Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-07-01
I'd be different and we'd be nearer-you

be I'd be different and we'd be nearer-you
and I?'
1t was evident that he was not insane,
so she felt suddenly that she would be just
flied in losing her patience and speaking
frankly.
"You are too absurd! Ten thousand
new worlds could not bring me and you
nearer together!''
She turned away, and ran up the steps
But on the threshold of the door she paus-
ed. Then-she ran down again and caught
his hand, eagerly, in hers.
eff you love me-if you really love me,
Dr.. Peleg, you will use your influence with
father about Frank. You can make him
do anything you please, and Frank is COM
ing back!
A spasm of jealous pain contracted the
little man g face. For moment he said
nothing.
eff you love me you would want to make
me happy!'' she said.
But I'm man, after all, Judith You
mustn't ask me to do what man can't do!
Besides" and his face grew bright and
serene again-''the New Jerusalem g
acomin', and there's no marryin' or giyin
in marriage!'
She put her fingers into her ears, and
ran into the house, slamming the door be-
hind her like pettish child.
DR.. Peleg stood there when she had
gone, with the night air chilling him and
the thorny vines buffeting him. 1t was
only when Enus Sinkley came home from
the Millerite meeting that he seemed to
gather his wits together, and shuffled off.
congratulations upon their short remnant
of earthly probation, which Enus tender
ed him; for moment he seemed to be ma
king an effort to say something, but the
moment passed, and he did not say it,
Its of no use to say anything-there'll
be neither MARVIN nor givin in marriage,
and if there was I'm man and how could
i give her to him. And he amt come yet;
mebbe he won't come. The time is short,
now,''
Turning the first corner he ran against
man. He saw his face clearly in the
moonlight; it was Frank Pritchard. DR..
Peleg's face grew white as he watched the
strong, manly figure disappearing in the
distance.
It'll make her happy and I'd ought to
be glad, but 0 Lord how can I, sinful Gre
tur that I be? And it don't make any
difference whether say anything to Enus
Sinkley or not. for the end is acomin'!"
And Dr. Peleg surveyed the sky, eager
ly, for some sign of that coming end. The
moon sailed placidly through cloudless
sky and the stars twinkled as cheerily as
if they had ages before them. For the
first time pang Of real doubt chilled DR..
Peleg's heart.
tit shouldn't be-! o Lord, if it shouldn't
be ~ he murmured.
Before noon of the next day it was
known all over Saltwater that Judith Sin
kley' g lover had come back. Opinions va
ried as to whether her father would allow
her to see him or not. Many. thought that,
although his worldliness might have been
eliminated by his religious faith, his OBJ
stinacy had not, and that it would not be
safe for Frank Pritchard to venture near
the house. But on that Saturday
few hours of the end Of all things, &C.
cording to his unquesti0ning faith-the
old man was utterly oblivious of the things
of this world. Judith was free to walk
and talk with her lover as she pleased, and
save for dread which haunted her mind
that the Millerite prophecy might prove
true and all earthly joy be destined to
speedy end her happiness was perfect.
No thought of DR.. Peleg and his absurdi-
ty crossed her mind. Since she did not
need him to appease her father it was easy
to forget him.
Her lover urged her to take advantage
of her fathers state of mind and let their
marriage take place, privately, that day,
but Judith was sufficiently imbued with
the prevailing ideas to shrink from mar
rying at such time. But she promised
him that so sure as the sun did not refuse
it's light on the next day she would walk
quietly across the fields with HIM, to Up
per Saltwater, and be married there.
It was really Mis- Pel'tiah Sanders sug-
gestion. She had seized Frank Pritchard,
from her back yard fence, as he was pass
ing, and advised him to ''make sure of
Judith Sunday, when the Millerits would
lave found out what poor deluded creturs
they we're and Enus Sinkley would feel too
meachin' to make fuss about anything.'
Meetings we're held, with scarcely any
intermission, on that Saturday. In the
last watch of that night the trumpet was
to sound and worldly cares and hopes were
all laid aside and forgotten by the Miller
ties. But at none of the meetings did DIR.
Peleg appear. He had retired to the woods,
as he had habit of doing occasionally,
and it was reported he had one of his
melancholy SPELLS" but the brethren
thought he had better seek the consola-
lions of religion, rather than those of Ma
ture, and where were they to be found ex-
cept in the meetings where the faithful
were singing and shouting in an ecstacy
of expectation 1t was feared that DR..
Peleg after having preached to others had
himself become cast-away.
Never did a more beautiful day dawn
upon Saltwater than that Saturday. 1t
was early summer and overhead was in
tense, cloudless blue-under foot freshest,
living verdure. Doves cooed placidly on
the caves. bobalinks were riotous in the
meadows. the very air seemed full of joy
Gus life. But there was a strange hush
and solemnity among the people. Even
they who ridiculed the Millerite prediction |