Connecticut western news., 1889-10-16
A Quaker Meeting.

"Thee may have the horse to take friend Richard to meeting, Dorothy" said my father, "but I will not have thee junketing about the roads on the Lords day for naught but thy own pleasure."
 '1 have always wanted to go to a Quaker meeting," said Dick, giving me tender look; Git must be very interesting place of worship"
 Dick Howells was of the worlds people, while l was Quaker's daughter, but oh! how did long to wear the lovely bright colors I saw on other girls and go into the pleasures of the world about which my brothers friend Dick had told me so much. My mother not being very well my father would not leave her to attend meeting that first day, and my brother had gone to distant meeting where a pretty Quaker lass had attraction.
 "Whoa there, Jenny. said my father to the old mare in exactly the same tone he used to her when was baby. ''Climb ill, Dorothy. Friend Richard, thee will drive her gently an thee please" .a+.r
 "She shall have her own way, sir" answered Dick, gallantly, as he took up the stiff leather reins in his gloved fingers. -f%
 "lhope thee will have good meet ing" said my father, and went into the house, his long, white hair floating over his coat collar-that coat whose skirt nearly touched his heels, and which made him look like patriarch. Dear coat and dear wearer. It was marriage garment he was not ashamed to wear.
 ''Get up," said Dick, fickering the whip over old Jenny, who laid one ear back in remonstrance. Now, where is that wonderful meeting, Dolly?"
 He called me Dolly. No one else ever did.
 \"Over there in the hollow where the willows grow. You can see the people going in now. And oh! Dick, the men all sit on one side and the women on the other, and they worship in silence"
 "I don't doubt it," said Dick, flip panty. "Now, if I go with you, Dolly, I shall sit with you; that is part of my religion"
 "Oh, no, mo-" cried in alarm, "that would never do. That would be like the worlds people,"
 ''It is too early," said Dick, ignoring my speech; "we will drive along that shady road where the trees meet over- head"
 ssThat is Lovers Lane," I said, and then at the look he gave me l wished had held my peace.
 We drove along, and somehow the air was SO sweet, and the birds sang so blithely, and there was such heavenly ecstacy in our hearts that we forgot all about first day and meeting, and when we turned and reached the gray old building, Dick looked at his watch and said it was too late. We could hear the voice of the prophecies who at in- tervals cried out:
 "TIearken and hear! hearken and hear!"
 "They are having a good meeting," I said, reverently.
 "So are we." Dicks voice fell, and there was tremor ill it.
 "How did you like the meeting, friend?" asked my father at dinner.
 "Very much, indeed," answered Dick. "What quaint, picturesque method of worship, so much simpler and better than ours. Almost thou persuadest me to be Quaker. It was a service of love-" ...-
 That afternoon sat with our guest in the front room when we saw a neighbor come in, and soon I heard my fathers voice raised in anger. He called me to him. My mother had risen from her chair, and was looking white and distressed.
 "Did thee go to meeting this day, Dorothy?" asked my father with an angry intonation of voice; "answer me, yea or nay"
 Hardly had my lips formed trem- bling "Nay," when my lovers arm was around my waist and his voice rang out:
 "Fatherl Mother! told you that it was service of love. In the presence of the ministers of earth and air Gods holy angels, Dorothy and were be- trothed this morning. She has prom ised to be my welded wife, and so we were too late for meeting."
 There was storm, but it blew over. We have been very, very happy, but Dick always says he was defrauded out of the only chance he ever had to at tend Quaker meeting. Was Once Rover.