Middletown transcript., 1891-09-10
WEIGHED In THE BALANCE.
BY GERTRUDE SMITH.

4
shouldn't stay in and 60 to meet.
ing this evening. We've beer
having some good meetings all along
They'll be a big turnout Tonight
It's going to be clear and there's a
moon. You better stay in and go.
~ DON think l better. l don't
think John d want me to-"
al guess he could get his own sup
per for once and while you're here,
YOU might as we'll stay in aud CO."
"It amt his getting his supper.
He's done that enough times, and he
don't mind doing it but ! don't think
he'd want me to stay tonight"
"You don't mean to say he's SO SET
against religion that he wants to keep
you from going to meeting, do you
He always seemed sensible to me, and
that ain't sensible. We can take you
home just as we'll after meeting as be,
FORE"
Mrs. Hewett had been spending the
day with Mrs. McCsliister. She had
coine-oEer from the farm with Mr.
Hewett in the morning He had
brought over a load Of corn. Mrs
McCallister7had promised to take her
home before night if she would stay
and spend the day with her. Mrs
cCallister's husband kept the one
store in Elk Falls. The two women
sat in the little sitting-room back Of
the store. They were sewing. II
was a warm day, and the door was
opened on q porch. The porch was
covered with morning-glory vines
bright with blossoms.
Mrs. Hewett got up and went over
to the door, with the pretence of get
ting nearer the light TO thread her
needle. She was a plump little
woman. Her pale red hair was
brushed straight back from her face,
and coiled loosely on her neck. Her
fair skin was flushed. The bright
calico dress that she wore, covered
with little brown sprays, was over
starched, and ratified as she walked
across the room.
John never said much about it.
but know he's against these revival
meetings. We used to come to church
sometimes to preaching, you know" ;"
She bent her head over her work
"John never has to say much for me
to understand what he means"
Mrs. McCallister looked up quickly
at her visitor. Her face would have
had look of horror, if it had moi
been over-balaneed by look Of Curl
osity.
Give heard people say John Hew-
EFT was an infdel, but / never believ-
ed it. I always told them SO. I've
said, many's the time, John Hewet'
NAV not have got religion yet, but
he's no more infdel than you and me.
That's what I've always said" She
drew the needle through the cloth in
quick, short stitches, and waited q
minute for a reply. A man as ten
der-hearted as John Hewett couldn't
be an infdel."
Mrs. Hewett came back to her
chair and sat down. She buried her
face in the cloth she was sewing on.
i" He is" she said, in half-whisper.
al don't believe It'll" Mrs. Mccall
lister held her work tightly in hel
hands don't believe i'll"
"He is. I've always known it."
g You don't mean to tell me ht
don't believe there's any GOd?"
Mrs. Hewett bowed her head
There was a silence of several min
utes. Then Mrs. McCallister stood
up.
"I'm going to get supper, and yo'
must stay and 60 to meeting with us
If 1 was in your place I'd make {
stand, and 60 right along. Now you
are going to stay, so you just settle
yourself on that"
Mrs McCallister went out into the
Kitchen, and Mrs. Hewett went Oh
I with her. sewing, the tears falling OF
her ,gork.. She felt that she had al
ready taken the stand. against hel
husband in the confession she haC
made. She longed to be at hom
getting supper for him. She though
Of The cold lunch he had had in plac
of his usual hot dinner, and remem,
bered that che had planned making
biscuits for supper.
There was no church in Elk Falls
The foundation had beeu laid, ant
the people were hoping to build tn
church in the fall. At present ser
vices were held in the school, mouse
The school-house had been placed
for the convenience of all, in th
centre of the district, and was nearl,
a mile from the village. The villag
was on the banks Of the Elk rivel
but the school.house stood out on tn
unbroken prairie. It was a larg
one STORY wooden building, painte'
white. An unpainted three.boar
fence surrounded it.
The prairie was bright with moon