The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-08-07
THE LITTLE LOG CHURCH.

Down in the heart of the mountains
isa summer resort. 1t is not in the
north nor of the south, but il is a cos
mopolitan little city of hotels. II
sprung up in a season and will endure
as long as the waters are limpid and
the mountains grand. Crowning the
highest hills is the chief hotel. The
view from the veranda is magnificent.
The lower hilltops, rugged and SCARED,
near by, seem to grow level in perspoct-
i've, stretching away in vast plain of
darkest green to meet the blue sky in
the distant horizon. The morning
wind brings the odor of wild roses (;
the evening wind is freighted with the
spice of pines.
The Chalmers, mother and daughter,
were guests of the chief hotel.
at is exquisite" said Miss Chalmers.
''I am weary of society, will do moth
ing but rest for the entire summer"
Miss Chalmers rested four entire
days. The fifth day was Sunday.
1--WE must go to church," said Mrs.
Chalmers.
'But there is no church, mamma !;
the minister is taking his vacation in
the city while we take ours in the hills
~ shall go to church," declared the
elder lady. "There is a lovely log
church in the country. / went to a LOG
church when l was little girl. We
will go to-day in a carriage"
So the Chalmers went to church,
not to the little white church in the
valley below them, but over miles and
miles of gravelly ridge road, down a
long, steep hill and into another and a
larger valley, where there was a pellu-
cid stream, shaded with sycamores and
festooned with a bewildering tangle of
vines.
The country church, which was built
of rough hewn logs was not large.
Mrs. Chalmers and her daughter found
that the house was crowded, and, as
there was no usher, obtained seats with
some difficulty.
Miss Chalmers was on the right of the
centre aisle. She soon discovered that
the aisle separated the two sexes; that
she, alone of all the women there, was
seated among the men. This breach of
local etiquette amused her at first.
Miss Chalmers soon discovered that
the younger boys were nudging each
other with their elbows and laughing
at her. The young men looked at her
curiOusly; she began to feel nervous,
and the feeling annoyed her more than
the attention she was receiving. Then
she noticed that the girls across the
aisle were giggling and whispering
maliciously; and, yes, actually pointing
their fingers at her,
How dare they. Her face began TO
flame. The young men looked sympa-
thetic, now she felt that their pity was
an outrage. The preacher could no
longer hide his annoyance, for nobody
needed the sermon now, and everybody
was intent upon that young lady, who
knew no better than to sit among men.
Mrs. Chalmers, who had fortunately
found seat on this upper side, was the
only person in the house ignorant of
her daughters embarrassment The
long ride had wearied her. She was
resting, as elderly persons sometimes
do. She listened earnestly to the ser
mon, without hearing word she gaZ-
ed at the preacher and did not see him.
Miss Chalmers tried to call up
her pride, but was helpless before the
ridicule, which constantly became more
unmercifui. The benches on the other
side all seemed to be full. She saw no
escape but to leave the room. She had
Just decided TO bolt ignominiously for
the door, when there was diversion in
her favor.
Immediately i'm front of Miss Chal-
mers sat a young man. He had aroused
her interest, because he wore what she
called respectable coat, and because
he had fine head which he carried on
his magnificent shoulders like a Roman
hero, and because-well, there is no
stronger word than because. 1t can
mean great many inexpressible
things.
This young man arose and the girl
noticed, even in her unhappiness, that
he was very tall, as most mountaineers
are. He stepped across the aisle and
took little girl in his arms, whisper
ing a word to the child's mother before
he returned to his seat. He did not
look at Miss Chalmers, but the woman
smiled to her, silently pointing to the
vacant seat.
The unhappy young lady was only
too glad to accept the invitation. Her
mother did not notice the incident, nor
did the young man seem to be aware of
it. He did not once turn his head, and
sllt tDuilu
about the color of his eyes. They must
be gray.
The driver from the chief hotel had
not entered the church. As he linger-
ed with his horses two men came by in
a wagon. The men were old friends of
the driver. In the bed of the wagon,
shaded by some branches of the paw
paw tree, there was jug and the
liquor in the jug was the drivers dear
est and most fatal enemy. There were
three men i'm the wagon when il halted
beneath the trees, a hundred yards be-
low the church. While the horse ate
the men drank
When the sermon was over Mrs.
Chalmers and her daughter ate their