
Whence this dainty blossom amid
the less comely II more ford daugh
tiers Of Bethel?
Into the valley, three years before
had strayed a plausible gentleman
who discussed education; In particu
lar. education as dispensed at Miss
lSmith's Seminary for Young Ladies
an institution of Concord. 40 miles
away. And so glowing was his elo
.quence that Squire Martin. measur
ing cube roots and Latin declensions
against his hard won dollars, sent
his youngest daughter to acquire
what he had not; what could the hon
est squire know of those higher things
discussed and learned in seminaries
for young ladies'? There had been
born an intimate acquaintance with
The Ladies' Home Journal and kin
drcd magazines.
And for the rest, there were hel
hands, white and soft: her sisters
Lillian Cish is One OF