The Washington times., 1920-12-02

he felt disproportionately depressed,
although he had believed himself
capable of facing, more or less philo-
sophically. that condition which
the speaker had so frankly ex-
pressed. Yet the remark. somehow,
had had an Illuminating effect like
a fiashlight, revealing to him the
isolation OF the church as never be-
fore. And after dinner. as they
were going to the smoking room,
the offender accosted him shame
facedly.
I'm awfully sorry. Mr.. Holder"
he stammered.
That the tall rector's regard was
kindly did not relieve his discom-
fort. Holder laid a hand on his
shoulder.
Don't worry about it," he an
severed. 81 have only one regret az
to what you said-that IL Is true"
The other looked at him curious
ly.
A HIDDEN NOTE.
'Its mighty decent OF you to take
1t this way" he said. Further speech
failed him.
He was a nice loking young
man. with firm white teeth, and
honesty was written all over his
boyish face. And the palpable fact
that his regret was more on the
clergyman's account than for the
social faux pas drew Holder the
more. since it bespoke genuine
ness of character.
lie did not see the yearning in
the rector's eyes as be turned away,
Why was II they could not
be standing side by side, fighting
the same fight? The Church had lost
him. and thousands like him. and she
needed them; could not, indeed. do
without them.
Where. indeed. were the young
men? They did not bother their
heads about spiritual matters any
more. But were they not. he asked
himself, franker than many Of these
others. the so-called pillars of the
spiritual structure?
Mr.. Plimpton accosted him. Il
congratulate you upon the new
plans, Mr. Hodder-they're great"
he said. "Mr. Parr and our host are
coming down handsomely. eh?
When we get the new settlement
house Wen have n plant as up-to-
date as any church in the country.
When do you break ground?"
Not until autumn. l believe
Holder replied. There are a good
many details to decide upon yet
We'll. / congratulate you"
Mr.. Plimpton was forever con-
graduating.
"Up-to- to-date'-"plant" More illu-
minating words, eloquent of Mr.
Plimpton's ideals. st. Johns down
at the heels, to be brought up to
the state of efficiency of MIR. Plimp-
tons trust company! 1t was by no
means the first time he had heard
modern attributes on Mr.. Plimpton's
lips applied to n sacred institution.
but tonight they had a profoundly
disquieting effect. Tonight, n GER
tain clarvoyance had been vouch-
safed him. and he behcld these men.
his associates and supporters. with
a detachment never before achieved.
They settled in groups about the
room. which was square and high.
and panelled in Italian walnut, with
1uted pilasters-the capitals of
which were elaborately carved.
And Holder found himself on
deep leather sofa in a corner en-
gagged in a desultory and automatic
conversation with Everett Con-
stable.
Mr.. Plimpton, with a large cigar
between his lips, was the radiating
center Of one of the liveliest groups,
and of him the rector had fallen
into a consideration, piecing to-
gether bits of information that
hitherto had noated meaninglessly
in his mind.
1t was Mrs. Larrabbec who had
given character to the career Of the
still comparatively youthful and
unquestionably energetic president
of the chamber of commerce by
likening it to great spiral, start
ing somewhere in outer regions of
twilight and gradually drawing
nearer to the center. from which he
had never taken his eyes. At the
center were Eldon Parr and Char
lotte Gore. Wallis Plimpton had
made himself indispensable to both.
His campaign for the daughter
of Thurston Gore had been COM
parable to one of the great sieges
OF history, for Mr.. Plimpton was
a laughing stock when he sat down
before that fortress. At the end
Of ten years, Charlotte had capitu-
lated, with a sigh of relief. real
izing at last her destiny. She had
become slightly stout, revealing, as
time went on, no wrinkles-a proof
that the union was founded on
something more enduring than
poetry. Statesmanship-tha was
the secret!
To BE Continued Tomorrow.