“Let us be true to the God of our fathers, and the God of our fathers shall bless us.�
There was not a more interested listener than Eva Baldwin. All the old feeling which she had experienced during the speaker’s stay in Papyrus, and which she had tried to suppress since, came rushing back. She thought: “Why could not God have given to me to be the help-meet of such a man, even if He gave my millions to some one else?�
As for Ralph Cutter, he had been unjust to Miss Baldwin in allowing her wealth to place a barrier between them. The sight of her to-day fanned into flame again the old fires of his admiration, and he more than half resolved to seek an opportunity of renewing her acquaintance.
After the exercises, which closed early, several small parties visited Twin Mountain, which was near by. One of the parties included Reverend Ralph Cutter and another included the Baldwins. For a moment, and only for a moment, the parties met. The minister and the heiress saluted each other cordially and lingered after their parties had separated. She expressed regret that he had left Papyrus. He expressed regret that it had seemed best for him to leave, and then, something in her eyes seeming to warrant it, he added:
“I had hoped to become better acquainted with you, had I remained.�
“Did I place any obstacles in the way of our further acquaintance? I certainly did not intend to do so,� she replied, and there was no mistaking the frank, honest meaning in the black eyes.
“No, you did not. May I correspond with you?�
“Certainly.� She was laughing now; a laugh of relief and pleasure. “But do not forget, when circumstances permit, that a face to face meeting is a long way ahead of a letter.�
But the parties to which they belonged were getting farther and farther apart.
“You might return home with us,� she suggested. “You could take an evening train for Springdale.� And he very gladly assented.