Evening star., 1928-05-01
THE EVENING STORY

checks She fumbled unsuccessfuliy for
handkerchief, pulling oil her gloves
to search better. The 30 years had
made a difference In her hands, too!
weren't the hands Of 80 years ago, not
at all! If only some one cared about
the mission and the work. If they could
have for once an old-fashioned revival
meeting such as the big evangelists
had! But, no. there sat the people,
complacent and nonchalant. Who was
profiting by all Of this?
Certainly she and John had not; but,
then, they had not expected to profit.
Not at all. The people had not prohted.
not very much. Old Cal Myers was Just
as sharp in a deal now as he ever had
been, every one said. And the chutch
surely had not profited, for the collec-
tions and pledges were scarcely enough
to keep open the tiny mission. No.
their lives had been given in vainl Her
youth and Johns were gone now after
30 years Of 1t and it was too late now
to start over againl And little Eliza
beth. who had now taken her mothers
place at the piano and played 50 COM
petently for the hymnS-ner life had
gone. too. for nothing.
Elizabeth had never been woman
TO cry. Her life had been spent in the
comforting of others. Her Bible was as
familiar TO her as the market report 10
the broker in stocks and bonds. When
old Jed Carrutheys had turned out his
daughter that January night az 10
o'clock, when little Billy Means was left
an orphan. Elizabeth had r-e s.opped
had used those, too. Instead sne had
taken in the Carrurhers girl and had
found a good home for Billy Means.
But with Elizabeth these had been only
side issues She would have helped the
Carruthers girl and Billy Means
whether John had been q minister, a
missionary or the cashier Of some bank.
John had called for hymn No. l42,
and as little Elizabeth started the play
ing the door opened and there entered
a stranger It vas seldom enough that
a stranger entered the gate. unless John
or Elizabeth, or both Of them. had first
coaxed and pleaded. But this strangeri
Elizabeth put up one hand to get that
mistineSs from her eyes. Why, he vas
not a man Of this rural community; he
was a man of the cities. His well
pressed and we'll cut clothes did not 1t
/ in with the garments in the room. nor
did the heavy gloves he carried in one
hand remind one of the gloves worn by
the farmers. Little Elizabeth half
turned at the click of the door, and in
I
Just a moment" said the stranger.
Tim not 10 be here long. II you
will let me have the fQor for mo-
ment?" He asked the last OF John, but
the asking seemed TO be a matter OF
| formula. for before John could agree
or refuse, the stranger had stepped be-
side John and was talking.
I'm not a church man, folks" he
said. curtly. But I'm what's known
I - HrA
/ Of money and friends because OF that.
( people"
Here the stranger paused and pointed
/ dramatically toward Elizabeth and
| John. Elizabeth and John. Elizabeth
/ and John. Elizabeth started: she could
/ not recall in all of her life ever having
/ laid eyes on the stranger before.
Some twenty-odd years ago" the
/ stranger continued. Il went to mis-
/ sionary meeting, dragged there by my
mother. I wasn't a church-goer;
wasn't bad at all, but certainly could
never be held up as any example. This
1 evening of which / speak these two
people talked to the church folk Of
/ their mission vork-this." he indicated
/ the small room with its shabby fit
/ tiugs. Il wasn't used 70 church ap-
peals. / hadn't been to church enough.
when they passed pledge cards cut ]
/ was fred with desire, desire 70 h@i1
1 these people in their work out here
/ pledged. ladies and gentlemen, SIS
q month, to be paid the first OF every
month for year.
There vas little gasp. No one ever
pledged anything approximatIng TIA.
sum out here.
That the stranger continued sTnil-
/ ingly was that night. The next NOM
/ ing II wasn't glad I'd made the
uledge. III must confess that
/ was not only sorry. but vas enragec-
felt that I'd been unduly pressed 20
/ made that pledge. ] had not, you under
( stand. not AZ all. But ] wasn't used
! 70 saving q cent. hadn't even Al IN
surance policy that would have given
me the habit Of thrift and saving.
| resented that promise. But kept II.
| found that it wasn't half as hard as
| I'd thought it was going 20 Be % get
/ together SIS month. During The mrs.
/ few months was so afraid thar ]
I couldn't make II land that would hAys
I hurt my mother. ladies and gentlemen
/ that would take the whole SIS out
/ my first weeks money, Little oy nstlr
began Ssving-luSs because VAS oScC
TO it. And those savings invested an
/ piled I'D have brought me wealth.
He looked around him silently Ter
moment
"I've never forgotten these people 90
whom I owed my start and when
was IN the city where the church Was
l having some sort Of conference Or ether
| I talked 70 q few men. and your pastor
| and his wife are 10 have new charge
. place where they will find the com
/ forts OF life and comparative ease
MOI" The voice rang cut Sharply
In IVAN shall SaEe
them from uSi You who admit you
have everything should YOU AZ
tempt TO take from us the little We
have?" The sharp, high voice stopped
and the young woman who had SpoSsn
Redeemed from her unwcnted eoldneSS.
I'm not taking them. Saant ee
there. ! only wanted % see them ccn,-
Portable after their years % ha-cShipS
here in this forsaken prairie" said the
stranger.
mo. nol'
I'VE must have them hsre-they--
they're part os US"
Wen get them = decent house
hullt--wen even tx . nice cellar Tor
them"
They must stay with uS--they want
to stay. don't you. parSone"
Elizabeth heard Il al with mingled
feelings Of elatioa and establishment
She had risen now and was standing
beside John looking down into the faces
OF their little flock.
You don't want to--Sol~ demanded
the stranger.
''Not--nos II they want Us here, said
Elizabeth softly
The stranger locked at his watch
swiftly. Then az least yoaN LEI me
donate ear--for you Two. you under
stand" He took check eocS fS0aa
his inner pocket and wrete rapade;