The Heart's Kingdom

"Stop looking down on me and come tell me what particular religious

incantations were going on from which Charlotte so violently barred me,"

I laughed up at him, as I threw a flat grass cushion a little way from

my skirts, upon which he immediately sank and seemed to curl up at my

feet.

"I had the whole bunch rehearsing the children's part in the dedication

services of our chapel. Do you know that small Sue can really sing? The

rest stagger well but Susan sings. It is delicious. It is going to be

hard on you women folks to hear her chant her responses to me on that

great day." And as he spoke he looked beyond me over to his beautiful

shimmering gray chapel and there was not a glint in his eyes that showed

me he was trying to sound out my intentions about attendance on that

ceremony.

"Please, Mr. Goodloe, don't be serious in saying as you did last night

that you are not going to dedicate your chapel until I--I help you," in

all gentleness I said.

"I can't do it until you come," he answered me with just as great

gentleness and he turned his head away from me, but not before I saw a

glow in his eyes that made me suddenly strong and calm and curiously

humble.

"I--I could go as your guest," I faltered, offering a compromise which I

felt sure would not be accepted.

"I can't, I just can't dedicate the chapel until you echo my ceremony in

your heart," he answered me with his eyes still turned away from me and

looking with the greatest sadness out on Paradise Ridge.

"Why?" I asked with a simple directness that the situation demanded and

with no trace of the coquetry the question might have held.

"Shall I tell you all of the reason with no reservations?" the parson

asked, as he swung around on his mat and faced me, with his eyes looking

straight into mine.

"All," I answered.

"In every community there is one soul which holds the real leadership of

the souls of those surrounding them. God seems to appoint captains of

the regiments of His people to lead them along the way, Christ the

captain of all the hosts. Spiritually you are more evolved than any

other person in this town and with you doubting I cannot get the others

to see. You are so gorgeous and so brilliant that you blind them all.

They have always followed your lead--up or down. There are a few like

Mother Spurlock who have gained their Christ knowledge through

suffering, but they are not of the calibre to help others to gain

theirs. With your hand in mine I can make this whole community see and

know; separated from you, you going one way and I another, I can do

nothing. You simply short-circuit my force and I am helpless without

you." He spoke very simply and directly down into my heart.