The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-28
CHAPTER VI

clear and fresh after the thunderstorm
to which Fsirhill people still refcl
pridefully. - the most violent known
in thirty years. The gunpowder and
Chinese paper faint was swept and
washed out Of the world.
Mrs. Wayt. holding Fanny by tho
hand, and followed decorously by the
twin boys in their Sunday clothes and
churchward-bound behavior, emerged
from her gate ~ the Gilchrists gained
1t. In the white light Of the forenoon
the eyes OF the pastors wife showed
faded; groups Of fine wrinkles were 81
the corners, and bistre shadows under
them. Yet she announced vivaciously
that all were in their usual health .,
home, except for Mr.. Wayt's headache,
and nobody had been hurt yesterday.
For which we should return special
thanks, public and private" she went
on to say. walking, with her little girl,
abreast with Judge and Mrs. Gilchrist.
the boys falling back with the young
people. AT least, those OF us who are
the mothers Of American boys. ! can
breathe with tolerablc freedom now un-
III tuC HSAb OuItu VI Oulys SH0C q
fearful storm We had last night! My
baby was awakened by It, and wanted
to know II 1t was 'torpetoes or fire.
crackers" Yet. since we owe our beau
tiful Sabbath to the thunder and rain,
we may be thankful for 1t; also, as for
many other things that seem grievous
in the endurance"
II hope Mr.. Wayt's headache is not in
consequence Of having sat up until day
break, as he threatened to do" the
Judge said, in genial voice that reached
his sons ears.
March listened brcathlessly for the
reply.
II think not. / did not ask him this
morning at what time he left his study.
He is not inclined to be communicative
with regard to his sins OF commission in
that respect, but suspect he is an in
corrigible offender. He attributes his
headache verbally-to the extraordi-
nary heat Of yesterday. We all suffered
from it. more or less, and 1t increased.
rather than diminished. after sunset"
us Mr.. Wayt we'll enough to take the
service this morning."
20, yes!'' quickly emphatical. ut
would be severe indisposition indeed
that would keep him out OF the pulpit.
both his parents suffered intensely
from nervous and sick headaches. SO he
could hardly hope to escape. have OBJ
served that people who are subject to
constitutional attacks Of this kind, are
seldom i'll in any other way, particular
~ II the headaches are hereditary. How
do you account for this, Judge Gilchrist?
Or, perhaps, you doubt the statement
ITSELF"
March did not trouble his brains with
his fathers reply. The volubility OF
one whose discourse was generally dis
tinctiyely refined and moderate In tone
and terms would Of itself have chal-
lengcd attention. But what was her
object in saying that she had not in
quired at what hour her husband left his
study last night? Since she and her
sister were In occupation Of the room
from midnight-probably before that
hour-until two in the morning, she GER
tainly knew that he was not there and
almost as surely where he was and how
engaged during those hours. Where
was the need Of duplicity in the circum-
stances? Was she committed to uphold
the professional fiction. which her hus-
band circulated vauntingly, that his
best pulpit preparation must be done
when honest people arc asleep in their
beds-that the beaten oil Of the sanctu-
airy must flow through lamp-wick or
gas-burners? What end was subserved
by supererogatory diplomacy and sub
terfuge?
GLOW are the two Hesters to-day, Mrs.
Wayt?" asked May, from the side Of her
puzzled brother.
chester is rather languid. The heat
again" She looked over her shoulder
to say it, and they could see how entire
~ the freshness had gone from eyes and
complexion. Her very hair looked
bleached and dry. THE weather will
excuse every mishap and misdemeanor
until the dcg-days are over. Hetty
stayed at home to watch over her. 1t is
source Of regret to Mr.. Wayt and my
self''-comprehensively to the four Gil
christs-'.that my sister Is SO often de-
barred the privileges Of the sanctuary in
consequence Of Hester's dependence up
on her."
II have remarked that she is fire.
quently absent from church," Mrs. Gil
christ answered.
Tier dry tone annoyed her son. Yet
how could she, bred in luxury and living
in xffluence, enter into the exigencies
Of q position which combined the offices
Of nurse, companion, housewife, seam
stress, mother and bread-winner?
Mrs. Wayt took alarm.
Poor child! she hardly calls herself
church-goer at all. But it is not her
fault. She thinks, and with reason,
that it is more important for me to at
tend service regularly-for the sake of
the example, you Understandable we
can not leave our dear, helpless child
| with the children or servants. She gets
no Sabbath except as my sister gives 1t