The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-04

'Why, the organist; he plays divinely,
and has the most interesting face l ever
saw"
30, the organist! Why, i think he
is music mad; but he does play well.
doesn't he? He's the schoolmaster and
general factotum of the village; has spent
small private fortune in, charity, and
would take off his coat and shoes to-mor-
row and give them to tramp if he
thought he needed them. He isn't quite
right-a sort of fanatic, you know"
.'How strange said Elaine, coolly;
''such men are so rare that they ought
to be exhibited at so much head.
Meanwhile L shall want to hear that
lovely music every day."
ssYou shall will tell him you wish
it, and he can take the time from his al
paca old women and red flannel suffer-
ers."
"On second thought believe l don't
care" said Elaine. "You needn't men
ton it to him. Very likely l would get
tired of it too often. What books are
these, cousin. any new novels?"
mot here answered Leonard, with
laugh, '.these are Paley's theology and
Dicks philosophy. / am looking up
some facts for next Sunday"
Don't hold the hay so high your
sheep won't get any. Do You never
tall to them without books or paper?"
"Why, you know, Elaine, our church
does not believe in an emotional religion.
The people themselves would not under
stand it"
"Husks! husks,'' answered Elaine.
''How tired they must get of them. Leon
ard, i don't like that expression. Our
Church. 1t is not ours. l remember
when was at school, said one day Il
would give the world for piece of bread
and the dear old teacher stopped and
said: The world is not yours to give,
my child" lf
''Why, how energetic you are, cousin
mine; since when have you renowned
the pomps and vanities of this wicked
world?"
Il have not renowned them at all
they have renowned me by becoming
tame and meaningless. o, Leonard, l
had such plans of summer here, help
ing you to do a noble work, helping to
forget that twenty-five years of my life
have been frittered away, and now am
disappointedr' -
She wiped away two pearly tears,
tossed her plumed hat on her head, and
went out, leaving him to his Turkish
sista and his cigarette. % sos ~
1.-The little termagent,' he said-she
was as tall as he, but men like to call
women little - I-don' t-believe-I-will-
propose; what an uncomfortable wife she
would make, trying to reform something
or somebody al the time"
The little village on the sea shore was
pretty and picturesque place, and
Elaine spent days in wandering about it,
sometimes with her handsome ministerial
relative, oftener alone; she was aicon-
slant study and object of admiration 10
the primitive people she met, who studied
her as if she had been some marvellous
bright-winged tropical bird, in her card
inal seaside costumes, and dainty ac-
coutrements Sometimes she met Algy
Fisher, the young teacher, leading some
truant child to its home, Or patiently
teaching refractory pupil in the open
air, unmindful that he was giving time
and strength in service not required of
him. He looked thin and delicate, and
Elaine saw that he was suffering, and
once she stopped suddenlys.ins her walk
and demonstrated with him.
"You are killing yourself in the SER
vice of this people; have you no interest
in your own life?'' And then he am
swered gently: r
any life is not my own; it belongs to
suffering and afflicted humanity every
where; my time will be short. have
more work to do than other men,
60" said Elaine, wringing her hands,
sand stand here all the day idle! Is
there nothing | can do?''
sPlenty; do you see that cabin on the
sands?" =.
.'Where the children are at the door
where-where theman that was drowned
yesterday isP'' >,r
ayes ! go there; those children need
help" is5si, ~ ; 5ssr -
''But my cousin, surely he has been
therer'
.,Yes! he read the twenty third Psalm
to them last night. but you-you will
find something to do"
Thank you," she answered, softly,
81. win try.' sihoi assaR li e
She pushed the rough cabin door open
with her white jeweled hand, and stood
in the midst of the room, dirt and DESC
lation, which, combined, present such a
spectacle of misery to eyes unaccus-
toned to it. A woman was sitting by a
rude bench, whereon lay covered form,
crying bitterly, nor did she cease during
Elaine's stay; grief was now her only
luxury. Elaine looked at the poverty of
it all and went away with her thoughts
full of mental measurings, and when the
day of the funeral came, the widow and
orphans were i'm decent black, there was
a months provisions in the house, and
the bitter edge of their grief was taken
off, and the Rev. Leonard had hired the
oldest boy to wait on his Office and blow
the organ bellows at church. saii
This was the beginning, but not the
end of Elaine's good work. Algyi Fisher
gave her plenty to do and small praise
for doing it, but she was satisfied. One