Gilpin observer., 1915-12-16
CHAPTER Iv-Continued.

81 didn't know / was" she confessed,
concerned about 1t 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"
Il believe that to be true" he hast
lily assured her, glad to be able to
agree with her upon something.
But 1t is in spite Of the church,
not because Of it," she Immediately
added. you can't 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,"
he sadly confessed; "the lukewarm-
ness of its followers"
She felt a trace OF compunction for
him; but why had he gons into the
ministry?
Can you blame them?" sAe de-
manded, as much aggrieved as II she
had suffered personal distress.
The rector flushed as II he had
been struck, and he turned to Gail
with that cold look in his green eyes.
That is too deep a subject to dis
cuss here, but If you will permit me,
l will take 1t up with you at the
house," he quietly returned, and there
was a dogged compulsion in his tone.
Il 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 at
the throat, and, with her numbed
hands. she could not locate the little
clasp with which it had been held.
May l help you?" 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 elec-
trio shock and. as he looked into her
eyes, purple mist seemed to spring
between them. He mechanically fas-
tened the clasps, though his fingers
trembled. 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 she had left him, staring stu.
pidly at the ground. He was in a whirl
OF bewilderment. amid which there
was some unreasoning resentment,
but beneath 1t all there was an mex
plicable sadness.
Just in time for the Palisade spe-
cial, GAIL" called Lucille Teasdale
Il don't know" laughed Gail. 81
think Of going on a private car this
trip" and she sought among the group
for distraction from certain oppres-
sive thought. Allison. and Lucille and
Ted and Arly, were among the more
familiar figures, besides a startling
Adonis, proudly introduced as Dick
Rodley, by Arlene. early in the eve.
ming, with an air which plainly stated
that he was a 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 smile which dis
played 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 Palsade 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.
Il have 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 proprietorlike compulsion.
which decided Gail on a certain diver
Stev shs had entertained. She was