A Voice in the Wilderness

nd ready at ten o'clock, as it seemed the school was a magnificent distance from her boarding-place. In fact, everything seemed t

rous church of a fat little suburb of New York, and was taking a winter off from his severe, strenuous pastoral labors to recuperate his strength, get a new stock of sermons ready, and possibly to write a book of some of his experiences. He flattened his weak, pink chin learnedly as he said this, and tried to look at her impressively. He said that he should probably take a large city church as his next pastorate when his health was fully recuperated. He had come out to study the West and enjoy its freedom, as he understoo

ly anticipating the ride to the school with Bud. She liked boys, and Bud had taken her fancy. But when

aid, touching his hat gracefully, "and he has delegate

hands of the enemy! And she had thought he understood! Well, there was nothing for it but to g

clined to be too officious about helping her in, and somehow she couldn't bear to have

Margaret. But Margaret did not enjoy being told how delighted he was to find that instead of the loud, bold "old maid" he had expected, she ha

swers that were absurd in the light of the explanations given her by Gardley two days before. However, she reflected that he had been in the country but a short time, and that he was by nature a man not interested in such topics. She tried reli

ght he perceived that she was testing him on his clerical side, flattened his chin

rse. He is in the East with his wife for a time. I am told she had to go under some kind of an operation. I have never met him, and really don't care to do so; but to judge from all I hear, he is a most unfit man for a position of the kind. For example, he is teaching such exploded doctrines as the old view of the atonement, the infallibility of the Scriptures, the deity of Christ, belief in miracles, and the like. Of course, in one sense it really matters very little what the poor Indians believe, or what such people as the Tanners are taught. They have but

pportunity to do good," said Margaret, coldly. She did not care to discuss her own affairs with this man. "But, M

as though he were honoring the whole great b

yterians, of course, believe in the infallibility of t

f knowledge, and all thinking men must acknowledge that the old dogmas are rapidly vanishing away. Your father doubtless still holds to the old faith, perhaps, and we must be lenient with the older men who have done the best they could with the light they had; but all younger, broad-minded men are coming to the new way of looking at things. We have had enough of the days of prea

is not without 'light,' as you call it, and he always believed in knowing all that the other side was saying. He brought me up to look into these things for myself. And, anyhow, I should no

be sorry indeed to shake your faith, for an innocent faith is, of

er felt His presence, nor been guided by His leading, such words might possibly trouble me, but having seen 'Him that is invi

f stating it, and I'm not sure that it is not a relief to find a woman of the old-fashioned type now and then. It really

t. She felt as if she must scream or jump out over the wheel and run away from this obnoxious man, but she knew she would do neither. She knew she would sit calmly through the expedition and some

the town," she said, suddenly looking around at the widenin

ith a cunning smile. "I was sure you would enjoy seeing the country before you get

id Margaret, decidedly, and there was that in her voice that caus

like to ride a little farther," he said. "We have plenty of time. In fact, Mrs. Tanner told me she would not expect us home to

drive this morning. I would like to see the school-house, and then I must r

g perhaps to melt her yet to take the all-day drive with him. But she sat silent during the return to the village, answering his volubility only by yes or no when absolutely necessary.

building, and he even stooped to praise it in a kind of contemp

ng the key from his pocket and putting on a pleasant anticipatory smile, but Ma

ward the Tanner house, crestfallen, and wonder why this beautiful girl was so extremely hard to win. He flattered himself t

y, and pondering how he might break down the dignity wherewith she had surrounded herself. There would be a way and he would find it. There was