Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-09-03

service walk that was his custom.
Up the rise, village-bound, leisurely
creaked an ancient top buggy. In II
slouched middle-aged man upon
whose face were written humor and
patience, qualities OF which he had
great need just then. HIS horse la
bored heavily at its task, head hang
Ing low; not the bellows in Simon
TRUTHS smithy pulled louder or hard
err. At the crest 1t stopped without
urging. Mark frowned impatiently
Then he noted the sad state Of the
horse and a grin displaced the frown
Hear you're going away" Doc
Hedges remarked For the good OF
the town.
Mark nodded, the grin widening
Maybe you'd like to help pay my
fare?"
81 have helped" the doctor rejoined
dryly. Going to get rich, amt youl
They all think that"
1T happens sometimes"
"You might, though. Any man ought
to get rich that could sell me this
would you call 1t horve7"
Hmm" Mark considered the ami
NAL iudicially. We'll, It has four
legs"
Sos billy goat" drawled the doc
tor. "Goat'd be more use to me. too. y
What did you buy 1t for. then7"
4 amt squealing. Pretty slick Gus
toner. amt your"
The grin returned. 81 can sell
horses" Mark modestly admitted, Ito
some people"
"Humph! Only fool'd buy 'em Of
you" the doctor agreed. "Whatn you
take for the brown marer'
1.-THE brown mare isn't for sale"
ANY horse Is for SALE" the doctor
insisted. "at the right price. Give you
hundred and ffty."
II wouldn't sell her for two-fifty."
The doctor sighed and clucked to
the weary horse.
Out Of the dusty cloud trailing be-
hind the creaky buggy emerged tall
STOPPING figure, clad in the rusty black
Of the country clergyman. He walked
slowly, and when he came to the rise
with a slight effort; evidently he was
a frail man physically. At the crest
he stopped, breathing hard.
Taking a good-by look at TT" he
asked between breaths.
mo. Just waiting for YOU"
The preacher smiled family; the
worn dispirited face lighted up lit
tie. He turned his glance to the val
ley.
IT'S worth a farewell. You'll be
homesick for 1t sometimes hope
Shall we walk bit farther?"
At his tagging pace they tramped
along the road, constantly rising and
descending but always reaching up to
ward higher level. They kept the
frank silence Of those who have been
companions often.
Ten years before Richard Courtney
had resigned the city congregation
that was steadily whitening under his
ministry and had come to shepherd the
little flock of Bethel It proved to be a
life sentence. but in the end he stayed
If not gladly. at least with such Chris
tian fortitude as quivering sensitive
soul could summon; having found-sc
he put tia need to which he could
minister. In the early days of his new
service he had discovered neglected
unlettered. moody youngster suffer
ing under the blight of his relation &c
Simon Truitt, who, for his supposed
atheism, was accounted q little less
than respectable. Some quality in the
boy caught the preachers fancy. Tact
fully he sought to win into Marks
heart, not very difficult task once the
lad learned that ministerial converse
ton was not confined to graphic pic
lures of eternal torment And then
not quite realizing how this new inter
est eked out the Christian fortitude
Just mentioned. he set about to make
Mark over. From Richard Courtney
the blacksmith's son had had his Yer
gil and xenophon and Homer. his
Euclid and Quackenbos. What may
have been best OF all. he had had Rich
ard Courtney.
In the intense, imaginative. quick
Drained lad Courtney thought he dis
cerned a rare spirit fitted to be Q
chevalier of the Lord, fighter Of
others battles, bearer Of others bur
dens; thus we may read what Richard
Courtney would have made his own
life. He, the exile, had failed; but In
the larger life from which he had beer
baniehed he would live again and be
felt through fine strong man Of his
making. For ten years he had zeal
ously surveyed the prospect. patiently
toiIed and prayed that It might be.
But now, when the day for which he
had prepared was come. he was moi
happy. The question continually re
CURED. How we'll had he buildedf
With suddenly clarified vision he be
held the youth at his side. raw, un
shaped, the reaches of his soul a. yeI
unlighted by purpose. unwarmsd b.
inspiration. After ten years he wa
almost as Richard Courtney had found
him.
II have secured the windows.
cannot give the light" thought thu
preacher sadly.
He became aware that Mark had
broken the silence. I'll owe you {
lot" he had said.
Not very much" Courtney sighed
Il wish II were more-much mora
"Oh, yes, Il II much. You've taughl
me to read and talk and-and think.
Courtney represssd an unhappy smile
You've made ms--see big. You've
got me ready to 90 away from here