The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-05-29

wish me to do?"
Nothing 20 far al MIR. Ridgely IL
concerned"
what does the congregation wish
me to do7 Have they mentioned any
especial act l have committed with
reference to Mr.. Ridgely that they OBJ
ject to-" -
II don't know that they have"
"Well, you may tell them for me
that Mr.. Ridgely had best be let alone
with reference to his treatment of me
and l had best be let alone with refer
ence to my treatment Of him."
This ended the conference between
father and daughter. What report he
made to those who had taken It
upon themselves to admonish Beatrix
through him was not known. but 1t
was probably not very satisfactory.
for the feeling against the siren in
creased, and 1t 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 net Mrs.
Gooding on the street. and the W
ladies stopped for a chat.
Have. you heard the news about OUT
pastory' asked the former.
mo. What is itT'
Hes had a CALL"
II knew it! It's all that mink Trixie
S~everance'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.
ary goes with itT'
''They say it is double what w are
paying"
'"Then he's sure to CO."
The news spread that the church's
idol had received a call. and 1t was gen.
orally conceded that 1t was preliminary
to his leaving the place on account of
having received a refusal from Beatrix
Severance. Then it began to be known
that in bis 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 q 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 unseemly 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
notices. Mr.. Ridgely said that since 1t
had become generally known that he
had received a 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 it mean?:1
Was the man crazy to refuse q salary
of $1,000 when he was getting only
$500? Those who understood Miss Sew
erance's part, or her supposed part. in
these pastoral affairs looked at her in
quiringly. Her face was as passive, az
unintelligible as usual.
The only person in the congregation
who could give a satisfactory explana.
ton of the matter vas Mrs. Gooding.
who said 1t 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 a 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 q mouse. Before long
he would depart. call or no call.
Meanwhile the power Of the young
clergyman for good was becoming
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
~ Mr.. Ridgely appreciated the social
advantages Of such q church. This
view was poohpoOhed by a few. but
gained ground generally.
Finally an announcement was made
by Mrs. Deacon Severance that was
like a 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 a fixture
in the First church. From being the
most unpopular member OF the congre-
cation Trixie became the most popu-
lar. All lOcked about her with con-
gratulations, saying that they were
80 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-
proacllcs In due time the wedding
was celebrated. and all were settling
down with Il feeling that they were
IN retain n minister who hod hoon Of