New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-24

the keenness with which he scanned the erect,
agile figure. the thin, pale ascetic face with
/ its deep, powerful eyes. He was conscious Of a
slight shrinking. as II he dreaded to look at the
woman following Mercer. But he did look. and
he was surprised that he should still be moved
in any degree by the memory Of that foolish
tine when he had gone almost every day up the
French Broad In his boat; and when Temple
Crawford had Joined him. II was true that dur
ing that time he had thought Of nothing else.
But life had opened so SINCE So many other
things had happened
There was Temple again She did not look any
oder. Boynton thought at first. She looked just
the same, he fancied and that was as II had
always been. entirely different from any one else.
And her presence was never like the presence Of
any else.
Boynton made a slight movement OF i'm
F. patience with himself. He knew that Miss Wal
lis glanced at him. but he continued to look at
Temple.
She carried a green baze bag in her hand
Behind her walked an immense white New
foundland dog. This dog had ore black ear. lie
went up on the platform with Temple and sat
down close to her that he learned against he.
His mistress put her hand on the dogs head
but she did not appear to notice him as she
did so.
Mercer came forward Immediately to the pulpit
He stood an instant glancing over the congrega-
ton. Then he said
Let us az. unite for a moment in silent
prayer"
Nearly all the people bowed their heads. but
Boynton did not He continued to look az the
group on the platform. He thought it was curious
that the sight even Of the dog should affect him
perceptiby.
While The people apparently praying. and
he was gazing straight in front Of him. for an in
slant he ceased to what was before him. but
only saw broad river. with mountain peaks in
every direction: a boat. and in the boat an eager
youth with expectant eyes fixed on the rhodo-
dendron shrubs through which girl was sure to
come There even flashed through his mind the
fact that on that last day there had been pates
/ and lager
Yes il was the same woman who sitting
there now. with her head bent TO her hand. Bat
Temples hair no longer short. save about
her face, where 1t was thick and fluffy. as II had
been: but il coiled up at the back and took
from her head that particularly youthful ana
what Boynton just now called the North Caro-
lima look.
Even this self-satisfied young could no;
please himself by thinking that Temple had ever
been in love with him; and he obliged 10 own
mentally that he had very much wished that this
had been the case
head it rested on her hand He remembered
the prayer she had made that day in the boat.
He quite sure he should always remember
that and its effect upon him.
She had been very much in earnes; at the time.
And she had married the preacher,
Here the preacher opened his eyes and raised
his head. There was slight rustic Of eXpecta-
ton and people glanced at each other Mercer
read in a very quiet way the whole Of the Ser
mon on the Mount" But though he was quiet he
was impressive. and he did not try To improve
own.
Amy Wallis. listening. saying to herself
that. beautiful she had thought that chapter
from the New Testament to be. she had never
before known how beautiful il was nor how
strongly IL bore upon daily life.
Boynton thinking: Hes too clever 10 try
the shouting business here. imagine. Boston Is
different sort Of place.
Meanwhile. behind the speakers tall figure the
woman and the dog sat quietly. both Of them look
ing calmly about over the people. Il seemed II
Boynton that Temples face appeared 10 be
somewhat older. because ii was calm. There
was some change in It, he thought. he con;em-
plated 1t uninterruptcdly. But he could not find
adjective quite suitable to apply to that
change even in his own mind
When Mercer had finished reading he asked If
some brother or sister would start hymn
In the slight pause that followed this request
Miss Wallis turned toward Boynton. and he bent
down to hear her say:
You :hcy different. don't you"
The young man nodded II was true that.
though the meeting opened precisely
were different.
Boynton himself suddenly began to sing
Come thou fount OF every blessing"
and the crowd joined In Justify. the sound roll
ing at the open doors and seeming almost to
shake the walls
Mercer stood motionless behind the pulpit He
did not sing. because he could not. ARD Temple
was not yet singing either. There was some
thing like absent expression on her face.
When the first was done there was an
irstant's hesitation. Boynton could not think
OF the lines Immediately following, 80 he began
On the last verse;
ooh, to grace how great debtor"
Temple reached down and took her violin from
its bag She laid 1t across her lap without trying
its strings and she did not touch 1t when she
began 10 sing at the line
Prone to wander. Lord feel it,"
IT was a curious thing that happened then.
Almost every one else stopped singing the
voice commenced. and its volume Of melody
filled the large room,-
Prone to leave the God love-
Here's my heart. take and seal it;
Seal 1t for thy courts above"
Temple had risen Immediately and had come FOR
ward TO her husbands side She had clasped
her hands lightly about the instrument and thus
held it to her. Her voice, as has been said. was
"a contralto and 1t had the sympathetic 1uanty
SO largely developed that II was as II she sang
Of her very heart: as T. indeed the rich
blood OF a rich nature were flowing through her
tones into the hearts Of those who heard her.
Boynton told himself that 1t was kind Of trans
fusion not Of blood but OF spirit.
Those hearts suddenly leaped with an emo
ton that took on the guise Of religious enthu-
s.asm.
Some Of the sensitive spirits present
fred with intense longing for kind Of self
abnegation. some giving up that should make
the world at a better place.
Amy Wallis inerlacad her fingers under Ter
mantle and pressed them tightly together She
shivered with what she called "just!hcd de
light"
She had heard great many singers. famous
singers, who Played with notes and tossed them
about as juggler losses bas-the old trlte
comparison coming directly to her mind. She
was amazed and trine afraid Of herself She
glanced up at Boynton. but again he did not
notice her. for he was gazing at Temple who
had laid her violin chair and who now said:
II am going to pray"
And she began praying; not kneeling, but
standing there with her head back her mag
netic personality already beginning to have It's