Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-05-13


of remuneration from the thraldom of the
flesh. The congregation was unusually
large, for the fervency of exhortation
and the vehemence of supplication had
quickened the slumbering fires of piety
in the hearts of the faithful and strength
ened the feeble knees of many hating
zealot.
The organist was playing a dreamy
voluntary, full of the tenderest express
sion from Mendelssohn's "Songs With
out Words" AS his fingers stole softly
over the keys he muttered to himself a
stanza which fitted the air admirably
and in which the lire, when the bird
waketh and the shadows flee" was in
corporated. 1t was quiet, restful
scene, full of comfort for the body and
soul.
Just as Josh came down on tiptoe
from the belfry, the outer door of the
church swung open and young woman
entered. She was elegantly dressed.
Her form was wrapped in a sealskin
cloak and diamonds sparkled in her ears.
There was an air of elegance and refine
ment about the woman which caused
Josh to open the inner door with more
than his customary politeness. With a
gracious inclination of her head the wo-
man entered and took a seat, in the ex-
IRENE end of the pew nearest the door,
upon the faded red cushion.
This was the first time that Dove Jones
had been inside of a church for five
years. There were no bushes in her
cheeks now such as wed with the holly
hooks in her mothers garden when she
vert away. She had lost her roses with
her self respect, and had earned
dark circles under her hazel eyes, pall1d
brown and disease which the doctors
said was valvular disease of the heart.
In moments Of excitement she was seized
with paroxysms which turned her face
the color Of ashes and made her feel as if
steel fingers were squeezing her heart re-
lentlessly. And now she was on her
way home to her mother, who lived IN
the village, to sit by the window where
the honeysuckles bloomed in summer
and the scent of sweet briar stole in ct
twilight. While passing the church on
her way toward the window seat, she
saw the lights in the church windows
and heard the deep toned bell, and an
impulse which she could not resist
prompted her to enter. Many inquiring
glances were cast at her, but none recog-
nized her now. But many familiar faces
met her gaze as she looked around. A
few seats in front of her sat the fat
grocer, whose dried apples she had so
often stolen when on an errand for her
mother. In pew in the church sat the
rich banker who went to the city every
morning and returned at night. He
had paid for the new baptistry, Dove re-
membered. She recalled with smile
that he often prayed in meeting and
always repeated the phrase, "On this,
this earthly footstool," fifteen times in
each petition. He put five dollar note
on the plate every Sunday, she remem-
bered too, as she looked at the bald spot
on the top of his head.
But in the extreme corner of the
church near the pulpit, where the pews
were cheap, she saw family, for the
church was dimly lit, two figures. Both
were plainly dressed and gray-haired.
They were her father and mother. Her
heart leaped in her bosom. There was
an ICY construction in her breast and the
perspiration started On her hands and
forehead. With trembling fingers she
0sN out Of her pocket small vial