The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-14
punishment.

man. ne ualD not IVou W Scc tuio Du'
courage. boy and do the like no more
Shame attends folly Thou art young. lei
this be lesson After punishment and
repentance cometh forgiveness. so cheer
up. my lad
Ralph. said his wife. with smile in
her eyes and a frown on her brow. 81
could find it in my heart to fog thee
soundly but then thou art punished
enough Ghosts indeed and not maid
would 90 past the castle after dark. fol
fear of this boyl Let US hear no more
about ghosts.
She shook her fnger-they both shook
their fingers-she adjusted her hoop. and
entered the church The boys heart felt
lighter; Mr. Carnaby and madam would
forgive him His worship went on. bear
ing before him his gold headed stick and
walked up the aisle to his pew. large
room within the chancel. provided with
chairs and cushions. curtains to keep of
the draught. and fireplace for winter
After Mr. Barnaby there walked into
the porch man dressed in good broad
cloth with white stockings. and shoes
with silver buckles And his coat haG
silver buttons. which marked him for 8
man of substance His cheeks were full
and his face fiery as if he was one who
although young. lived WELL and his eyes
were small and too close together. which
made him look like pig 1t was Mathew
Humble, Ralph's cousin and guardian
At sight of him the boys face flushed
and his lips parted. but he restrained
himself and said nothing. while the fugle
man gave him an admonitory nudge with
his elbow
The man looked at Ralph from top to
toe. as if examining into the arrange
ments and anxious to see that all was
properly and scientifically carried out
''Ta-ta- tai" he said with an air of dis
satisfaction what is this? Call you
this penance? Where is the candle7 Did
is worship say nothing about the GAMBLER
Nothing" replied the fugleman with
shortness.
He ought to have carried candle
Dear mel this is irregular This spoils
all But Authenticated" stood
as far back as the breadth of the porch
would allow, so as to get the full effect
and to observe the picture from the best
point of view-''in a long white sheet
Ali bareheaded and in long white sheet
Oh. what disgraceful dayI These are
things. fugleman. which end in the gal
lows. For an Embleton. tool If the old
man can see it what will he think of the
boy to whom he left the MILF And to beg
pardon"-he smacked his lips with salts
faction-''to beg pardon of the peoplel
All. and to repeat the Lords prayer in the
church-the Lords prayer-in the church
aloudl The Lords prayer-in the church
-aloud--before all the people ALL Dear
me-dear mel"
He wagged his head as if he could not
tear himself away from the spectacle of
so much degradation Then he added
with a smile of perfect satisfaction de-
tail which he had forgotten
standing. too! The Lords prayer-in
the church-aloud before all the people
standing This is pretty beginning.
fugleman, for sixteen years
If the Lords prayer in itself were some
thing to be ashamed of be could not have
spoken with greater contempt The boy,
however. looked straight up into the roof
of the porch. made no answer nor seemed
to hear
The speaker held up both hands, shook
his head sighed and slowly withdrew into
the church
Then there came down the street an old
lady in white cap. white apron, shawl
and black mittens; an old lady with face
lined all over. with kind soft eyes and
white hair. but her face was troubled
Beside her walked girl of 10 OF there
abouts. dressed in white frock and straw
hat trimmed with white rib bon. and white
cotton mittens. and she was crying and
sobbing
Thou mayest stand up in the church. Z"
said the old lady. when he repeats the
Lords Prayer. but not beside him in the
porch"
but helped him." she cried "Oh. |
am as bad as hel ! am worse, because
laughed at him and encouraged him."
but thou hast not been sentenced, ("
said the old lady 1T is thy punish
ment. child-and heavy one-to feel
that Ralph bears thy shame and his own
too"
Il was on one side of the hedge when
Dame Ridley dropped her basket" the
child went on. crying more bitterly Il
was on one side and he on the other Obi
obi obi She said there were two ghosts
| was one"
When they reached the porch the girl,
at sight of the boy i'm the sheet. ran and
threw her arms about his neck and kissed
him. and cried aloud enough for all within
to hear:
''oh. Ralph. Ralph. it is wicked Of
themI''
These words were heard jail over the
church. and Mathew Humble sprang to
his feet. as if demanding that the speaker
should be carried off to instant execution
for contempt of court. All eyes were
turned upon his worship's pew. and
know not what would have happened, be-
cause his periwig was seen to be agitated
and the gold head Of his stick appeared
above the pew; but luckily just then the
bells clashed all together. frightening the
swallows about the tower so that they
flew straight to the castle and stayed
there. and the vicar came out of the
vestry and sat down in the reading desk
and. as was his custom. surveyed his
church and congregation for few minutes
before the service began.
1t is an old church of Norman work in
parts. patched up and rebuilt from time
to time by the Percies. but there are no
monuments of them The wears eyes fell
upon plain whitewashed building, pro
vided with rows of ancient and worm
eaten benches. worn black by many gen
erations of worshipers The choir and the
music sat at the west end In front of