The Washington times., 1920-10-29


had been constructed. and thus
had fulfilled her usefulness: and
the cleverest of the rats who had
mistaken her for permanent
home scurried ashore before she
was broken up.
All OF which Is merely In the ma
ture of a commentary on Mr.. Lang
maids genius. His reputation for
judgment-which by some is
deemed the highest of human
qualities-was unimpaired: and a
man who in his time had selected
presidents OF banks and trust COM
panies could certainly be trusted
to choose a parson-particularly IL
the chief requirements were not of
a spiritual nature. A week
later he boarded an eastbound linn
tied train. armed with plenary
powers.
His destination was the hill town
where he had spent the first fifteen
years of his life, amid the most
striking OF New England land
scapes. and the sight of the steep
yet delicately pastoral slopes never
failed to thrill him as the train
toiled up the wide valley to Bre.n-
erton.
The vision of these had remained
with him during the years of his
toll in the growing Western city,
and embodied from the first home
sick days an ideal to which he
hoped some time permanently to
return. But he never had.
His family had shown a pervers-
ity of taste in preferring the sea,
and he had perforce been content
with a visit of a month or so every
tAI
by his daughter. Helen. On such
occasions, he stayed with his sister
Mrs. Whitley.
SHE KNOWS BEFOREHAND.
The Whitley mills were signid-
cant OF the new Bremerton, now
neither village nor city, but par
taking of the characteristics Of
both. French Canadian might be
heard on the main square as well
as Yankee; and that revolutionary
vehicle, the automobile, had in
spired there great brick edifice
with q banner called the Bremen
ton.
Enterprising Italians had monopol-
ICED the corners with fruit storeA
and plate glass and asphalt were in
evidence. But the hills looked down
unchanged. and in the cool, maple
shaded streets, though dotted with
modern residences, were the same de-
mure Colonial houses he had known
in boyhood.
He was met at the station by his
sister, a large, matronly woman.
who invariably set the world whiz-
zing backward for Langmaid; SO
completely did she typify the content
ment, the point of view of an age
gone by. For life presented no more
complicated problems to the middle
aged Mrs Whitley than it had to
Alice Langmaid.
"I know what you've come for, Mel
son." she said reproachfully, when
she greeted him at the station. DIR.
Gillman's dead, and you want our
Mr.. Holder. I feel it in my bones.
Well. you can't get him. He's had
ever so many calls, but he won't
leave Bremerton."
She knew perfectly well. however,
that Nelson would get him, although
her brother characteristically did not
at once acknowledge his mission.
Alice Whitley had vivid memories Of
a childhood when he had never failed
to get what he wanted; n trait Of his
Of which, although it had before now
caused her much discomfort, she was
secretly inordinately proud.
She was, therefore, later in the
day not greatly surprised to find her
self supplying her brother with argu-
ments Much as they admired and
loved Mr.. Holder, they had always
realized that he could not remain
buried IN Bremerton. His talents de-
manded a wider field.
"Tslents!' exclaimed Langmaid.
"I didn't know he had any,
"Oh. Eedlson. how can you say
such thing. when you came to get
himw exclaimed his sister.
81 recommended him because I
thought he had none" Langmaid
declared.
Hell be a bishop some day
everyone says So" said Mrs. White
ly. indignantly.
"That Treasures me- said her
brother.
TEN YEARS THERE.
"I can't see why they sent you
you hardly ever go to church," she
cried. II don't mind telling you.
Nelson, that the confidence men
place in you is absurd"
you've said that before" he re-
piled. 81 agree with you. I'm not
yours and Gerald's, because 1 know
that you wouldn't put up with any,
thing that wasn't strictly all-wool
orthodox"
~ think you're irreverent." said
his sister. "and it's a shame that
the cannons permit such persons to
sit on tho vcstry. :"
Gerald" asked Nelson Lang
maid OF his brother-in-1aw that
night, after his sister and the girls
had bone to bed, "are you sure this
l young mans orthodox"
Hes been here for over ten
years. ever since he left the semi
nary. and he's never done or said
anything radical yet" replied the
mill owner OF Brcmerton. III you
don't want Kim. we'd be delighted
to have him stay. We're not forc-
ing him on you. you know. What
the deuce has got into your
You've talked 10 him for two hours.
and you've sat looking at him at
the dinner table for another two.
thought you were a Judge OF men"
Nelson Langmsid sat silent.
I'm only urging Holder to TO
for his own good" Mr.. Whitely con.
tinusd. Il can take you to dozens