Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-01-29
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THE UNUSUAL ONE
BY MADGE WESTON.
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Copyright, 1915. Western Newspaper UnionJ

he received the call to his latest
charge, wished desperately that he
might love, even as other men, and
marry. For the Reverend Paul was of
so fine an appearance, combined with
pleasing personal qualities that it was
not to be wondered at when maidens
Of every age and station besought him
with yelled or openly bestowed atten-
tionS.
Paul, who was not conceited, went
over the situation studiously, conclud-
ing it was the supposedly superior po-
sition of pastors wife which the girls
coveted, he himself being merely q
means to that end. The Reverend
Paul loved his work and desired above
oil things to go abcut it fearlessly.
AS q single nan, Paul's visits and
interest were wont to be personally
construed. But as the perverSe god Of
love seemed determined to pass him
by he decided to adopt manner of
forbidding aloofness where young wom-
en- were concerned and seek assistance
entirely among their elders.
Thus it happened that the young set
of Pennington church at first dubbed
the new minister q "conceited prig."
His eloquent sermons Paul felt in
stinctively were not being received
with general favor-even the good
fellowship sought with the men Of his
congregation was failure.
"What was wrong?" he asked him.
self. SIN what way was his endeavor
lacking?"
He was bound to look for help at
last from the bright-eyed girls in the
choir, and Immediately that help was
forthcoming, but the singing brought
forth no enthusiasm. 1t was necessary
to seek out church decorators among
the young women; they were also
quickly found, but Paul realized that
he was again passing through the eX-
perience of past charges.
Then one day, as his eyes flushing
with the truth of his statements
glanced over the upraised faces of his
congregation, Paul paused suddenly
before the steady light Of young
woman's concentrated gaze. Almost,
it seemed, that she was reading his
soul. Unwilling, yet drawn by some
compelling power, he turned again and
still again to that absorbed, strangely
winsome face. He had found his in
Spiration. Paul Worthington preached
that day as he never had preached be-
fore. And when after service he
fastened down the aisle for his GUS
tomary Misunderstanding, it was in fever
of impatience lest someone should OBJ
struct his progress until the young
stranger had gone.
ga splendid sermon!' praised the
girls of the choir.
"The pulpit flowers?" questioned a
fair member of the decorating COM
mittee; "were they arranged as you
wished"
The Reverend Paul nodded absent
ly; he had located the girl of the OBJ.
servant eyes as she was about to step
out to the street. "GOOd morning" he
greeted. 81 wish to thank you for your
earnest attention. y good listener is
q pastors help"
The girls unique attraction seemed
enhanced with nearneSs. Unsmilins
she allowed him to clasp her hand.
"Your sermon was good, but far too
long" she said quietly.
The Reverend Paul fairy gasped as
the little figure of his mentor passed
on her way. He was still perturbed
as he ascended the pulpit steps at eve
ming and looked defiance toward the
pew where the gir' demurely waited.
Then his defiance was lost in SatiSfac-
ton. She should see that her criticism
had not influenced in the least his
evening sermon; not once would he
look in her direction. But he did.
And when, during the evening Paul
saw the girl glance ut her wrist watch,
unexpectedly even to himself, he end
ed his discourse.
At the door it was the girl who eX-
tended her hand.
'That was much BETTER" she said,
and cast back q dimplins smile.
He could not avoid seeing the girl
at the midweek lecture-she wore
such dashing hat, and her face
glowed beneath its brim.
"Next Sunday" she suggested, her
eyes were twinkling sin addition to the
shorter, more graphic sermon, I would
institute the singing Of. newer and
more tuneful hymns in place Of the
Cd solemn ones. Pennington people
need cheering up"
That evening the pastor passed
through many moods, from indignation
to speculation. "After all, there might
be truth in the suggestions so crudely
given. His labor lacked result; this
was true. He would humble himself
to try the girls advice. There was
about her some confident power.
III D,iccod tor attnOtiva DrpSpnpp