The Penn's Grove record., 1895-06-14

up III u behSOl
and will endure as long as the water
are limpid and the mountains grand
Growing the highest hill is the chic
hotel. The view from the veranda i
magnificent. The lower hilltops
rugged and Scared, near by, seem t.
grow level in perspective, stretching
away in a vast plain of darkest greer
to meet the blue sky in the distan'
horizon. The morning wind bring
the odor of wild roses; the evening
wind is freighted with the spice o
pines.
The Chalmers, mother and daugh
ser, were guests of the chief hotel.
"Itis exquisite" said Miss Chalmers
81 am weary of society. I will dc
nothing but rest for the entire SUM
mer."
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" :.
81 shall go to church," declared the
elder lady. "There is q lovely log
church in the country. I went to 3
log church when I was q little girl.
We will go to-day in q carriage"
So the Chalmersea 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
o larger valley, where there was
pellucid stream, shaded with syca-
mores and festooned with q bewilder.
lpg tangle Of vine.
( The country church was built Of
rough hewn logs and was not large.
Mrs. Chalmers and her daughter found
that the house was crowded, and al
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. Thif
breach of local etiquette amused he,
at first.
Miss Chalmers soon discovered that
the younger boys were nudging each
ether with their elbows and laughing
at her. The young men looked Of her
curiously the old men seriously; 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 fin
GERS at her.
How dared they'll Her face began TO
dame. The young men looked sym
pathetic, now; she felt that their pity
was an outrage. The preacher corld
no longer hide his annoyance, for no.
body needed the sermon now, and
everybody was intent upon that young
lady, who knew no better than to sif
mong men.
Mrs. Chalmers, who had fortunately
found q seat on the 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 some
times do. She listened earnestly at
the sermon, without hearing o word;
she gazed at the preacher and did moi
zee him.
Miss Chalmers tried to call up her
pride, but was helpless before the rid.
icule, which constantly became more
unmerciful. 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 q diversion il
her favor.
Immediately in front Of Miss Chal.
mers sat a young man. He had
aroused her interest, because he wore
what she called a respectable coat, and
because he had o fine head which he
carried on his magnificent shoulders
like 8 Roman hero, and because-well,
there is no stronger word than be-
cause. It can mean q great many In
expres5lDle pnln8S.
This young man arose, and tho gffA
noticed, even in her unhappiness, that
he was very tall, as most mountaineers
are. He stepped across the aisle and
took o little girl in his arms. Whisper
ing aword to the ohild'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 invita-
tion. 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 she found herself
curious about the color o.
his eyes. They must be gray.
The driver from the chief hotel had
not entered the church. As he lin
gered with his horses two men came
by in q wagon. The men we're old
friends Of the driver. In the bed OF
the wagon. shaded by some branches
of the pawpaw tree, there was o Jug;
and the liquor In the Jug was the driv-
er's dearest and most fatal enemy.
There were three men in the wagon
when il halted beneath the trees, q
hundred yards below the church.
the horses ate the men drank.
When the ermon was over Mrs
Chalmers and her daughter ate their
luncheon. Atterward, while the la
lies plucked May apple blossoms and
the cool dampness which the
'iter exhsled, the driver slept He
woke often in q melancholy mood, |
but they did not notice 1t; and each
lime when he threw off his slumbera
10 resorted to the jug, which hsd
omehow been left behind by the mep
q the wagon.
Later in the afternoon the driven
those depression had increased since !
he sun sank, hitched up bis horses,
nd the carriage began the assent OF
he long hill The jug was left among
he May apple blossoms It wa
Halfway up the hill q wheel dropped
nto a doep gutter and tho carriags
anne down with a lurch and a crash.
: was a hopeless wreck. The driver
ookad Mt kha hrokan uhaal With ~