The Opelousas courier., 1893-08-12

covered Y 20 ]
wagons waiting near the station TO,
their owners were rapidly filled, and
longprocession of pedestrians streamec
up the board walk leading to the vii
lage.
Mrs. Parker and Sidney walked
slowly, enjoying the novel experience.
You are sur you remember the
house?" Mrs. Parker asked.
"Positive. It is a pretty long walk
for you, dear, but we will stop at the
hotel and get a carriage if you are
tired"
"No, I rather enjoy it; the air is SO
pure and good"
They walked up the long street I'm.
til they reached the corner and turned
up the road leading past the postoffce.
A number of people were waiting out.
side for the postmaster to finish sort.
ing the evening mail. They could see
him standing by the window in hie
shirt sleeves, hat on the back of hia
head, spectacles on his nose, gravely
inspecting each letter, then, very slow.
~ putting it in the proper pigeon hole.
"Here we are" Sidney said, as they
approached a d~rab-colored house With
a green lawn at one side.
Mrs. Dusenberry, with whom thew
were going to board, came to meet
them. She wore a rusty black dress
and a white apron. ssIsn't it warm for
the first of May?" were the words Of
her greeting. ''Come right in, sup
per's most ready"
Rosamond Parker had been married
On her twentieth birthday. After
three years OF bliss not often given to
mortals, her husband died, leaving
her alone with her baby boy. The
child saved her reason from going.
she lived for him, and now, at twenty.
she knew his heart belonged to her
and his art, for his father was an
artist, and the boy inherited his
genius. They had spent the winter in
Washington. This little town, an
outlying suburb across the Potomac,
was recommended to them as O quiet
place in which to rest after their busy
winter. 1t was settled mainly by
Northern people.
81 presume you're going to church
this lovely day." Mr.. Dusenbury re-
marked at breakfast the f~olIgwine
morning, Sunday.
II hadn't thought of it," Mrs.
Parker answered. "You have q mum.
Der OF churches here. haven't you?"
Eight. There's the Northern Metho.
dist and the Southern Methodist. and the
'Piscopal and the Baptist, and the
Congregational and the Presbyterian
and the Catholic and the colored Bap.
list. What church do you attend,
Mrs. Parker?'
sometimes one, sometimes an
other. / do not belong to any,"
"Then I'd be pleased TO have o
go with me. I belong to the Presby.
it's a very pleasant church, j
Mrs. Parker accepted the invitation
gracefully, and joined Mrs. Dusen.
bury a few minutes before eleven,
accompanied by her handsome son.
She felt the curious eyes of the con.
gregation upon them as they followed
Mrs. Dusenbury to her pew well up in
During the sermon Mrs.
Parker's thoughts wandered, and she
turned to leave the pew, after the
benediction, with a sad look in her
eyes. She was a beautiful woman,
possessed of an ~undefnable charm of
manner. her entire appearance SO
youthful few people could believe that
sha was really Sidney mother.
They were introduced to several PEG.
pie who welcomed them cordially.
One hospitable matron, Mrs. Lacy by
name, shook Sidney's hand heartily,
and said: "You must join our Chris.
tian Endeavor Society. Pleased TO
have you come this evening. The meet.
ing begins at seven / think you'll find
it very interesting"
That evening about dusk, Sidney en-.
tered the small room where such meet.
were held, and seated himself near
The door. The leader was in her place
On a slightly raised platform, a girl
about seventeen, with q rounded figure
dressed in white, q large white hat
q dimpled face, exquisite in its
fresh coloring, brown curling hair,
'oft brown eyes. She looked many
lines at Sidney; he could feel her eyes
him and it made him uncomfortable.
soon she gave out the number of q Cos
,el song. Il WAS sung, and q boy about |
'ldney's age offered q prayer, as re-
luested by the leader. Sidney listened
With decided interest.
After the meeting closed he was in
reduced to the leader, Miss Perrigo.
The girls called her Nancy. She Ing
red near him no one seemed to be
With her.
ssAre you alone? Perhaps you will
ct walk home with you" Sidney found
himself saying.
why yes, you can if you want to-
nth o triumphant glance at the other
which Sidney didn't see. She
away beside him.
Don't you think our meetings are
lst lovely? Ispose you're a mem.
81 never attended q meeting before
o-night.
Ae,hl You must join. What church
you b'Iong top,
mot anY.
She opened her eyes widely in sur-
rise; Wei. yoHA can be an associate