South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-19

The Rev Robert Nelson sat ~, his
study with a look on his high bred
face that showed more Of trouble
than annoyance. and it was occa-
stoned by the presence OF the vestry
ln the room.
The vestrymen were m at ease
and they had come on strange
mission.
The words Of the snver-haired
senior warden mingled confusedly
in his mind with a picture from past
days.
hope YOU understand why we
make this proposition. Mr. Nelson.
You have served the church here
very acceptably. ana we certainly
appreciate the fact that you have
declined. for the sake Of the poor
and sick OF the town 20 take va
cation during the two years that YOU
have been with us We have found.
TOO that you have taken the money
YOU would have spent thus 90 pro-
vide outings for poor mothers. There
is not q person in the parish who
is not your sworn friend. and who is
not better for your being here.
Il hope I can make myself plain.
sir 1or IL IS not an easy thing have
90 say But for the last two months
or more YOU have not been looking
well, and-you ID pardon me
there seems to be "a difference in
your sermons They lack courage
and seem 10 come from a heart that
IS overburdened. If YOU are in trou-
ble Of any kind we shall deem il a
privilege to help YOU, If we can. I
hope YOU do. not consider us ohici-
Gus. Mr. Nelson"
ION the contrary. MT Grayson. ]
am deeply grateful for your sympa-
thy but / have no trouble that any
one can help"
Then we shall have to conclude
that YOU are worn out and sadly in
need Of rest So we have come 10
sou with the proposal that YOU take
leave Of absence for three months.
This is hardly the time of year TO
propose such a thing but the case
seems 20 demand H. We will take
care OF matters i'm the parish until
you come back Co somewhere-
take an ocean voyage if YOU wish +,
but at least. come back with that
strained look gone and that tired
note cut of your voice We love YOU
too much not TO want 20 help YOU
The old warden laid his hand on
the younger mans shoulder. his
voice broke and the rector's eyes
hlied with tears. Finally the minis
ter broke the silence. 81 deeply an
preciate your offer, and while / do
not feel that ] need a vacation your
friendship means too much to me TO
disregard your advice and such an
unselfsh request. j hope 20 be able
TO serve you better when + return.
: do not know where I shall go but
viii inform YOU as soon as L can de-
eide. I shall probably start in the
morning"
When he was alone. he sat down
and looked again into the flames.
There he saw what ne had borne in
his heart for the past three months
"a girls face. no wonder his SER
mons had suffered, He wondered
chat with his days and nights Of tor
ture he had been able 10 attend TO
his parish duties at ALL A vacation
seemed a mockery. What he needed
was hard wora 20 help him to for
get. But. after ALL did he want
that2 Instead. with each passing
day ne pressed his own thorn into
his wounds afresh. and he knew that
ne was not helping To answer his
own prayers.
Where could ne go? There was
but one person he Iouged TO see. and
that he dared not do. Six months
before. ne would have gone jovfully
10 a dozen different places. where
the eager faces of old friends would
have slddly welcomed him. Now
ne thought of but one Shut out
from that. the world was "a blank.
one afternoon i'm the preceding
July Robert Nelson sat ign "a boat on
the river with "a white. tense face
listening TO refusal from the lips
OF a Eirl who was mo- less agitated
than he Two months before. NIurie
Warning had come with her mother
from the neishboring city 10 spend
some weeks with relatives From
that Sunday morning twhen the
young rector had first seen hel
kneeling iu his church he knew thai
she was the woman he had dreamed
of from hoyhood, and me gave hel
the love and reverence that ONLY
such a man can give 90 "a woman
who is fitted 20 be his mate
The worldly Mr. Warning did mo-
realize that her carefully traine,