Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-14

ROMANCE -
; Author of The Best Man
the Valley Church could produce. He
sat straight across from her, while
Graham was at the side, and she
could see in Jacks eye that he meant
mischief II he could overcome his
awe OF the stranger. So before Jack
could possibly get started she began
her story. and told II straight to Jack,
never taking her eyes from his face
from start to finish, and before she
was halfway through she had her
little audience enthralied. 1t was a
story Of the bible told in modern set
ting. and told straight to the heart of
q boy who was the counterpart In his
" soul OF the man whom Christ
cured and forgave. What Graham was
thinking or looking. Shirley did not
know. She had literally forgotten his
existence after the first few minutes.
h had seen the CLEAN Of interest in
the eyes Of the boy Jack; she knew
that her message was going home to a
convicted young soul, and that he saw
himself and his own childish sins in
the sinful life OF the hero of her tale.
Her whole soul was bent on making
him e the Saviour who could make
that young life over. Not until the
story was almost finished did any one
Of the listeners. unless perhaps Har-
ley. who was used to such story-re-
citals, have a suspicion that the story
was just q plain, ordinary chapter out
Of the Bible. Then suddenly one of
the elder boys broke forth: Jaw!
Gee. That's just the man in the
Bible let down through the roof
There was a slight stir in the class at
n discovery as it dawned upon them
that h teacher had put one ver on
them" again, but the interest for the
most part was sustained breathlessly
and the heads drew together in an
absorbed group around her for the
last few sentences, spoken in a lower
tone because the general hum OF
teaching in the room had ceased.
Graham's face was very grave and
Thoughtful as she finished and slipped
away from them to take her place at
the little organ. One could-se that
1t was not in the teacher alone, but in
her message as well. that he was in
terested. The boys all had that sub
dued, half-ashamed, half-defant look
that boys have when they have been
frowned and studied his toes, or
hunted assiduously in his hymn-book
to hide his confusion. and the class in
various keys lifted up assertive young
voices vigorously in the, last hymn.
Graham sat beside Shirley in the
little crowded church during the rath-
er m%onotonous service. The regular
pastor, who was a good, spiritual man
II not a brilliant one, and gave his
congregation solid. practical sermons,
was on his vacation, and the pulpit
was supplied by q, young theologue
who was so new to his work that his
But 80 strong was the power Of the
Sunday school lesson to which he had
just listened that Graham felt as if
he were sitting-in some hallowed at
mosphere. He did not see the red
faced, embarrassed young preacher,
nor notice his struggles TO bring forth
his message bravely: he saw only the
earnest-faced young teacher as. she
spoke the words Of life to her boys;
saw the young imp-faces Of her boys
softened and touched by the story she
told; saw that she really believed and
felt every word she spoke; and knew
4A"S WAC ! IA y OIL SA0
he wanted.
The seat was crowded and the day
warm, but the two who looked
over the same hymn-book did not no.
tice 1t. The soft air came in from
the open window beside them.
breathing sweet clover and wild
honeysuckle, and the meadow larks
sang their songs. and made 1t seem
just like a little bit Of heaven.
Shirley's muslin frills trembled
against Graham's hand as she reach.
ed to catch a 1%luttering leaf Of the
hymn-book that the wind had caught;
once her hand brushed the coat
sleeve beside her. as they turned the
page. and she felt the soft texture of
the hne dark blue goods with a pleas
ant sense Of the beautiful and fitting.
1t thrilled her to think he was stand
ing thus beside her in her own little
church, yielding himself to the same
worship with her in the little common
country congregation. 1t was won
derful, beautiful! And to have come
to her! She glanced <shyly up at him,
so handsome, standing there singing,
his hand almost touching hers hold
ing the book. He felt her glance and
their eyes holding each other for just
the fraction Of a second in which
some inner thought was interchanged.
some question asked and answered
by the invisible fash of heart-beats.
a mutual joining in the spiritual serv-
Ice, and then half frightened Shirley
dropped her eyes to the page and the
soft roses stole into her cheeks again.
She felt as II. she had een something
in his eyes and acknowledged 1t in
her own, as If she had inadvertently
ol~-pv Ii~n f~.HH~~~-k To- -N--~~
and tina heart Of hers was leaping
and bounding with an uncomfortable
Joy, while her conscience sought. by
every effort to get It in control. What
1t said, what utter folly, to
make SO much Of his coming to
church with her once! To allow her
soul to get into such q futter over a
man who had no more idea Of notic-
ing her or caring for her than he had
for a bird on the tree.
And with all the tumult In her
heart she dtdAnot even see the envious
glances Of the village maidens who
at the handsome man who came to
church in an expensive car and
brought the girl who Lived in a barn!
Shirley's social position went up sew
eral notches, and she never even
knew 1t. In fact, she was becoming a
great puzzle to the residents OF Glen
side. - /.
It was, good to know that for once
the shabby collection box of the little
church was borne back to the altar
laden with a goodly. bill. put in with
SO little ostentation that one might
have judged it but a penny, looking
on, though even penny would have
made more noise in the unlined wood
en- box.