Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-07-15
OF MANY MODS


1871 "Rsfb vi h'o INt oOiiukts
All along the white road people are going
TO church. They do not look particularly
devout nor very anxious to get there, but the
deep-toned bell is calling out relentlessly,
and though they fain would stay at home
with plenty OF fans and iced drinks. still
their conscience and the bell have brought
them to step gingerly along the white, dusty
road.
Helen, who has been wondering II for once
she could not break through her rule and
stay at home from church, Is amazed on en-
tering her sisters room TO find that young
lady carefully adjusting her Sunday Int,
preparatory to joining the tllrong OF church
g0ers.
You do not mean to say you are going TO
churchP cries Mrs. Rodney, aghast. What
new freak possesses your
as 1t so very unusual for me to go TO
church," says the other, half pettishly.
But what IL your object-you who never
go"' returpj her sister, walking to the win.
dow and staring vaguely out ut the hot,
white road. And on this broiling day too.
Whew! the air seems as hot as the SUM-"
She is leaning her arms upon the wInfow-
sill; the little warm zephyrs are playing
h~ide-and-seek among her bright, brown
curls. Truly King Sol reigns supreme TO.
day. The huge dragon-fies are too warm 70
even buzz; they have dived far down in the
honeysuckle flowers, seeking shelter there.
About the river banks and on Its lImpid
waters tired looking flies and many insight
ly insects are stalking. The flowers one and
all have dropped their pretty heads and
above
''The sunbeams fiercely beat
And the silent hills and forest tops seem
reesng In the heat"
Eleanor has completed her toilet entirely
n her own satisfaction, and now turns half
sharply to her sister:
Are you going or not? II Is late and
Donie Is waiting"
'Oh, yes, yes" cries poor Helen rising to
her feet with a little heated sigh. Not for
worlds would she be Outdone by this Dolce
far niente."
SO five minutes later finds them marching
along the kings highway. The minister
never rides to church. Ii not n day of rest
for him, il Is certainly one for his faithful.
serving little horse.
They have reached the church, and walk
slowly with hashed footsteps up the soft
carpeted aisle to take their places In the
dark, highbacked pew. Miss Hathwell is q
good deal stared at to-day, but she does no,
seem TO observe ID.
The service wears on; the minister's grave
voice reads on with slow monotony. Flea.
nor falls 10 thinking what q good man he Is
as she sits looking at him in the soft church
light. A stray sunbeam has crept through
the blind, and is resting like q halo on his
silver hair. 1t must he q blessed thing TO be-
good.
She glances around at the scattered con.
gregation. There are not many; some ear.
nest, some wholly indifferent. All are fan
ming.
The sermon . sell advance. Daisy lies
with her head pillowed in her mothers lap.
sleeping as only children can sleep. Helen
is noddlng, too. She has not meant to, but
this dlpwsy stiffness Is too much for her.
Most OF the Others are following her exam.
pie.
Eleanor Is not nodding. She is staring
out of the window on TO the covered fields
and fair, green pasture lands, about which
the cows are wandering.
And now the benediction is pronounced,
and they file slowly out Daisy has been
awakened aud Is sleepily rubbing her blue
eyes. On the steps they pause TO wait for
Mr.. Hathwell, and Helen says inquisltively
"who in the world were you looking fol-
In church, Nell? You stared first one way
and then the other. Who was It?'
"Who should | be looking for?' retorts :he
other sharply; 50 sharply that Helen, with a
good deal OF sagacity, decides that her sistel
was looking for some one.
But indeed. she might have spared hersel
the search, for tire object OF II is at presen
lying on his back In the coolest spot OF tn
Professors lawn, with a brandy ald soda n
his elbow, aud the smoke of a fragrant ciga
curling upwards from his lips.
They walk slowly homeward, the ministe
and Helen in front, Eleanor and wear,
Daisy bringing mp the rear. Mrs. Rodney
turning, sees that some one has joined he
slster-a young man with al eager, happ.
face.
II watched you al through church," he i
saying joyfully. did you see meg'
mo"
81 thought of throwing my prayer book a
you" he goes on. IL coughed most con
sumptively, but you would not look at me-
II did not even hear you.'
She Is so terribly disappointed. She wishes
he would not talk to her so necessarily, bu
she may as well wish for the sun to stoI
shining.
SLOW in~attentive you Were" staring will
glad, eager eyes at her fair, young face
"You looked out OF the window Throughout
the entire sermon"
"And what were you doing?' she returns
rousing herself to something like attention
"You are in q glass house, remember"
lie Iapnbc s4lh lint ,yaa tankin0 a
yo,t," he says simply.
She frowns. This homage bores her, ant
she does not know what to say.
They have reached the gate, and the min
lister. turning, sees her companion and wei
comes him heartily.
"Ah, Mr.. Allen, ONE In and dine will
us, won't you? It's true we have not mucl
on Sunday, but you will excuse a minister
little hobby, and my girls will make it VI
for you with welcomes. Eb, Heleng
"Yes, do stay" says Mrs. Rodney gra
ciously.
The young man hesitates and glances a
Eleanor. She does not appear to have hear
them; she is watching Trico, who is making
frantic efforts to break from his chain, ant
so rush to spring upon her with eager wei
comes.
'Thank you, sir, 1 believe l will" say
Allen.
He has not strength TO refuse so charmin!
an invitation. So, blissfully unconscious o.
the frown which darkens his dear lady
brow, he walks up the path beside her.
1t Is four o'clock. They have eaten theiI
cold mutton and partaken of small, swee
~akoa and sherbet The minister has de
parted, Helen has disappeared, and Eleano
and her lover are alone.
He has persuaded her TO come out amonI
the great ox-eyed daisies and red clover bio
SONS, and they are sitting side by side on tn
old, carved wooden bench.
"What do you do with yourself Sunda,
a~fternoons?' he says, as he sits there idl
plucking of the petals Of q daisy. do 20
60 to churchY'
'Neyer."
"What do you do, them
Oh" withs yswH, ~ sometimes 60 :
walk and sometimes to sleep. 1t Is tn
slowest day In the week for me-"
He looks a trife shocked; her candor
somewhat startling.
mo doubt you think me very wicked.
believe | have that reputation"
NO, / do not You are ~only-only . Httl
different"
snow with Helen 1t Is different" sh
goes on, looking at him with her great, shir
Ing eyes. ''She Is fond OF church; sh
never misses She Is up stairs reading PA
udtse Lost now; she reads 1t every Sunday
And /, we'll, l a good after my own fash
ion. II does not suit many people, but