The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-20
THE CHURCH AT GLENVILLE.
BY MRS. SALLIE A. RAMAGE.
CHAPTER IN

CHAPTER ".
Mr.. Arnold's sermons pleased his congre-
CATION His pleasant words made him many
friends. His sturdy Independence won him
the respect Of Glenville, and the new preach
er seemed in a fair way to become danger
ously egotistical, when little incident
occurred that rippled the smooth current OF
his life. Like all other ministers that had
ever had charge of the church, Mr.. Arnold
visited much at Mr.. Aliens house. 1t was
pleasant place to go, for both the old gentle
man and his wife were CHEEKY, hearty peo-
Die, whose home was as welcome to the poor
and unfortunate as it was to friend. They
lived in an atmosphere of peace and con-
tentment; they were in perpetual sunshine.
Sorrow and death had crossed their thresh-
old full oft, but the Blessed Comforter had
never left them, and the shadows soon lifted.
Their one pride was their grandchild Ruth.
for the grave had closed over the bonnie
lasses and noble lads who called
them father and mother. And to this
one lamb of the flock their whole love was
given. She was beautiful and winning, and
to those who so fondly cherished and loved
her she was devoted and tender. She never.
wearied in her care of them, but was literal
ly their comfort and blessing. Their friends
were her friends, their pleasures hers, and
she sought for nothing that would not give
them the same delight it did her. So, when
week after week, Mr. Arnold VISITED the
neat, quite home, he saw much OF the young
girl, and was often with her alone, waiting
for the old folks, or after they had hidden
him ''good night" lingering for few mo-
ments with her. She was simple and unaf-
fected in her manner. She received him
with free hospitality, not only because he
was fast growing to be friend of the family,
but also because he was a minister; and to
her that meant so much, fer her own father
had died almost in the pulpit. He had
preached and prayed to the very last, and
his dying words to his motherless child were
to love the church and to be obedient to its
laws. She regarded the altar place, the pull
pit with sacred awe and reverence. and
never approached them but with the remem-
brance that here indeed was the "holy of
holies. Sne had been taught to respect
ministers, to remember that her father had
been one, and to serve them as she would
have liked to have him served. Her true,
pure heart kept back any thought of him,
and ste was safe in her womanly delicacy,
therefore She had no hint of what the peo-
pie soon whispered, Mr.. Arnold is counting
Ruth Allison" This was far from the truth.
No word Of love had ever passed. There had
, been no exchange of condolences or pledges.
There could not be while the. pictured face
of Margaret Carlyle greeted Hugh as he
opened his writing desk, and her letters
came regularly. They were answered pune
tuslly as tbey came Strange letters they
were that passed between the 'betrothed
lovers. No words of endearment, no
silly yet precious nothings writ
ten with tender thoughts filling
the heart bat rather profuseness of appar-
ent affection. as if to veil the hollowness OF
the protestations. Miss Carlyle wrote of her
daily life. her round of entertainments, her
parties, balls, beaux and her delight in these
pleasures.y She chided Hugh for his lack OF
interest ini the dOings of society, and gave
him to unsderstand distinctly that though
she would jmarry him, she would not consign
herself - country exile "for thousand
Churches" She loved him, she even admit
ted that. but she loved her own way and
VIII better. She had been brought up to
know NO master. but her own inclination,
and she would not now undertake the task
Of q different lesson. Mr.. Afnold's letters to
her Eere a. odd acm.xturs OF doubt and