The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-07-24

let her hands fall idly In her lap.
"David. lam ashamed Of thee, 'exclaim'
ed Aunt Phebc, as David Wilson let the cai
upon the floor with It's paws tied up 10 pa
pers. "Read thy hook about that good lit.
lie boy who ought to be pattern to thee.
"Pshaw :" answered David, somewhat
Iirreycren,ly. "Iic died when no was eight
years old. Good little boys in books al.
ways does say, there goes Billy Duane
lilo has got 10 90 up to tho church OF the
Holy Tooth pick to pump tho organ fo'
John. They've got a 'Piscopal crab to
preach up there, and Billy saws he is the
iolliest man to tell stories. Thee needn' I
scolh, Aunt Phebe, cause call him crab,
that's his name. ] seen II OH a letter
Rev. Harold Crabbe. They are going to
have some bully music up there tonight
cause John Is going to practice a chant,
and Billy has got to 20 and pump for him
Golly would mt like to hear him play J.
wish we had on organ in our meeting house
| don't see why wo don't, SAY, Mother
Hut Jane Wilson did not answer. a
grent change had come over her. The
meekness had gone ont orher face, and the
Madonna sadness from her eyes. Jane vii.
son seemed to sit among her astonished
children not the woman who lived In per-
peiual calm, but deeply ngitated, and STIR
red with uncomfortable emotion.
"Janc, thee forgets thyself, exclaimed
Phebe Morgan, In deep, significant and re-
buking tones.
'Unforunately, ] rememl'er," WINS the
deep, passionate answer, anil for a single
instant there flashed into Jane Wilson's
eyes the spirit Of rebellion that sometimes
sat on Putience face. It was only un in
slant. She glanced around the room on her
cIihlren's wondering faces. and with the
habit of years upon her, she put away The
new, strange mood, and sat with her hnnds
clasped over her Bible, the sad.eyed, Ma
donna. faced woman.
Patience Wilson that night crumplef In
her hand a note. u was John Duane's old
plea presented for the last time.
There 10 no use." l can not grieve my
mother so, After to night there shall be
an end. Alter tonight"
She arose with determined air, put on
the simple drab bonnet and gray shawl and
went out. Al the gate she halted and CLAN
ced at the windows Of the low farmhouse.
Through the halfparted curtains OF the sit
ting room she could SEQ her Aunt Phebe q
rigid face and snowy cap. and Patience
Wilson unconsciously crouched behind the
fence. What she medtated would hiring all
tho vials of that good wonan's wrath upon
her head. She glanced upward TO her mo-
ther's bed.chamber where low light bur.
ned. Was that mother praying Tor her
And was the intent Of her heart counter to
ihut mothers prayers and teachings? She
turned for moment as. ifto retrace her
steps.
The light of her mothers chamber went
suddenly out, and Patience debated with
herself. "Shc will never know" she said
determineIly, and after minute more Of
wavering, 'nnd must hear John Duane's
music once more" She turned and took
the direction Of st. Johns.
Suddenly she stopped, for the door Of the
farm. house closed softly and bent fig
urc moved slowly down the narrow walk
and out of the little gate. She bent her
head TO listen, but there was no sound save
the ringing of The bell at St Johns. That
bell brought up the memory Of John Duane
again. 'lt was only my nerves that made
me think heard footsteps, and must hear
John Duane this once" she said 10 her.
self reassuringly. She moved on STEALTH.
ly, half crouching by the roadside, and
little wny behind like shadow Of her guilty
SELF steallhily crept another bent figure. II
took the direction OF St. Johns also, some
times wavcring as Patience had done, but
always choosing finally tho road that lny
toward the little Episcopalian church.
Away in tho back Of st. Johns, 50 far
hack that she sat quito IN the shadow, Pa.
,ience Wilson sat and listened to the organ S
music.
As the last notes died away, another wo.
mon in the simple garb of Quakcress en-.
tered the opposite side oiSt. John $ and sat
down in the shadow likewise. Studying
these two faces, ono could not but be struck
with their resemblance. One had listened
10 the music as if her heart and soul were
drinking in the strains. Tho other listened
to the sermon not less eagerly or in'cnlly.
On the faces Of both was the meek sadness
of self remuneration. with this difference
ono was self remuneration just begun. the
other selErenunciaiion with tho stamp oil
age upon 1t.
Afler the sermon Patience Wilson arose
and went out. She longed to hear the last
chant, hut she would not for the world
have John Duane nee her there. AZ the
same time the plain woman in tho opposite
shadow arose and went out. On the grav-
clled walk they came face to face.
"Patience D." exclaimed tho elder wo
man.
"Mother :" exclaimed the other.
They walked on in silence toward their
home. Phebe Morgan met them at the
door.
"Whcre have :hee bcen7" she asked,
anxiously.
ITO St. John's." answered Jane Wilson,
caliny.
"Not there ? And thee preacher! /! II 10
contrary to the discipline :" exclaimed
Phebe Morgan, in shocked tone.
Jane Wilson smiled. That smile was
full Of ,lignified self assertion,
at Is contrary to the discipline Of my
whole lifc," she answered. "roday have
learned anew why men aud women should
leave father and mother and cleave unto
wife and husband. When twnin arc made
one hesh. time nnd distance can not divide
them. This night have listened to tiar-
rold Crabbe-l who once gave him up be
cause his creed was unlike mine. ] have
listened to him with self condemnation,
saying to myself. who nrt thou that jOdgest
thy neighbor2 Ills is u pure henr and
self.sacrificing life, whatever his creed may
he. have sat and stood in the great con.
grrga,ion tonight. in church with costly
gildings and heavy tapestry and pealng or
gan, and have found there true worship.
en- Of the true God whom we Worship.
As Jane Wilson spoke there had come
upon the porch anil inlo tho little hall tho
tread Of manly feet, and now there STOOD
within the door young man, with p,lz.
,Ie.l fhce aud eager, questioning eyes. Jane
Wilson extended her hand.
.John Duane, thee is welcome" she
said, kindly.
a flush stole over the young mans face,
as he answered earnestly.
"Friend Wilson, do not crave your vel.
come a. a neighbor and friend merely. ]