The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-11-01
CHAPTER V-contlnued.

"An audacious piece of work. Halt
the women in this vicinity suffered.
Most of them are my parlshioners."
"Ah!" breathed Elinor, II am sorry"
Ward shrugged his shoulders rueful-
ly. "It means, dare say, that the poor
of the parish will get less than ever
this year. Mrs. Bryant, for instance,
who has always been generous, lost
pearl necklace and q wonderful pear
shaped pink pearl"
"Is shea wealthy woman?"
every, I believe"
"Then is 1t such a terrible thing for
her to lose the pearl2 Perhaps these
bandits, as you call them, think they
could use these things better than the
people who owned them"
Ward smiled. 81 daresay we all
think we could use the other fellows
possessions better than he does"
ElInor persisted, frowning little.
"ThIngs are so terribly mixed up"
she said IF you could know the things
that l know''-Ward looked family
amused-"the people who are fighting
for a principle, and have nothing to
fight with, fighting for life sometimes
A good half of the world, you know,
just struggles along, and the other half
is so SNUG, so satisfied; its-it's hor-
rlble."
Mr.. Ward stared at her.
How in the world do you come by
such thOughts?" he demanded.
"Tve never known anything else; l
was brought up on the injustice of
things. You have your poor here in
the parish, but you see l was brought
up with the poor of all the world. l
am afraid I'm always for the under
dog"
Rather startled was Rev. Mr.. Ward
that summer afternoon on the terrace
mt the Hall, startled and puzzled.
"Down in our hearts," he said, per
haps we are all of us for the under
dog. But how does that excuse my
banditsH"
This Mrs. Bryant-how much do
you suppose you are going to lose for
your poor by her loss"
''Not so much, but enough. She had
promised lot of things. She called
up this morning to say that 1t was all
off" He started to say that all bets
were off, but decided that 1t was un-
clerical and changed 1t. But didn't
come here to worry you about myself
or the parish. think you should not
be here alone"
Elinor looked down over the village
''Then perhaps, after all, 1t would be
better If married at once"
"Ahi You are to be married."
"Now that my father is gone," said
EIInor wistfully, at seems the best
thing. And-I should like children.
have no friends, except perhaps you"
Ward strove to keep his voice steady
and matter-of-fact.
Marriage Is so serious-so vital 9
thing" He was trying to be calm and
judicial. But his voice sounded fal
of; his heart pounded In his ears. '"TC
marry because one Is alone, or needs
friends-lS flimsy foundation to builC
on"
Once again Elinor surprised him.
"There have been few really great
passions in the world" she said. 81
could almost count them on my fingers
The rest Of US seem to get along with
out"
perhaps there are more than W.
hear about. Every now and then, IL
my work, come across something 81
much greater than had expected, self
sacrifice, love, charity, as to justify m!
faith in mankind"
your falth" Elinor said softly
''That is what envy you-your faith
Not only your faith in your kind, but
the other sort"
Faith, hope and charlty-and tn,
greatest Of these is faith. Alas for oil
Hilary, who had not kept his!
II had a governess once who hat
that sort Of faith it was great com
fort to her. But sit here on my hill
side, and 1t seems to me that sprea'
out at my feet is all the injustice ant
cruelty and hatred in the world. AN,
your God allows 1t all. My father trie,
to believe-trled hard, but he said tha
when he asked for bread they gave hlI
q stone"
'Do you know who said that"
MY father" said Elinor.
Rather surprised, he let it go at tha'