Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-04-20

hold upon the band box, and the sud
! den jolt of the cars had precipitated
into the aisle. With the aid of a fel
| low passenger and cane, Mr.. Gilke
| fished up the precious parcel, and b,
| the time this feat was accomplished th
train was moving slowly into the Bran
don Station. Mr.. Ames shook hands
with the stranger at parting and salt
| he was glad to have met him; aftel
| which ceremony the travellers repaired
to their several destinations-Mrs Gil
key with vague forebodings lest the
fall should have resulted disastrousl,
| to the contents of the band-box Mr.
Ames with a placid satisfaction will
himself and the world at large, and tin
stranger-but as he is a stranger w,
cannot guess with any accuracy wha
his thoughts and feelings were
The church was filled that Sabbath
morning, and an agreeable flutter O
expectation pervaded the we'll dressed
congregation. Their faces wore thai
wide awake, alert expression of persons
who expect to be entertained. Mr.
Ames, felt very tranquil in spirit, as he
leisurely ascended the church steps
just in time for the opening anthem
AS he leaned back in his seat and
glanced over the crowded house he said
80 himself that he, for one. was glad
they were going torhave a steady pas
tor, and he was going to do his best to
encourage him. He'd get introduced
after service and invite him up to din
ner tomorrow. He nudged his wife and
confided to her this resolve, and she
said twas just the thing He craned
his neck around to get a sight of the
new man, but the desk completely hid
him from view, as he sat in the large
pulpit chair, resting his head on one
shapely hand. With the last notes OF
the anthem, Mrs. Gilkey sailed down
the aisle in all the glory of her new
bonnet, while the husband followed at
a respectful distance behind the sway
ing plumes and spreading brim. Mrs.
Ames whispered to her husband that it
would be just like the Gilkeys to try to
get in ahead with the minister, that
woman was SO pushing He must re-
member and speak to the minister
right after church.
The choir sat down with fiutter and
giggle. There was brief pause. Then
the preacher advanced to the desk and
announced the hymn. AS the mellow
tones of his voice fioated out over their
heads, the waiting congregation smiled
a gracious approval But what was it
that made Mr.. Ames stare so violently
at the first words of the reader. stare
hard at the desk, and sink back into
his seat with an expression of blank
dismay? Mr.. Gilkey observed it from
where he sat, and wondered what it
meant. One look at the minister told
the story. He was the stranger who
had shared Mr.. Ames seat ih the car the
night beforel The subsequent proceed
ings were fraught with pain. for at least
two of that audience. Mrs. Ames whis-
pered to her husband that she noticed
that Mrs. DR.. Holmes wore a new seal
skin, but he needed her not. and when
the CONGREGATION rose to sing. he kent
his seat. despite that ladv's reproying
look. He stole a furtiye glance at Mr.,
Gilkey to see how he bore it. That
gentleman, after some discussion with
his wife. arose. and held the book for
her during singing. but he hung his
head and looked crushed in spirit. Mrs.
Gilkev. on the contrary. carried her
head and the new bonnet with con
scious dignity. and sang like a robin.
To Mr.. Ames excited imapination
that service was ten hours and a half.
Brandon had not heard such a sermon
for MANY a day. but Mr.. Ames. alas
couldn't have told a word there was in
it,. He counted the pipes in the organ,
the CRYSTALS on the chandeliers, the
panes of glass in the windows. in his
frantic attempts to make the time
pass. But every time he turned from
some abstruse numerical Calculation
only to hear the eloquent tones of the
peacher and behold the people hanging
in wrapt attention on every word. Mr.
Ames did not wait to be introduced tC
the minister after the service. Fa,
from it He fished his hat ont from
under his seat with unwonted alacrity
and made for the door. looking neither
to the right nor left. ssTbat was q
powerful sermon we've inst heard
wasn't it. Brother Ames ~ began Eide,
StancIift. stepping softly out into the
aisle. Such depth and nrofounditv OF
fhnJIOht CnRh-1Rnf