The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-08

The aisles were packed to the doors.
Deacon Wall, as he poked the long pole
with its black velvet bag into the stand
ing crowd for their dimes, recognized
MethOdists, Churchmen, and even Tar
box the tailor, who was said to be an
atheist. The old man prayed in his
heart that he who came to scott might
remain to pray.
Major Yates, s landing in the front pew,
saw the strangers too, and pulled out his
chest and sang more loudly. Now these
fellows would see the harmonium and
the stained glass which he had given to
the church! He had given so much, al
though he was not member, that ne
had a vague feeling that the building
ought somehow to have been named LOT
him. He was delighted that 1t was from
the church which he patronized that a
missionary was tonight to be sent out TO
India. Six years ago, as soon as ne
heard that DR.. Hoods boy John wished
10 enter the ministry, he had given HIM
a scholarship at college, and ever since
had lent him helping hand. When the
Board advised Hood to marry before go
ing out and he announced that ne had
chosen that pert little Miss Paddock as
his wife, Major Yates had given fifty
dollars toward her outfit. Hence, dur
ing the services of the evening, when
John Hood was consecrated to his work,
and then was married to Lucy Paddock,
the major looked on complacently, Sc
cretly feeling that hymns and sermon,
tears and enthusiasm, all redounded to
the glory of Frank Yates.
Yet, although Major Yates was the
great man of the village, nobody remem-
bered him lust now. This congregation
was always earnest in the missionary
cause, but now their zeal burst into
flame. 1t was child of their own whom
they were giving to the Lord. John
Hoods familiar features took on heroic
meanings to them; his awkward figure
was that of a probable martyr. They
were not so enthusiastic about Lucy
Paddock. But she was good girl
enough, and would doubtless forget her
silly ways under the heavy cross which
she had taken up.
The lights shone. the music rose tri-
umphant: the man and woman who had
Just given themselves to this great life
work kneeled side by side. To Hetty
Goold, looking down from the gallery,
this seemed the supreme moment of life.
When John Hood gave himself to that
work, surely the world must have stop
ped to listen! She saw look of eXulta-
ton in the crowding faces around him.
What wonder? Her heart swelled; her
ewes grew blind. She covered her face.
Oh to give herself to Christ's work! To
90 out with ,John-with John! To the
ends of the world-to the stake. Deacon
Wall was praying-"For this thy son and
daughter" Hettys senses came to her
with cold shock She was not going
with John. Lucy Paddock was now his
wife.
The meeting was over. Everybody
waited to speak to the young mission
aries, but Hetty stole down the stairs
out into the colo, dark night. John used
to stand waiting for her at tho door.
She went home alone. She would always
60 home alone now.
The Goold house was small and poor.
The Goold family was large, with expen-
sive tastes and fashionable aspirations.
Mr.. Goold was lawyer with small vii
lage practice, but his pride and preten-
sion were vast enough for controller of
nations. The little parlor was blazing
with light when Hetty came in. Two of
her sisters, showily dressed in cheap
fnery, were jangling the old piano; two
others were reading torn novels; three
over their school books. Her father, in
shabby coat, a huge paste diamond in
his shirt front, was talking loudly upon
some point of etiquette in fashionable
circles. Hetty knew how patched was
his coat, how the bills for the girls silk
gowns, for the coal in the crate, even for
the bread which they ate for supper, were
as yet unpaid. What tawdry, sham
show their life was!
She went up to her own room, or rath-
er to the untidy chamber which she
shared with Fan and Belle. Their coarse
perfumes scented the air; some of their
clothes lay in heap in the corner. Hes
ter gave a gasping sob, and, throwing up
the window, looked out into the night.
Lucy Paddock would go with John hand
in hand into the quiet, vast corners of
the earth, to be alone with him, to teach
Christ. And Lucy was vain, shallow
coquette! John did not love her. He
was deceived, blinded for the minute.
"God manages this world strangely"
Hetty said, with bitter laugh as she
closed the window.
"Hester!" her mother called from the
next room.
Mrs. Goold, a sallow, patient woman,
sat by the stove in her chamber with a
basket of stockings. The GOold girls |
did not welcome her in the parlor. |
Neither she nor her stockings were pre-
sentable.
Chester" she said, "sit down mo-
ment. IL have something to say to
you." Her hands shook as she unrolled |
another ragged pair. "Your papa did
not speak to YOU as you came in?''
mo, mother; he did not see me-"
"He left it for me to do. He-yOu no.
ticed how pleased he looked, dear?'
eyes. What is itP" Hetty asked in
differently. HAS he borrowed any
money for this months bills?'
'Maior Yates was here this evening. |
He told-he has made up his mind to
marry"
"Then he will have che more thing to
rule over" said Hetty, irritably. "He
owns the town now. To think of his
calling it Yatesl Not even Yatesville,
but Yates!"
"Oh child, hushl" fluttered poor Mrs
Goold. HE is good man, and-it is
you he wants to marry"
"Me?" Hetty laughed A minute be-
fore she thought herself miserable for
life, but she had keen sense of fun.
She laughed until the tears came.
"Thlnk Of me up in the phaeton beside
the majorl"
"That is what your papa does think
of, dear. You will have phaeton, horses,
that great house and farm"
"You are not in earnest?" Hetty |
sprang up very pale. "The man is only
vaporing. He does not want to marry
me. o mother, yOu-you would not do
thatr
Mrs. Goold sobbed. She was naturally
49, o,,l ,ronI nt,t tho cfr1OUla with
poverty had been long and hard-if this
child could escape!
81 know he is vain and pompous Hes
ter; but he'd be kind"
81 do not love the man. Would you
have me marry man that l do not
love?" the indignant young voice rang
out.
Mono, dear! Oh, l don't know
There are so many-eight girls. Your
father does not know where to turn for
money!"
"And l would be one less to feed and
clOthe?'
Mrs. Goold did not answer.
"Why do we keep up this sham gentil-
ity when we are paupers? Why can we
not 90 out and earn our living? | will
go into shopl"
ooh, none Of you know how to do any
thing! You can scarcely count change,
Hetty. Your papa will never allow you
to 90 into a shop. If you lose caste that
way, nobody will ever marry any of
yoni'
There was a long silence.
"There isn't girl in Yates" began
Mrs. Goold, "who wouldn't be proud of
the majors offer. Why do you detest
him so, Hetty?'
81 don't detest the man. care moth
inn ahout bim-nothing!n