Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-10

eyes, and she seemed quite concerned for
all the trouble you have had"
"Trouble Yes, trouble enough" said the
minister gloomily. II tell you, Kate, | have
come to the conclusion that trouble makes up
the largest half of our portion on earth. l
know have had enough, of one sort or an
other, to make me feel as if it wasn't worth
my while to fight against it any more. Its
perpetual struggling and no result attained" :"
."We cannot always see the result said his
sister, in gentle tone.
After Harry Wade had left the meeting
that afternoon, controversy ran high between
the contending parties in the congregation.
"He's stuck.up, conceited, fantastic sprlg,
not fit to be parson. Him to come and
teach folks old enough to be his parents what
they're to say, and how they're to act! l
reckon know trife better than ne, tor all
his wonderful book-learning," quoth Mr..
Towzleham. 81, for one, amt going to put
up with it."
"Nor me-" said fat Mr. Trigott, the corn
factor. "We never had all this stirrin' up in
Mr.. Lullem's time
"There was certainly no danger of any one
being stirred up by poor old Lullem," said
Mr.. Melton. "As to Mr.. Wade's zeal, no one
should find fault with that. If man isn't
Jealous for religion, he isn't good for much. :.
Zeal is all we'll enough in its way but l
don't want any man to be Jealous IN forcing
new-fangled notions down my throat, cause
don't mean to swallow EN-" said Mr.. low
zeham.
1T depends upon what you call new-fan-
gled notions" replied Mr.. Melton. "a good
many notions may strike us as new-tangled,
simply because they have not been suggested
to US before, while in other places they are
old and familiar to everybody"
"May-be So" said Mr.. Towzleham. "Let
them as like 'em swallow 'em, that's all. 1
shant."
"Nor me-" said his echo, Mr.. Trigott. The
leading members were all excited, and some
pretty warm words ensued. Mr.. Melton and
his supporters presently withdrew, willing to
end, for the present, dispute which was get
ting too serious and Towzleham and COM
pany, finding themselves left masters OF the
field, improved the opportunity to strike
bold stroke, and then and there drew up
paper, notifying Mr. Wade Of their decision
that it was better for all parties that his con-
nection with their church should be severed,
as it was concIusively proved that there could
be no harmony between themselves and him.
1t was not very courteous form of dismissal,
but as the compounders of it were not Of re-
fined type, perhaps it was not really meant to
be as aggressive as it seemed.
Early next day this communication reach
ed the minister through the medium of the
penny postman. His sister, who watched him
open it, saw him turn red, then pale, and felt
that something terrible had happened.
ooh Harry dear, what is it ?" she asked,
tremulously, throwing down her work and
coming to his side.
."The miserable, ignorant pig headed idiots" :"
exclaimed her brother. 81 know I'm wrong
Kitty, but / can't contain myself. Never
mind-I shall stay, and shall have church
of my own, in spite of them. Nothing would
please them more than for me to leave the
place altogether; but if they expect to drive
me off, they'll find themselves mistaken"
Kate, when she read the paper, was very
angry but she would not betray how deeply
she felt the insult. The minister walked up
and down the room in a fume eff had on
ly had the sense to withdraw If I only
had !" he said over and over again. 81 was
q fool to leave them the opportunity Of taking
the initiative in the matter. But I'm always
just too late"
When it became known among Mr.. Wade's
friends that he had received formal dismis-
sal, Indignation ran high among them. A
meeting was Immediately called, and the pro-
posal to start at once to collect funds, for the
purpose of building new church, was put to
the vote and unanimously adopted. In the
mean time, it was resolved that services should
be held in the town hall, provided the min:
ister would consent to the arrangement; and
a paper notifying him Of these arrangements
was drawn up, and presented to him by a
delegation selected for the purpose, Of which
Mr. Melton was one.
Before this delegation sought him, however,
and while he was still hot and sore with NOR
ti6cation, he went out in the cool of the even
ing, for little ramble in the fields beyond the
town. He was conscious Of having allowed
his vexation to get the better of his Christian
feelings, and thought that solitary walk,
giving him an opportunity for reflection,
might tend to restore him to something of his
wonted composure. He had crossed the first
field, and was just entering the wood beyond,
when his eye fell on little figure seated on
stile, beneath wide.spreading oak. 1t was
girls figure, in blue drapery, with a straw hat
cast down at her feet; the brown head was
bent, the face hidden, the whole attitude one
Of profound detection. 1t needed but Sec
ond glance to show him that it was Lucy
Melton, and that she was crying.
While he stood for an instant, uncertain
whether to turn back or proceed, she raised
her eyes suddenly and saw him. She half
started up, deep blush sufusing her face
Then her eyes dropped again, and she stood
abashed, the picture of confusion, as he ad'
vanced.
"My dear Miss Lucy" he asked, kindly,
'forgive me for in,ruding upon you'll did
not expect to meet you here. Is anything
wrong? Can help you?'
She flashed another look at him-an indes-
cribabe look of mingled reproach, sympathy,
entreaty and depreciation, all in one. 1t
seemed to say, "Can you ask me what is
wrong?" 1t but imperfectly expressed the
feelings struggling in her warm little heart,
feelings of which she had never guessed the
depth and force, until they were aroused with
indignant pity for the wrongs he had suffered
and was still suffering. 1t was look that
puzzled the minister. He by no means COM
pretended it, yet he felt dimly that there was
revelation of some kind beyond, if he could
but make it out. He stood silent, looking
down upon her. In spite of his troubled,
wounded feelings, her attitude touched and
attracted him, and he could not help thinking
how fair and pretty she looked in the dim
woodland light, with that softened expression
nd cta IN Of enrrn1r on hnr fnna