Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-11-08


over, grunted. thrust them unopened
into the pocket of his faded coat NUT.
tered a word, drew them forth again,
sorted out one, stared hard at the ad.
dress and postmark; and then, with a
hair petulant grimace, knocked the
bunch Of letters together, crammed
them back into his pocket again and.
followed by the others, trudged away
up the road.
The venerable widow, like the rest
Of the village. must have been on the
lookout for the new preacher, for she
was at the door to meet him as he
came up the walk with the others. The
old banker presented him.
$50 glad TO have you come, Brother
Hopkins II has been so dreadfuIly
lonesome SINCE
The mild old eyes fioated full Of
tears The preacher seemed not to
notice.
II saw your husbands obituary In
one Of the church papers"
The widow dabbed at her eyes with
q black -bordered handkerchief; the
preacher. In his hesitating, jerky way.
went on.
II Immediately wrote to Mr.. Colin
offering to come on a-ah--sort Of va
cation trip and serve the congregation
until the vacancy could be filed.
was me more attracted to the thought
OF coming because my health had
given way under the dual strain of
preaching and teaching. And then. too,
I had heard much about Buckeye and
the Flatwoods from a--ah--classmate
Of mine while q student In the college
In which now have the honor to hold
a professorshlp."
The banker frowned thoughtfully;
Texie glanced at Jack.
Evening shadows were gathering
thick In the corners Of the room. The
old man, becoming aware of them.
glanced about him and turned to the
widow.
swell, Sister Mason. II you don't
mind, I'll jist show Brother Hopkins
the study, and then you better q long
over with us Z supper"
With the fine courtesy Of one trained
to the parsonage. she excused herself !:
the old banker went on:
II b'lieve you said he was Z have
the use OF the studyr
The Widow Mason was only too well
used to the crisp curt ways Of Simon
Colin. She turned to the young
preacher.
Brother Hopkins. ! don't want you
TO feel that you are to have merely
the study. My home Is your home.
Please feel free to use all Of 1t or any
part Of H."
The young preacher bowed very low.
and turned to the banker. who led the
way up the stairs with as much au-
thority as II he owned the place
which. In reality. he did.
The study. with It's writing desk and
leather easy chair. with Its shelves
and shelves Of books, showed that Its
late owner had been man of studi-
Gus habits and apparently scholarly at
tainments.
An immense appletree grew by the
east window, thrusting Its stout
branches so close as almost to brush
the panes. Through Its opening bios
SONS and half sprung leaves enough
Of the day remained to catch a view
OF the old bankers two or three acres
OF park-like orchard that lay between
the parsonage and the red-roofed cot
tage.
The young preacher stood at the
window and gaEed out over the or
chard, aromatic with promise, green
with Its thick mat Of bluegrass, white
under the trees where the blossoms
showed down.
The banker slapped him on the
shoulder. He must have been deeply
absorbed in the spell OF the place. with
its quiet and repose. for he started and
laughed nervously.
IL must have been dreaming"
The old man tossed a hand toward
the window.
'Not s bad. is itY'
ut is very beautiful"
II lowed y'u'd like IT," The old man
rubbed his long bony hands together
In a sort of grim satisfaction. MY
daughter fools away hours and hours
In that seat yonder under the big
maple by the spring low Their amt
a bird comes by she cayn't mock"
The preacher looked at him curl
ously, half sternly.
II can well believe you" he said.
"A girl like your daughter, with her
quite obvious gifts and possibilities.
and 80 much part Of this wonderful
profusion Of wild nature about her,
would naturally seek some such diver.
sion to keep her life from starving
In this out-ot-theway place"
The money-lender pondered these
words and seemed on the point Of re
senting them; but only jerked his
thumb toward the window again.
Took right smart pile T. AZ Il
NJ like that. Money wasted. I tell 'er.
Wen 80 across that way Z the house
II y'u like"
1T would please me greatly
The momentary sternness had left
the eyes behind the spectacles. the
jerky precise voice had resumed Its
ELUSIVE drawl.
When they came down. Texie and
Jack had ALREADY gone out into the