Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-29
4 CONFLTCT ENDED.

4 CONFLICT ENDED.
In Acton there we're two churches, an Or.
thodox and a Baptist They stood on oppo-
site sides of the road, aud the Baptist edi-
flee was little farther down than the other.
On Sunday morning both bells were ringing.
The Baptist bell was much larger, and fol
lowed quickly on the soft peal or the Ortho-
dox with heavy brazen claug which vibrat.
ed good while. The people went hockinR
through the street to the irregular jange OF
the bells. 1t was very hot day and the sun
beat down heavily parasols we're bobbing
over all the ladies heads.
More people went into the Baptist church,
whose society was much the larger Of the
two. 1t had been for the last ten years-ev-
er since the Orthodox had settled a new min.
lister. His advent had divided the church.
aud good third of the congregation had
gone over to the Baptist brethren, with whom
they still remained
1t is probable that many Of them passed
their old sanctuary 10. day with the original
stubborn animosity AZ active as ever 10 their
hearts, and led their families up the Baptist
steps with the same strong spiritual pull OF
Indignation.
O1e old lady, who had made herself prom.
inent on the opposition, trotted by this morn.
ing with the identical wiry vehemence which
she had manifested ten years ago. She wore
full black silk skirt, which she held up in.
anely in front, and allowed to trail in the
dust in the rear.
Some of the stanch Orthodox people
glanced at her amusedly. One heshy, fair
faced girl in blue muslin said to her compan.
ion with laugh See that old lady trailing
her best black silk by to the Baptist Amt
it ridiculous how she holds on showing out z
| heard some one talking about it yesterday. "
yes"
The girl colored up coufusedly. "Oh
dear ~ she thought to herself. The lady
with her bad an unpleasant history connect.
ed with this old church quarrel. She WAS a
small, bony woman in shiny purple silk
which was strained very tightly across her
sharp shoulder blades Her bonnet was
quite elaborate with flowers aud plumes. As
was also her companions. In fact, she was
the village milliner, and the girl was her ap-
prentice
When the two went up the church steps,
they passed man Of about fifty, who was
sitting thereon well to one side He had a
singular face-a mild forehead gently curv-
ing mouth, and a terrible chin with look
Of strength in 1t that might have abashed
mountains. He held his straw hat in his
hand and the sun was shining full on his
bald head
The milliner half stopped, and gave an
anxious glance at him then passed on. In
the vestlbule she stopped again.
You go right in, Marcy" she said to th e
girl "Tll be along in minute"
Where be you going, Miss Barney Z"
You go right in. I'll be there in min
ute"
Marcy entered the audience. room then. as
II fairly brushed in by the imperious wave of
a little knotty band and Esther Barney stood
waiting until the rush of entering people
was over. Then she stepped swiftly back to
the side OF the man seated on the steps. She
spread her large black parasol deliberately,
and extended the handle toward bin.
NO, no, Esther don't want It'll don't
want it,"
1T you're determined on setting out in
this broiling sun, Marcus WoOdman, you
jest take this parasol of mine an use it,"
II don't want your parasol, Esther. l."
Don't you say it over sgain. Take it.
81 won't-not il don't want to-"
You'll get sun-stroke."
That's my own lookout"
Marcus Woodman, you take il"
She threw all the force there WAS in her in.
tense nervous nature in her tone and look
but she failed in her attempt, because OF the
utter difference in quality between her own
will and that with which she had to deal.
They were on so different planes that hers
slid by his with its own momentum there
could be no contact even of antagonism be.
tween them. He sat there rigid, every line
Of bis face stifened into an icy obstinacy
She held out the parasol toward him like
weapon.
Finally she let it drop at her side, her
whole expression changed.
Marcus, said she, "hoW's your mother 2"
He started. Pretty we'll thank you,
Esther.p
Shes out to meeting, then :"
Yes"
i've been a.thinking-I amt drove Jest
now-that maybe I'd come over an see her
some day this week"
He rose politely then. wish you would,
Esther. Molherd be real pleased, know. ."
well, III SEQ Wednesday, p'rhaps, il l
amt too busy. l must go in now; they're
most through singing"
Esther"
Il don't believe 1 can stop any longer,
Marcus"
About the parAsol-thank you Jest the
same il don't take it. OF course you know
cant set out here holding a parasol folks
would laugh. But I'm obliged to you all the
same. Hope l didn't say anything to hurt
your feelings?"
"Oh no why, no, Marcus, or course
don't want to make you take it if you don't want
it, don't know but it would look kinder
queer, come to think of ii. Oh dear they
are through singing"
Say, Esther, don't know but might as
well take that parasol, il you'd Jest as soon.
The sun is pretty hot, an might get head
ache. forgot my umbrella, to tell the
truth"
II might have known better than to have
gone at him the way did, " thought Esther
TO herself, when she was seated at last in the
cool church beside Marcy. Seems as il l
might have got used to Marcus Woodman by
this time"
She did not see him when she came out of
church, but little boy in the vestibule hand.
ed her the parasol, with the remark, "Mr
Woodman said for me to give this to you"
She aud Marcy passed down the street
toward home. Going by the Baptist church,
they noticed young man standing by the en-
trance. He stared hard at Marcy.
She began to laugh after they had passed
him. "Did you see that fellow stare ?" said
she. Hope he'll know me next time"
That's George Elliot he's that old lAdy's
son you was speaking about this morning"
well, that's enough for me-"
ne q real Booui STEADY young man.
Marcy shifted.
"P'rhaps you'll change your mind some
day"
She did, and speedily, too. That glimpse
of Marcy Wilson's pretty new faoe-for she
was stranger in the town-had been too
much for George Elliot. He obtained an in.
PRODUCTION, and was soon steady visitor at
Esther Barney's house. Marcy fell in love
with him easily. She bad never had much
attention from the young men, aud he WAS
an engaging young fellow, small and bright
eyed, though with nervous persistenoy like
bis mothers in his manner.
"pm going to have it an understood thing"
Marcy told Esther, after her lover had be-
come constant in his attentions, THAT I'm
going with George, and amt going with his
mother can't bear that old woman"
But poor Marcy found it was not so easy
to thrust determined old age of the stage,
even when young Love was flying about so
fast on his butterfly wings that be seemed to
multiply himself, and there was no room for
anything else, because the air was so full of
Doves. That old mother, with her trailing
black skirt and her wiry obstinaoy trotted as