Page:The unhallowed harvest (1917).djvu/132

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A SIGNIFICANT DINNER PARTY
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me with fresh courage to-night. We shall fight together. I believe God will give us the victory."

Her hand lay in his, warm, firm, clinging; pledge of her loyalty to him and of her faith in his ideals.

"There is one matter of immediate concern," he added, after a moment, "in which I want to ask your assistance."

"You shall have it."

"Thank you! You remember the Bradley case in court? The one that resulted in an enforced verdict?"

"Very well, indeed. I have fought it over with Phil several times. But I can't convince him that the verdict was unjust."

"I feel that it was. You know Bradley died?"

"Yes; and I know you said things at his burial for which his fellow-workmen have been commending you ever since. His widow declined to receive you, did she not?"

"She did. That is why I come to you for help. I want to ask if you would be willing to call on her. She is a woman of great strength of character, unusually intelligent, and has much influence in her own community. She came to church on one or two occasions prior to her husband's death, and she was present at the service last Sunday morning. While she is interested in the Church, she is distinctly hostile to it. I wish greatly that her attitude of hostility might be changed into one of at least friendliness, both for her own good and for the influence which she can command."

"I will call on her. I shall be very glad to. She is an unusual woman in appearance. I have heard that she is unusual also in character and ability. I'll do my best to persuade her."

"Thank you again. That's splendid!"

What a comfort she was! What an inspiration! What a pity that she was not the wife, not to become the wife of a progressive rector of an advancing church!