The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-30
THE LITTLE MINISTER
BY J. NJ. BARRIE
Condensation by M. e. Alley, Brighton

Gavin Dishart was barely twenty.
one when he and his mother came to
Thrums, All Thrums was out In its
wyndes and closes-a few of the weav-
ers still in knee-breeches, to look at
the new Aud LIGHT minister. I was
there, the dominic Of Glen Quharity,
four miles from Thrums, and heavy
was my heart as I stood afar off so
that Gavin's mother might not have
the pain OF seeing me. 1 alone of the
crowd looked more at her than at her
son.
Eighteen years had passed since we
parted, and already her hair had lost
Its brightness, and Margaret was an
old woman at only forty-three, and !,
who have loved her since was hob
bledehoy and shall till 1 die, am the
man who made her old.
Many scenes in the little minister's
life come back to me. The first time
! l ever thought Of writing his love
story as an old mans gift to a little
maid since grown tall, was one night
in the cid schoolhouse, when my gate
, creaked in the wind, and my mind
drifted back to another gate creaking,
the first time l ever saw Gavin and
the Egyptian together.
Gavin was brought up to be a minis
| ter from his earliest days, and took to
the idea enthusiastically. 1t had been
the dream Of the two Of a manse, of
which Margaret was mistress, and
Gavin the minister, and now it was full
filled.
Gavin became at once popular in
Thrums, and though short of stature,
he cast great shadow. He converted
! y q r-G p,oh i
him, and would do anything in the
world for him.
On the fateful evening of October
seventeenth. Gavin was returning
from Rob Dow's. and going through
Caddam Woods, when he heard sing
! ing.
| The singer came dancing I'D in
Windvghoul Only when she passed
him did Gavin see her as a gypsy elf,
her bare feet flashing beneath a
short green skirt, twig of rowan
berries in her black hair She was
pale with an angels loveliness A
diamond on her finger shot a thread
/ OF fire over pool as she danced by
! Undoubtedly she was the devil.
Gavin leaped after her, but as she
saw him she beckoned mockingly,
then kissed her hand and was gone.
/ moment later came the sound of
a horn. The minister was on the
alert at once, and hurried to the
Square. That horn was a signal that
soldiers were marching to the village
to arrest some malefactors among the
weavers, who would resent it,
In the Square was an uproar. 1t
was the gypsy who had given the
warning. Gavin tried to persuade the
people to dispense to save blcodshed,
but the Egyptian cried
DO not heed this little man, Save
yourselves" and they obeyed her. The
soldiers came but caught only a few,
the real culprits escaping. The
Egyptian was even caught, but es-
capped the officers first through a
clever ruse, and again through i'm.
pudently pretending she was Gavin's
wife,
He was furious, and yet he felt his
anger die as he looked at the beauti-
full girl with the appealing eyes, and
coaxing, laughing mouth. He even
told her to hide in the manse garden
in the summer seat, till the soldiers
had gone.
Gavin was in two minds after that
angry at himself because of the Egyp
tian, and yet he constantly thought
of her. and wondered He preached
sermons against women, those days
their witching ways were the devil
One winter day, the Egyptian $
timely appearance saved old Nanny
gypsy impulsively offered five pounds
came back from Jail Then it was
hot Ill
said he'd trust her word.
The happy Nanny persuaded the
minister to stay for tea. That tea
drinking bewitched the little minister
for the fascinating Babbie leased him
and he liked it.
Babbie brought him the money tc
Caddam Woods next day. and gave
Gavin holly spray that he secretly
treasured. Again and again he was
drawn to Nanny's cottage where Bah
bie's frequently came, and he didn't
understand at first that he was in
love with the mysterious girl with he1
many caprices-all of which charmed
him. He knew that Rob Dow had
discovered him with Babbie in their
trysts, and wondered why Rob avoid
ed him and was drinking again. Rob's
greatest fear was that the kirk elders
should learn of the Egyptian and the
minister and stone him out of Thrums
One night Babbie flashed a Lantern
In at the manse window to attract
Cavin's attention. He waited breath
lessly till the manse was quiet III
slumber, then stole out to meet Babbie
In the summer seat. There in darkness
Gavin kissed her, and Babbie realized
for the first time his love for her
She had been playing with him, and
felt ashamed. She wanted to run
away. and she wanted to stay and
have him put his kiss into words
But it was late. and it was that night