River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-09-02
CHAPTER iv-continued.

concerned about it herself All at
once i seem to look on it as an old
shoe which should be cast aside. It
II 50 elaborate to do SO little good in
the world. Morality Is on the in
crease, as any page Of history will
show"
II believe that to be true" he hast
ily assured her. glad to be able to
agree with her upon something.
But 1t is in spite of the church.
lot because Of it," she Immediately
added. You cant say that there is
= 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 quarterly
check"
Rev. Smith Boyd felt unfairly hit.
That is the sorrow of the church,"
be sadly confessed; the lukewarm-
ness Of its followers"
She felt a trace of conjunction for
him; but Why had he gone into the
ministry?
Can you blame them?" she de-
manded, as much aggrieyed as if she
had suffered q 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 logged compulsion in his tone
7 shall be highly interested in the
defense accepted Gail with an ag-
graVating smile.
There seemed to be but very little
10 say after that, and they walked
silently up the hill together towards
the yellow camp fire, Tuning inwardly
ut each other. Near the top of the
hill her ermine scarf came loose at
the throat, and, with her numbed
hands. she could not locate the little
clasp with which it had been held
May | help your" offered the rec
Tor. constraining himself to politeness
Thank you" She was extremely
sweet about it. and he reached up to
perform the courtesy. The rounded
column Of her neck was white as
marble in the moonlight. and as he
sought the clasps, his fingers. drawn
from his Woollen gloves, touched her
warm throat, and they tingled. He
started as If he had received an cleo
trio shock. and, as he looked into her
eyes, a purple mist seemed to spring
between them. He mechanically fas-
tened the clasps, though his fingers
tYenbled. Thank you," again said
Gail, and he did not notice that her
voice was unusually low She went
on over to the group gathered around
the fire. but Rev. Smith Boyd stood
where size had left him, staring stu
pidly at the ground He was in a whirl
Of boWilderment, amid which there
was some unreasoning resentment,
but beneath it all there was an mex
plicable sadness.
Just in time for the Palisade spe-
eial. Gail" called Lucille Teasdale
i don't know" laughed Gail. Il
think OF going on a private car this
trip" and she sought among the group
for distraction from certain oppres.
siye thought. Allison and Lucille and
Ted and Arly, were among the more.
familiar figures, besides a startling
Adonts, proudly introduced as Dick
Rodey. by Arlene. early in the eve
ming, with an air which plainly stated
that he was !" personal discovery for
which she gave herself great credit.
The Palisades special will not start
without Miss Sargent" he declared.
bending upon her an ardent gaze. and
bestowing upon her a smile which dis
played q flash of perfect white teeth.
Gail breathlessly thought him the
most dangerously handsome thing she
had ever seen, but she missed the
foreign accent in him. That would
have made him complete.
I'm sorry that the Palisade special
will be delayed" she coolly told him.
but she tempered the deliberateness
OF that decision with an upward and
sidelong glance, which she was startled
to recognize in herself as distinct CO.
quetry
4 have a prior claim" laughed ALI
son, stepping up and taking her by the
arm. Its my turn to guide Miss Sar-
gent on the two-passenger sled"
There was something new about Al
lison tonight There was the thrill
and the exultation of youth in his
voice, and twenty years seemed to
have been dropped from his age. There
was an intensity about him, too, and
also a proprietorlike compulsion,
which decided Gail on a certain diver
sion she had entertained. She was