Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-11-27

OlIO ciluINi.
AS IN usher gave him a seat he notlc-
ed that the high, old fashioned pulpit
had been replaced by broad, open
platform with u small reading desk, and
although the pews appeared the same
their doors had vanished. He remem.
bcred the click of the button and the
feeling Of lmprisonmt Mt it gave him as
his uncle closed the pew door and fast
encd 1t before service,
The congregation WAS gtthcrlng.-
There were many faces, those Of new
comers brought to the town by the
mills, which revived no memories but
there were others, the sight of which
made Herbert feel that he was living III
a dream. One couple whom he remem-
bercd us lovers came up the aisle fol.
lowed by Il group Of young people. II"
recognized the faces Of father
aud mother at once, although
twenty years hui chlnged the slender
youth to portly family man and the
bashful girl into serene matron. Then
came three sisters, stout and silyery
haired, evidently old maids, all of them,
although Herbert remembered them us
bellies of the village. He thought with
little thrill of triumph of the time
when one of them had wounded his
youthful pride by refusing to dance
with him at rustic merry making long
ago because he was onl a boy.
There were other faces which recalled
many forgotten events of his boyhood-
some of people he remembered in mid.
die lite, now grown aged, others Of old
school mates, serious now with the dig.
nifty Of years. 1t was strange to think
of them trealing the quiet Old paths all
the long time which he had spent in
the noise and hustle Of the world. He
wondered if he had grown as old as
they. He could not realize 1t, and yet
some of them looked at him as they
passed up the aisle with the mild curl
oslty awakened by the sight Of stran-
er. He saw that no one recognized HIM,
and he felt more lonely than before.
The pew IN front of where he was
sitting remained empty almost to the
last. TLen two ladies' entered, follow
cl by a stout, middle aged man and
some young people, one Of whom Her,
bert recognized lis the lad who had di-
rected him to the grave yard. lie knew
now why he had almost said, "llello
Joe, for the stout man at the head Of
the pew, evidently the lads father, was
Joe Philips, his old comrade. And,
yes, one of the ladies was Margaret. =
Herbert could see only her side face,
but that was enough. That clear cut
profile Was craven upon lis memory
like the profile Of Roman empress up.
on in antique gen. lasting for all time.
She had grown older, but she did not
look like an old maid her girlish beau
ty had changed to that Of Il sweet matur-
ity there was not fretful line on her
placid face. The old lady was probably
Joe's wife, but her face was not famil
lar. Joe had not married one OF the
village glrls. Herbert wondered if
Margaret was married, too. The fact
that she was with her brother on
Thanksgiving LAY meant nothing, for
New England women always flock home
for the family festival.
IIerbrrts first impulse WAS to lean
forward and speak to Joe, but he did
not do it. There was fascination in
sitting there unknown and watching the
familiar faces. Then the lad glanced
around and noticed the stranger of the
morning. Herbert saw him whisper
! to his father, who looked carelesslv
over his shoulder. A sudden start, the
light Of recogniton on the man s honest
! face, then an arm came over the back
of the pew and Hcrbert's hand was
seized with a hearty grasp. 1t was the
first friendly greeting. 1t warmed his
heart, and he felt like boy home from
school as he joined in singing the fanll-
lar Thanksgiving hymns.
After service there were hearty greet.
ings characteristic of Thanksgiving
morning in u New England country
church.. No one was absent and every
body that had been away had come
home-the son from the city, the young
girl from boarding school, all gathering
under the family roof tree on the day
of festiye reunion. Herbert was the
center Of welcoming group of old
friends, each Of whom insisted upon
bearing hun off to share the family tur-
key. AS greetings and invitations
poured in upon him he could scarcely
realize his desoIa,on and loneliness on