The Huttig news., 1917-07-14
CHAPTER III.

It was, after all, the assistant rector of Saint Jude's who came up the hill that hot August day. The news of old Hilary's death had come down from the city on an early train. The rector was away on his deferred fishing trip, where, having exchanged his clerical collar for none at all and having blis- tered the end of his ecclesiastical nose he was quite happy.
 The assistant, MT. Ward whistled as he climbed the hill. As the hill was steep, this proved two things-his youth, and his lightness of heart. True, old Hilary Kingston was dead. and vio- lently done to death. But to MT. Ward death was but the gateway to a larger life; and only very sad in the young, who have not yet lived.
 Mir. Ward was young, broad-shoul- dered young man, with clear, rather deep-set eyes, and firm mouth. The people of Saint Jude's prophesied that the world would hear of Mr. Ward. There was only one bar to his progress: he had too much humor. It seemed to the people of Saint Jude's that religion Is serious thing, forgetting that good cheer is one of the things 1t must bring, and 1t be religion.
 Boroday met Ward in the hall. Old Hilary was upstairs by that time, lying In his. great bed All the doors and windows were open, and sunshine filled ha rd usually sane house of mourning.
 "Fm glad to see the sum- he said. ESQ many people close things up"
 Miss Kingston wished things undis- turbed."
 "I came to tell her-but suppose she doesn't care to see anyone-the rector Is away on holiday. I'll wire him, of course."
 Boroday led the way into the library where the rector had so recently re- ceived his check. He turned and eyed Ward.
 "Why bring the rector back?' he asked. "It Is a little late for-the comforts of religion"
 "Mr. Kingston gave lavishly to the church. Whatever the church can do"
 'T rather think" said Boroday po- litely, that he gave, not to the church. but to the poor"
 Inasmuch as ye give unto one of the least of these,'" Ward replied. and returned Boroday's gaze.
 IvIinor bod n,,IIod harcaJf foCatbpr By the one standard that had ruled her life she acted now-her fathers wishes.
 Ward, brought face to face with her, found her unapproachable. calm. al- most cold Found her very lovely, too, and let his ardent young eyes rest on her oftener than was wise. Her sit- uation appealed to him. She seemed to be quite alone, save for the Russian with the beard.
 If I can do anything" he said, "wire to your relatives-ifnything of that sort"
 "I have no relatives. My mother died when I was born. IT have curious feeling that everything in the world has stopped-as though I'd reached the end of things"
 It seemed to Mir. Ward that he should offer some of the comfort of his faith to this shrinking, wide-eyed girl before him. But what? Rumors had come to him. of course.
 Death Is only a tragedy when we think of 1t as an end and not as be- ginning" he said. Tt is always sad. I hope you understand that l know how terrible all this is for you. But to have lived one.s life, active and we'll and useful to the end, and then to depart, in the fullness of days, for new actiyities-somewhe else"
 Elinor shivered in the warm sum- shine.
 You see," she said drearily, T do not believe those things. I should like to just now" Then, almost defiantly l: He was useful. You will never know the things he did that were helpful. But perhaps we would not agree on that, either."
 The Russian was walking up ana down the hall, impassive, watchfui. Under his stoical indifference, he was suffering tortures. A bullet from the automatic had gone through his left arm, grazing the bone. Luckily, the bullet was not in the wound. Henri- cite had bathed and cleansed 1t, but he was in agony. He was suffering nain bereavement. defeat. Ills face expressed only decorous and conven- tional regret.
 Now and then he glanced In at the library door. but generally he watched the road up the hill. As he hao watched the Church ascending, so now at any time might come Law. He would be prepared.
 He had grown beard since the St. Louis matter. That would help. Ana he had waited to return and claim old Hilary's body, until the Record extra