The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-26
For THE TIMES.
A W0MAN'S LOVE,
OR
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.

TT WAS growing very dark in the lit
1 tie church of st. Stephen, and the
paintings on the walls could be but DIM
dy outlined by the pastor, as he sat In
the organ loft, turned half on the stool,
his left hand on his knee, the fingers of
his right idly drumming the keys, and
a look in his gray eyes that was not born
of devotion or content. He had been
playing for an hour, as was his nightly
custom-playing the grand airs of the
anasters and the swelling and the sink
ing, the climbing and closing of the
notes seemed lingering still along the
sisles, and in the chancel, where the fig
ure of woman was crouching as If
afraid of the dark or of itself-possibly
of both-yet held there by some resist
Tess influence, and rocked and swayed
by it as a willow by the wind. The ST.
ence and the shadows were together at
last. The hand upon the organ keys was
still, as though asleep, and the pastors
head was leaned wearily upon his left
palm, while the moonlight creeping
through the stained windows, barred
mis- breast with lights of purple and am
her, and amethyst and touched his fore
head tenderly as mother might.
He sat thus long, long time; then
turned with sigh, and struck the pre-
dude measures to " He giveth His below
ed Sleep" Softly the music swelled out
into the night, stirring the silence for
moment; then it ceased, and the pastor
arose, and locked the organ, fingered
sittle in the lonesome gallery, then went
down the stairs and out at the door in
the direction of his home.
The figure from the chancel followed,
skeeping at a distance. 1t stood looking
at the lights in the parsonage windows,
after the pastor had gone in and shut
the door, and the face the moonlight
toyed with was whittier than the moons.
IT was the face of girl, and it was
softly and delicately nodded There
were heavy lines across it--lines that
only sorrow cuts; and the blue eyes and
the young mouth told their own story
of tears and wondrous wailing.
The girl waited few minutes; then,
pressing both hands over her heart. as if
to still it's beating, she went up the steps
and stood leaning against the door, wait
ing there again to gather strength and
courage. She pulled the bell presently,
and a young girl about her own age
opened the door.
" Can see Mr.. Percy 2" she asked.
" think so," was the reply. "He
has come home with bad headache;
but he rarely refuses to see any one.'
Emma Percy, the pastors sister, had
been leading the way to the parlor while
she talked, and motioning her brothers.
guest to sofa, she passed out of the
Toom, closing the door behind her.
'' DO try and go down." she pleaded,
patting the pastors feverish cheeks, and
looking coaxingly as she knelt on the
door beside him. "She is such timid
child, and she looks so tired and white.
I'm sure she needs you sorely; and I'll
shake up your pillows while you're gone
and sprinkle them with cologne and"
There, I'll go. Kiss me, sister
feel somehow tonight as 1 used when
things went wrong at school and could
scarcely wait for four o'clock to come,
that might get in mothers arms and
cry it out"
Has anything gone wrong to-day ?"
Emma asked, anXiously.
No, nothing at all /; it's all inside,
little sister-all inside. But it rankles
only the more for that"
Poor darling" Emma said. Then
she kissed the hot cheeks, and forehead,
and watched him go down the stairs,
and in at the parloI door.
Z" do wish he would quit playing of
nights over in the lonesome old church, :"
she muttered, going back to the sofa and
shaking up the pillows. :" It's enough
10 give any one the horrors. Ugh! I
should fancy the ghosts of the martyrs
stalking toward me through the dark /,
and then" She broke off there, and
stoOd mOtionless for minute, looking
at the roses in the carpet, but seeing
them not.
Meanwhile, the girl down stairs had
been standing just where she was when
the pastor entered the room-one arm
ON the mantel, her black dress falling in
unstudied grace around figure, perfect
in it's outline as that of a statue, and
her eyes fixed on the face of the minis
ter, who was leaning against the door,