The Penn's Grove record., 1884-08-16

especially the sister Of n who is a
pillar of the church. Have you no
shame, Bessie Hooper ? Put aside the
out landish thing. It's only fit for a
dweller In the heather land. I'd like
to see me carry it !"
81, too, laughed Bessie. cit would
be too rich | Do, Charity hold it over
your red head and see how it would
look" and she held 1t temptingly forth.
But the indignant spinster drew
beyond the reach of its communicating
touch. Garry it if you choose but
remember if anything happens to
it, aunt Susan will never forgive you.
She will abominate you"
well, let her," was the laconic
reply of the girl, who, as the first
stroke of the church bell fell upon her
ear, began to tie on her hat.
Charity, who had stationed herself
at the window, now hurried on hers
and left the house. A widower, in
whom she was interested, was coming
down the street. Bessie smiled, then
went to answer the door bell, which had
just sounded.
On the doorstep stood a stalwart,
fair haired man-Harry Gale.
"Good.morning, Bessie. l called to
accompany you to church."
"How did you know | was going ?"
she queried, mischieviously.
ooh ! a little bird told me. By jove |
Bessie" as they walked do WI the
street. That's a gorgeous affair
you've over your head-a truly stun
ming affair ! What is it? A tropical
bird-a-Bah ! l lack for a word to ap
ply to it. Your face looks charming
beneath it, though, whenever 1 can
catch a glimpse of it through that amaz-
ing fringe. Didn't Charity denounce
it as being too gay for church Pr
"You would have thought so if you
had heard her go on. And, indeed, if
it had been on the Sabbath, l should
have dared to carry it. l wonder
why Elder Hopkins administers the
rite of baptism to-day, instead OF Sun
day, as was his original intention ?"
"IIe was called Unexpectedly to Cali
fOrnia, and his converts will be baptized
by no one else. Gracious, Bessie, how
the people stare at you-your parasol,
l mean," with a curious twinkle in
his frank, blue eye as he made the
correction.
Nonsense, Harry ~
1.-THE truth, Bessie |" How its
radiant colols scintillate In the sunlight!
1t really makes you look ten per cent
better"
$50 Judge Miller's son remarked the
only time l ever used it to ward off the
suns rays" she said demurely.
Judge MiIler's son is a ninny |" he
retorted, sharply biting his lips. "He is
a humbug-a regular flatterer 1
heard him tell Lii Jones that she had
eyes like the forget-me-not, and Ruth
White that her hair was the color of
the daffydowndilly. 1 wonder you
would listen to his flattery I"
81 don't see why. You, yourself
have made fine speeches to me-"
"But that is different" he returned
Indignantly. 81 proposed to you some
time since, and to day you are to give
me a decided answer, remember"
81 remember" in a tone of vexa-
ton. "Iou needn't speak quite SO
loud. A squad of girls and boys draw
near and you don't want them to over
hear. See the people ahead OF us
The church will be crowded to-day.
Do you believe in immersion, Mr.. Gale?
Or have you no prediction for what
John the Baptist deemed indispensa-
Bile ?''
81 believe you to be a coqnette of the
first water, "he muttered wrathfully
under his breath, as he saw her dispens-
ing her bows and smiles indiscriminate-
ly right and left.
The little church was filled to reple-
ton, as Bessie had predicted. An ex-
ccllent discourse, prepared carefully
for the converts, followed. Then the
congregation filed out of the building
and repaired to the banks of the cool,
deep stream hat cleft in twain a green,
dandellon-starred meadow, on whose
edge grew willows, with the branches
dropping S 70 low that their silver-green
hair almost touched the babbling
water.
Bessie tripped d~aintily along with the
crowd, her aunt's parasol oyer her head,
Harry Gale keeping p~erslstently at her
side.
The calm of the day was broken as
Charity had foretold. A wind that
was strong and raw had suddenly
arisen, and Bessie drew instlnctively
towards one of the bending, long-tress-
ed willows.
"Twas an impressive scene-the
hauLga lipad with paopIa of oil aoau