Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-07-17


months, without one set or tho other
getting down on him. He's sure to
be in hot water somewhere. On, dear!
why didn't you catch that"
This last exclamation was not adj
dressed to the stranger but to Mr..
Gilkey. For in the excitement of the
discussion, the lady had loosened
her hold upon the handbook, and the
sudden jolt of the ears had precipi-
tated it into the aisle. With the aid
OF II fellow passenger and ~ cane, MIR.
Gilkey fished up the precious parcel,
and by the time this feat was accom-
plished the train was moving slowly
into the Brandon station. Mr.. Ames
shook hands with the stranger ut
parting, and said he was glad to
have met him: after which ceremony
the travellers repaired to their several
destinations. Mrs. Gilkev with
vague forebodings lest the fall should
have resulted disastrously to the
contents of the handbook; Mr.. Ames,
with placid satisfaction with him
self and the world at large, and the
stranger-but as he is II stranger we
cannot guess with any accuracy
what his thoughts and feelings were.
The clurch was filed that Sabbath
morning, and an agreeable flutter of
expectation pervaded the well-dress-
ed congregation. Their faces wore
that wide-awake, alert expression of
persons who expect to be entertain
ed. Mr.. Ames felt very tranquil in
spirit, as he leisurely assembled the
church steps, just in time for the
opening anthem. As lie leaned back
in his seat and glanced over the
crowded house, he said to himself
that he, for one, was glad they were
going to have a steady pastor, and
he was going to do his best to encOur-
age him. He'd get introduced after
service and invite him up to dinner
tomorrow. He nudged his wife and
confided to her this resolve, and she
said twas Just the thing He cram
ed his neck around to get a sight of
the new man, but the desk complete
ly hid him from view, ash he sat in the
large pulpit chair, resting his head
on one shapely hand. With the last
notes of the anthem, Mrs. Gilkey
sailed down the aisle in all the
glory of her new bonnet, while
the husband followed at u
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES behind the sway.
ing plumes and spreading brim.
Mrs. Ames whispered to her husband
that it would he just like the Gilkeys
to try to get in ahead with the min
lister, that woman was 80 pushing"
He must remember and speak to the
minister right after church.
The choir sat down with a flutuer
and giggle. There was brief pause
Then the preacher advanced to the
desk and announced the hymn. As
the mellow tones OF his voice floated
out over their heads the waiting con-
gregation smiled gracious approval.
But what was it made Mr.. Ames
start SO violently Mt the first words
OF the reader, stare hard at the desk
and sink back into his seat with an
expression of blank dismay? Mr.
Gilkey observed it from where he
sat, and wondered what it meant
One look at the minister told the
story. He was the stranger who
had shared Mr.. Ames' seat in the
cars the night before! The subse
quent proceedings were fraught with
, painful interest for at least two O
that audience. Mrs. Ames whispered
to her husband that she noticed tina
Mrs. DR.. Holmes wore a new sealskin
but he needed her not, and wher
the congregation rosa to sing he KEEP,
| his seat despite that ladv's reprovine
look. He stole n furtive glance al
Mr.. Gilkey to see how he bore it.
. That gentleman; after SONG discus
sion with his wife arose, and held tn,
book for her during the hymn, but
he hung his head, anal1ooked crush
ed in spirit. Mrs. Gilkey, on the con
trary, carried her head and the bon
net with conscious dignity, and sans
like n robin.
: TO Mr.. Ames' excited imagination
that service was ten hours long, al
J though the clock only indicated al
hour and II half. Brandon had no
heard such sermon for many a day
but Mr.. Ames, alas! couldn't have
t told word there was in it. II,
{ counted the pipes in the organ. tn
crystals on the chandeliers, the pane
. Of glass in the windows, in his fran
l tic attempts to make the time pass
y But every time he turned from SOM
f abstruse numerical calculation, onl,
to hear the eloquent tones of tn
8 preacher and beh old the people hang
ing in rapt attention on every word
I MIR. Ames did not wait to he intro
I duced to the ministerafter the service
Far from il! He fished his hat GU
] from under the seat with unwOnte'
e alacrity. and made for the door
/ looking neither to the right nor left
t THAT was powerful sermon we'v
r just heard, lwasn'tit, Brother Ames?
n began Elder Stanclift, stepping soft
e ~ out into the aisle. 'Such dept
0 and profundity of thought, such
J. But Mr.. Ames stalked past him, wit