Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-02
lCoPYRIGRT, 1so41
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
What was called union revival was
IN progress at the principal meeting
house in Broomfe1d, an old and quilted
village in the southwestern part of
Missouri, and the exhorters, vigorous
advocates of change Of heart and pur-
pose, were warm in their work when
the slight Autter of a counter excite
ment arose amid the congregation.
Old Bill Aimes, strong among the ex-
horters, and who long had enjoyed the
name Of Wheel Horse, - looked toward
the door and saw strange young
woman slowly and with long strides
walking down the aisle. She was ex-
ceedingly tall and with complexion
that seemed to darken as she drew
near, but she was not ungracefu1 and
neither was hor fGce wanting in at
Effectiveness. Her tailor-made gown
was mark Of ultra fashion in this out
of-the-way place; and her air. her
swing of motion bespoke the forced in
dependence of city life She paid not
the slightest heed to the gazes bent
upon her, but with easy freedom took
a seat and modestly turned her eyes to-
ward the altar where the mourners in
split and shivcred accents were pit
iably begging that the old Adam born
within them might be cast out into
utter darkness. And now the whisper
went round: "Who is she and where
did she come from and what is she do
ing here?" Some of the children
climbed upon the benches to stare at
her, and old Bill Aimes, always bold
man, looked straight at her and shout
ed his eXhortation as though he would
have her believe that she had arrived
just in time to escape the awful fury
to come. But the woman sat there not
the least disturbed; and when the Serv-
ices We're brought to close she got up
without looking about her and walked
straightway to the tavern, short dis
tance down the street It appeared
that she had already engaged room,
for she walked upstairs without halt
ing, and a few moments later a boy
came down with note in his hand.
Bill Aimes was standing near the door
of the hallway, and as the boy came
down the old man called to him and
told him to stop moment.
boy, what have you got there?" the
old fellow asked.
GA note, or some thing Of the sort,
he answered.
what are you going to do with it?"
''She told me to take it to the editor
of the Sentinel"
''Wel. let me see it." The boy hest
tated. Let me see it, tell you. Amt
I the mayor of this town, you young
rascal, and amt it my business to know
it if any underhand business goes on
here? Give me that. thing"
Thesidlers who stood about applaud
ed the mayor and the boy handed him
the note. Here, ALI" he said, speak
ing to young fellow, read this here
thing. Left my buckskin at home and
amt got nothing to rub my glasses
with. Read it." There was litter
among the idlers. what are you fell
lers gigglin' at? Think 1 can't read?
Hah? Is that what you think? Why.
gad-Lord forgive me for the express
sion-I read the Declaration of indie
pendence at muster before either of
you was born. What does that thing
say, Alf?"
ALI spelled and spluttered for mo-
ment or two and then read the follow
ing:
MY DEAR SIR: Meet me ct once in the par
lor at the hotel on important business Re
spectfully. POLLY LoPP.-
The old man took the note, loolzed at
it, turned it over, looked at it again,