Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-11-10
IN SOBER ROBES.

LutlS Sllt Ndos ulltlNlN DIS usual, lOuIS-
ing on the steps of West House, with
her plump hands folded in her lap, her
cap strings undone, her cape rakishly
awry, her gray hair shamelessly rum
pied. 1t was o'clock, and the lower
ing sun had tlnged the western sky with
an edge of faded brown. Frogs were
calling, and faint, intermittent tinkle
Of cowbells stole over the rolling pas
ture lands beyond the Shaker village.
Big and barren in the silvery half dusk
the Shaker dwellings rose upon back
ground Of pale skies and green fields.
Everything looked stolid and blank.
The meeting house, austerely plain, the
sturdy houses, shops and barns, the very
flower beds in the yard of West House,
suggested an undertaking rigor of aim.
And in the midst of it all, very incar-
nation of cheerful laxity, sat Sister HUI
dab, with her pulpy, unascetic figure
and broad, babyish old face
Behind her a long vista of hallway
ran straight and smooth through the
center of West House. Now and then a
woman in Shaker garb, plain and prim,
went in staid steps across the painted
floor 10 the sitting room at the farther
end of the passage. 1t was the hour of
the evening gathering, but old Huldah,
squatting comfortably on the back door
step, had forgotten about everything ex-
cept the tranquil aspects of the twilight
hours.
A man with longish silver hair under
his fat hat came up the path.
Good evening to you, sister," he said
in curiously soft, womanish voice
You're not overlooking the hour of
gathering, are you? Our new clderess is
particular about having the family
prompt His accent was one of kindly
warning, and Huldah started,
Law, well!' she sighed. Il let it slip
my mind, so did! 'Taint easy fer me
10 git into new waysOf dom, Bro Henry.
We never heard of no gathering hour in
Elderess James time. | amt. passing a
word agin Elderess Lucia. She aims to
do right, but she's from up moth, and
she's young and upheaded, and-well, /
reckon it's fer the best, but | amt felt to
home here since Jane died.
'She was a Kentucky woman. so she
was, and she understood how t person
might hev the love of Ann in 'em and yit
disremember TO tie their cap strings.
No, Bro Henry. know t the new ell
deress hes my good at heart. know
I'm keerless to my own ondOin, but
Jest can't seem to git ahead of them cap
stringsl Look like was born thrif'less
| was always a-breaking things and tear
ing my clo'es and gittin into mud holes
as child, and being a Shaker fer 40
years amt took it out'n my blood" She
sighed deeply, but the expression on her
mild face was one of genial resignation
rather than hopeless grief,
/ Brother Henry sighed too. The new
elderess, though a holy woman engaged
in laying great bases for eternity, had
short shlift for human weaknesses.
"She has great gifts, mournfully con-
ceded the old man. He went up the
steps with the stiff accuracy of a pair Of
compasses and entered the house.
A tall, slight young woman was COM
ing down the hall. Her very shadow
on the yellow floor had look of severity
She was young, with a pale, beautiful
face. The thin lines of her lips held
something that was in harmony with the
cold glance of her dark eyes, and she
walked with certain determined gait
as if each step were set to an exact
measurement. She advanced to the dool
and looked out on the quiet garden the
fading sky, the rising stars and the
slouching old figure on the steps. isis
ter Huldah." she said
Huldah's shoulders twitched. Shelum
bered hastily to her feet.
II was jest laying off to come in, sh'
advanced in conciliating tone as sh,
stood, broad and awkward, fumbling a
her cap strings Look like kind o
lost myself asserting here listening a
the frawgs holler. Down in Lincoln
county, where was raised. the frawg
they used to start in of a night
"Huldah," remarked the elderess cold
". there are cherry stains on you
hands, and your skirt has zigzag rem