Part 24 (1/2)

They talked a little longer, and then Philip said: ”Let us go down and see the Brother Man. Somehow I feel like talking with him.”

So they went downstairs and into the room where the invalid was sitting with the old man. William was able to walk about now, and had been saying that he wanted to hear Philip preach as soon as he could get to church.

”Well, Brother Man,” said Philip, with something like his old heartiness of manner, ”have you heard the news? Oth.e.l.lo's occupation's gone.”

The Brother Man seemed to know all about it. Whether he had heard of it through some of the church people or not, Mrs. Strong did not know. He looked at Mr. Strong calmly. There was a loving sympathy in his voice, but no trace of compa.s.sion or wonder. Evidently he had not been talking of the subject to any one.

”I knew it would happen,” he said. ”You have offended the rulers.”

”What would you do, Brother Man, in my place? Would you resign?” Philip thought back to the time when the Brother Man had asked him why he did not resign.

”Don't they ask you to?”

”Yes.”

”Do you think it is the wish of the whole church?”

”No, there are some who want me to stay.”

”How do you feel about it?” The Brother Man put the question almost timidly. Philip replied without hesitation:

”There is only one thing for me to do. It would be impossible for me to remain after what has been done.”

The Brother Man nodded his head as if in approval. He did not seem disturbed in the least. His demeanor was the most perfect expression of peace that Philip ever saw.

”We shall have to leave Milton, Brother Man,” said Philip, thinking that possibly he did not understand the meaning of the resignation..

”Yes, we will go away together. Together.” The Brother Man looked at his son and smiled.

”Mr. Strong,” said William, ”we cannot be a burden on you another day. I am able to get out now, and I will find work somewhere and provide for my father and myself. It is terrible to me to think how long we have been living on your slender means.” And William gave the minister a look of grat.i.tude that made his heart warm again.

”My brother, we will see to that all right. You have been more than welcome. Just what I shall do, I don't know, but I am sure the way will be made clear in time, aren't you, Brother Man?”

”Yes, the road to heaven is always clear,” he said, almost singing the words.

”We shall have to leave this house, Brother Man,” said Sarah, feeling with Philip that he did not grasp the meaning of the event.

”Yes, in the Father's house there are many mansions,” replied the Brother Man. Then as Mr. and Mrs. Strong sat there in the gathering gloom the old man said suddenly, ”Let us pray together about it.”

He kneeled down and offered the most remarkable prayer that they had ever heard. It seemed to them that, however the old man's mind might be affected, the part of him that touched G.o.d in the communion of audible prayer was absolutely free from any weakness or disease. It was a prayer that laid its healing balm on the soul of Philip and soothed his trouble into peace. When the old man finished, Philip felt almost cheerful again. He went out and helped his wife a few minutes in some work about the kitchen. And after supper he was just getting ready to go out to inquire after a sick family near by, when there was a knock at the door.

It was a messenger boy with a telegram. Philip opened it almost mechanically and carrying it to the light read:

”Alfred died at four P. M. Can you come?”

For a second he did not realize the news. Then as it rushed upon him he staggered and would have fallen if the table had not been so close. A faintness and a pain seized him and for a minute he thought he was falling. Then he pulled himself together and called his wife, who was in the kitchen. She came in at once, noticing the peculiar tone of his voice.

”Alfred is dead!” He was saying the words quietly as he held out the telegram.

”Dead! And you left him getting better! How dreadful!”