River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-12-16

may De seen OF all men," and Gail
smiled across at him, within her eyes
the mischievous twinkle which had
been absent for many days.
Il hope to be able to remove the
public place" replied the rector, with
gravity which told of something vi
tai beneath the apparent repartee.
Mrs. Boyd, strolling past with Aunt
| Grace Sargent, paused to look at him
fondly. Il shall set myself, with such
strength as l may have, against the
building Of the proposed cathedral"
Don't be foolish, Boyd" protested
Sargent, who had always felt a father
| ~ responsibility for the young rector.
Its big ambition and worthy am
bition, to build that cathedral, and be-
cause you're offended with certain
things the papers have said, about
| Clark and Chisholm in connection with
| the church, is no reason you should
cut off your nose to spite your face"
at is not the publication of these
things which has determined me-" re-
turned the recor thoughtfully 1T has
merely fastened my decision. To be-
| gin with, | acknowledge now that it
was only vague, artistic dream Of
mine that such a cathedral, by its
| very magnificence, would promote wor-
ship. That might have been the case
when cathedrals were the only mag
| nificent buildings erected, and when
every rich and glittering thing was de-
voted to religion. A golden candle
stick then became connected entirely
with the service Of the Almighty.
| Now, however, magnificence has no
such Specification. The splendor of
cathedral must enter into competition
with the splendor of statehouse,
museum or hotel"
"You shouldn't switch that way,
Boyd" demonstrated Sargent, show
ing his keen disappointment. "When
you began to agitate for the cathedral
you brought lot of our members in
who hadn't attended services in years
You stirred them up. You got them
interested. They'll drop right off,"
Il hope not" returned the rector,
earnestly II hope to reach them with
a higher ambition, a higher pride, a
higher vanity, if you like to put 1t that
way. | wish them to take joy in es-
tablishing the most magnificent cOndi-
tons for the poor which have ever
been built! We have no right to the
money which Is to be paid us for the
Vedder court property. We have no
right to spend it in pomp. It belongs
to the poor from whom we have taken
it, and to the city which has made us
rich by enhancing the value of our
ground. I propose to build permanent
and sanitary tenements, to house as
many poor people as possible, and con-
duct them without a penny of profit
above the cost of repairs and main
tenance."
Gail bent upon him beaming eyes,
and the delicate flush, which had be-
gun to return to her cheeks, deepened.
Was this the sort of tenements he had
proposed to re-erect in Vedder court?
Perhaps she had been hasty! Rev.
Smith Boyd in turning slowly from
one to the other Of the little group, by
way of establishing mental communi-
cation with them, rested for mo-
ment in the beaming eyes of Gail, and
smiled at her in affectiOnate recOgni-
ton, then swept his glance on to his
mother, where it fingered.
You are perfectly correct, stated
Gerald Fosland, who, though sitting
stiffly upright, had managed neverthe-
less to dispose one elbow where it
touched gently the surface of Arly.
Market Square church is much
more dignified old place of worship
than the ostentatious cathedral would
ever be, and your project for spending
the money has such strict justice at
the bottom of it that it must prevail.
But, say, Doctor Boyd" and he gave
his mustache a contemplative tug;
don't you think you should include a
small margin OF profit for the future
extension of your idea?"
That's glorious, Gerald" approved
Gail; and Arly, laughing, patted his
hand
you're probably right" considered
the rector, studying Fosland with a
new interest II think we'll have 70
put you on the vestry."
I'D be delighted, I'm sure, respond
ed Gerald, in the courteous tone of
one accepting an invitation to dinner.
"Do you hear what your sons plan
ming to do?" called Jim Sargent to
Mrs. Boyd. He was not quite recon
ciled. "He proposes to take that won
derful new rectory away from you"
The beautiful Mrs. Boyd merely dim
pied.
81 am a tri1e astonished," she con
fessed. "My son has been SO extreme
~ eager about it; but if he Is relin-
gushing the dream, it is because he
wants something else very much more
worth while. I entirely approve of his
plan for the new tenements," and she
did not understand why they all
laughed at her. She did feel, however,
that there was affection in the laugh
fer: and she was quite content.