Middletown transcript., 1915-11-06
CHAPTER IV-cOntlnued.

Il didn't know was" she confessed,
concerned about it herself. "All at
once l seem to look on 1t as an old
shoe which should be cast aside. 1t
is so elaborate to do so little good in
the world. Morality is on the in
crease, as any page of history will
show"
81 believe that to be true" he hast
lily assured her, glad to be able to
agree with her upon something.
But it is in spite of the church,
not because of It," she Immediately
added. You can't say that there is
a tremendous moral influence in a
congregation which numbers eight
hundred, and sends less than fifty to
services. The balance show their de-
votion to Christianity by a quarterly
check"
Rev. Smith Boyd felt unfairly hit.
That is the sorrow of the church" !"
he sadly confessed; "the lukewarm-
ness of its followers"
She felt trace of compunction for
him; but why had he gone into the
ministry?
Can you blame them?" she de-
manded, as much aggrieved as If she
had suffered personal distress.
The rector flushed as If he had
been struck, and he turned to Gail
with that cold look in his green eyes.
THAT is too deep subject to dis
cuss here, but If you will permit me
will take it up with you at the
house." he quietly returned, and there
was a dogged compulsion in his tone
81 shall be highly interested in the
Defense" accepted Gail, with an ag
gravating smile.
There seemed to be but very little
to say after that, and they walked
silently up the hill together towards
the yellow camp fire, fuming inwardly
at each other. Near the top of the
hill her ermine scarf came loose a
the throat, and, with her numbet
hands, she could not locate the little
clasp with which 1t had been held.
May l help your" offered the rec
tor, constraining himself to politeness
Thank you" She was extremel!
sweet about 1t, and he reached up Il
perform the courtesy. The rounded
column of her neck was white Al
marble in the moonlight, and. as h
sought the clasps, his fingers, draw
from his woollen gloves, touched he
warm throat, and they tingled. H
started as If he had received an cleo
trio shock, and, as he looked into he
eyes, a purple mist seemed to sprin
between them. He mechanically fal
tened the clasps, though his finger
trembled. Thank you," again sal
Gail and he did not notice that he
voice was unusually low. She wen
on over to the group gathered aroun
the fire, but Rev. Smith Boyd stoo
where she had left him, staring stU
pidly at the ground. He was in a whil
of bewilderment, amid which thor
was some unreasoning resentment
but beneath 1t all there was an incl
plicable sadness.
Just in time for the Palisade sp,
cial, GALL" called Lucille Teasdale.
81 don't know" laughed Gail
think of going on a private car thi
trip" and she sought among the grou
for distraction from certain Oppre
sive thought. Allison, and Lucille an
Ted and Arly, were among the MOI
familiar figures. besides a startlin
Adonis, proudly introduced as Die
Rodley, by Arlene, early in the ev
ming, with an air which plainly state
that he was a personal discovery fC
which she gave herself great credi
1.-THE Palisades special will not sta
without Miss Sargent" he declare
bending upon her an ardent gaze, an
bestowing upon her a smile which di
played a flash Of perfect white teet
Gail breathlessly thought him IL
most dangerously handsome thing 81
had ever seen, hut she missed Il
foreign accent in him. That wou
have made Kim complete.
I'm sorry that the Palisade speci
will be delayed" she coolly told hiI
but she tempered the deliberatene
Of that decision With an upward, al