Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-13
her VENGEANCE!

~ eSSHS AA sH@N
twenty five years ago, with its primi-
overlooking pulpit and high backed
pews, and the slight girlish figure con-
fronting alone the tribunal Of grim
deacons and rigid church members,
might have suggested later star
chamber to a spectator.
A church meeting had convened to
deal with Sylvia Graham, who had
been accused OF trespass, and whose
fair, fresh face contrasted in the dim
light Of the chandelier with the rather
stolid, care-lined ones around her. She
had coma among them stranger six
months ago, bringing letter OF dis
missal from the church in her English
home to one of the same faith in
Hoadly, Canada, and had been form
ally admitted to membership.
She was young wife. She had
married Philip Graham, captain of
the Echo, upon a weeks acquaintance,
to escape from an uncongenial home
where stepmother reigned, and had
sailed with him for Hoadly a week
later.
The quiet home he provided for her
in the city seemed lonely enough in
his absence. She had hoped to find
friends among the church members,
but with few exceptions they held
aloof from her with narrowness. She
had too pretty face for her own
good the older women declared. She
was too fond of dress, too full of mirth
and Jest and laughter for a church
member. There had been an irrever,
ent smile on her face, even, when she
had stood up to receive the right
hand of fellowship. A woman whose
husband was absent could not be too
discreet
Therefore, whep a charge was
brought against her by male mem
Der and sustained by his wife, who had
been one of the few friends, it received
ready credence..
There was no mirth in her face now
as she listened to the testimony OF her
accuser, man in the prime of life,
with dark, sensual face which his
long Christian profession had failed to
refine. ....... ....
He told that she had called at his
house in his wife's absence; has con.
Quoted herself wantoniy; that he had
felt called upon to rebuke her and
send her home, and that she had loft
him with SCOTS and ridicule. His wife
testified to meeting her on the door,
steps with strangely bright eyes and
flushed cheeks when she had returned
home; that she had a shamefaced. sus-
plcious look, and had hurried down
the street with scarcely word of
greeting. t7s I. l'l..
Sylvia sat with her eyes upon the
mans face and a dim wonder in her
soul, why. if there was a God, be did
not strike the man dead as he did
Ananias and Sapphira. She looked
round upon the unsympathetic faces
With tho de6anco Of brave, wild crea
ture trapped in the woods, who sees
the monster coming as she felt the
shadow Of disgrace closing darkly
about her. 8 II al lr4 ...e
1"She had that hardened look when
we went to see her." one of the COM
mittee OF women who, according to
church rules, had visited her previous
ly, whispered to her neighbor. "When
Sarah Ann Knowles wanted to kneel
and pray with her she laughed In her
face and told her to spend her prayers
for Felix Eynch, said he insulted her,
as if we'd take her word against his
who's been q constant member twenty
odd years." .'. - 1af' s.G
With the untamed, undisciplined
force of her nature all in arms, Sylvia
told how she had called at Mrs.
Lynch's house; how the husband had
met her at the door, told her his wife
was away and persuaded her to go in
and wait; howshis insulting words and
actions had provoked her to oretaliate
since she thoroughly disliked him aud
had only tolerated him On Shis wife's
account, and how he had followed her
to the door3 with the threat: 'You
shsll payfor this, myladyl ss
But her story carried mo weight in
the eyes Of the church, and bet de-
fant attitdne when she should have
humbled herself in the dust was
against her. When the vote for tx
pulsion was taken ii was found to be
unanimous. s.e-s as~rssp 4 "a
She was on her feet the next mo-
ment. You shall pay for this when
the husband returns, sheicried That
man iaa liarl l hate him. 9 hate
you alll' SGEgG
The meeting broke up, and Sylvia
Graham walked home with blacken.
ed reputation. -, -
The Echo was due in three days
To Sylvisait seemed three centuries tc
wait. She was confident that the mas.
terful captain would make them re.
pent of their deed in dust and ashes,
for she knew that he had little sym.
pathy with slanderers, and his anger,
the infrequent anger ola strong self
centered nature, was terrible. She
was very fond and proud of him. The
.tTf tF' 4 ~ Il.