Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-14

were
depressed over the ring
That next September DIR. John Norton, dis
trNct superintendent came to attend quarterly
conference in the church where Mrs. Hess be-
longed. He had grown even plumper and red
der since the days when Peter Reed knew him
at seminary And his eyes were more shrewd
now than merry.
On the night of quarterly conference he was
entertained at the Hess home for dinner Mrs.
Hess proceeded to tell him about the work
which the Women's Home Missionary Society
had been doing.
I'VE had a most unfortunate experience with
our missionary barrel" she said. THE family
who received it ware so undeserving. / don't
like to make any accusations, but-well-a ring
Of mine got in the barrel by mistake and they
never returned it. OF course. they say it was
lost in the mail, but can't help THINKING"
who is the pastor?" John Norton asked idly.
He was not greatly interested.
"a man who signs himself Peter Reed" Mrs.
Hess said griTnly.
John Norton brought his hand down hard on
the arm of his chair.
II used to know fellow of that name in
seminary" he said 1T must be the one. 1
haven't thought of him in years. Splendid
chap. We used to sit up till all hours of the
night talking
We'll as 1 was saying, I've written and
written and he says it was lost in the mail,
but"
John NORTON turned stern. He was sud-
denly interested in Mrs. Hess ring. The
memory of young Peter Reed came and struck
him full in the heart Peter had been a tall,
delicate boy with sort Of bright burning in
his face
Are you by any chance accusing one Of our
ministers of theft?" he said
He was very unpleasant for the rest of the
dinner hour. Glorianna felt as she had
thrust her hand inadvertently into q clump Of
nettles.
All during the quarterly conference John
Norton thought of Peter Reed. His mind had
run back IS years back into that strange world
called school. Why, Peter and he had been
inseparable. They had told each other all their
hopes. They had burned to make the world
over
But John Norton forgot his old schoolmate
again in the press of his Autumn duties. Peter
was busy, too. down in Eureka. Many of his
Pensioners were sick with q fever which was
epidemic IN that part Of Dakota. As Peter
drove with Arab from farmhouse to lonely
farmhouse he felt that he never had dreaded
Winter so much this year
Sixteen years on the circuit now i. &. Is years
-. it seemed 70 him lately that Clorinda had
aged. He had always thought of her as looking
the same as when they were married. But this
FAN he was frightened to see the lines in her
face. His Clorinda growing old!
When December came and Christmas neared
John Norton remembered Peter again. There
2S something about Christmas which makes n
man remember old friends. old hopes, old
faith. John went to spend the holidays with
his wife's family in Dayton He discovered
that Dayton was only 10 miles from Eureka
where Peter lived. cutter with two strong
horses could easily go there and back in a day.
So the twenty-fourth of December which was
Sunday. John left Dayton very early in the
morning bound for Eureka. He planned to Slip
into Peters church in the back seat and hear
him preach What surprise for old Peter!
John could not help but feel complacent as
the handsome horses pulled the sleigh lightly
along the prairie road. The snow frothed up
under their hoofS The air was bright as q
bell. He under fine fur robe He won
dered pleasantly If Peter were as ardent as
ever. He would not blame the man If he had
run TO seed How quiet it was out here on the
prairie! 1t seemed to John as if he were
sliding along farther and farther into silence.
But he did not think about the silence more
than a moment. He could not keep his mind
on the spiritual side of life for long-not these
days That power had gone with his youth
All his beliefs were rather jaded.
At last he saw Peters church, a speck ahead
on the amending plain. AS he drew near he
slowed down his horses. How uninviting these
starved churches -Tere! He thought of his own
church, with its Gothic towers, stained-glass
windows and carved choir screen. Why-this
twas only tiny box set the prairie.
He slipped into the rear pew Beastly hard
It was. He looked about at the bare walls
There was no attempt at Christmas decoration
Well after all. the manager was bare, too
Peter came out of the little door behind the
pulpit Johns hands clenched with pity How
shabby the man was But his face was the
same IS in youth. 1t had that old bright burn
ing in it.
John NORTON was surprised that Peter did
not look unhappy No-the man looked as
he had never yielded to bitterness. as if ne
had himself in hand. John Norton counted
the congreRation-7R In these mast wears he