The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-12-30
CHAPTER xVIII-Continued.

CHAPTER xVIIi-continued
II attend vestry meeting now and
then" he replied, and then he laughed
shortly. I'D rather do business with
forty corporations than with one YES
try. A church always expects to con-
duct its share of the negotiations on
a strictly commercial basis, while it
expects you to mingle little charity
with your end of the transactions"
THE Vedder court property" she
guessed, with a slight contraction of
her brows.
Still after it." said Allison, and
talked of other matters.
Jim Sargent returned, and glancing
into the little reception tete-a-tete as
he passed, saw Allison and came back.
Il didn't expect to see you so soon."
wondered Allison.
I'VE broke up in row." laughed
Jim Sargent. CLARK and Chisholm
were willing to accept your price, but
the rest of us listened to Doctor Boyd
and Nicholas Van Ploon, and fell We
insist on our cathedral, and Doctor
Boyd's plan seems the best way to
get 1t, though even that may necessi-
tate four or five years delay"
What's his plan?" asked Allison.
Rebuilding" returned Sargent 1--WE
can put up tenements good enough to
pass the building inspectors and to
last fifteen years. With the same
rents we are now receiving, we can
offer them better quarters, and. as
Doctor Boyd suggested, redeem our
selves from some of the disgrace Of
this whole proceeding. Clever, SEN
sible idea. think"
Gail was leaning forward, with her
fingers clasped around her knee: her
brown eyes had widened, and little
red spot had appeared in either cheek:
her red lips were half parted, as she
looked up in wonder at her Uncle
Jim.
rs that the plan upon which they
have decided?" and Allison looked at
his watch
We'll, hardly" frowned Sargent.
Eve couldn't swing Clark and CHS
holm. At the last minute they sug-
gested that we might build lofts, and
the impending fracas seemed too seri-
Gus to take up just now. so we've
tabled the whole thing"
Allison smiled, and slipped his
watch back in his pocket.
tits fairly definite, however, that
you won't SELL" he concluded.
mot at your figure" laughed Sar-
gent. IF we took your money, Doctor
Boyd would be too old to preach in the
new cathedral"
He'll pull it through some way" de-
clared Allison. Hes as smart as a
whip"
Neither gentleman had noticed Gail.
She had settled back in her chair dur.
ing these last speeches, weary and
1istless. and overcome with a sense
OF some humiliation too evasive to be
properly framed even in thought. She
had a sense that she had given away
something vastly precious, and which
would never be valued Neither did
they notice that she changed suddenly
to relief. She had been justified In
her decision.
She took the reins of conversation
herself after Uncle Jim had left, and
entertained Allison SO brightly that he
left with impotence at the tea party
which monopolized her.
Later, when Rev. Smith Boyd
dropped in, he met with surprising
and disconcerting vivacity. In his eyes
there were pain and suffering. and in
iexpressible hunger, but in hers there
was only dancing frivolity; little too
ebullient. perhaps, If he had been wise
enough to know; but he was not
The study door was open when late
that evening Houston Van Ploon Sc
dately escorted Mrs. Davies and Gail
into the library, one of those rooms
which appoint themselves the instinc-
tive lounging places Of all family init
mates Gail turned up her big eyes In
sparkling acknowledgment as the pune
tilious Van Ploon took her cloak, and,
at that moment. as she stood grace
fully poised. she caught the gaze OF
Rev. Smith Boyd fixed on her with
such infinite longing that it distressed
her. She did not want him to suffer.