Rock Island Argus., 1896-11-09

S@
Waiting on tic corner of the great stone
steps.
ner of the great stone steps before the
church, full in the b-oiling sun. He
stood there for nearly half an hour. and
Alec wondered. Girls in pairs came,
rather light and dainty in their muslin
frocks, and disappeared into the cool
church out Of the heat. Perhaps it was
their presence within that kept the
young man without. Or he may have
had an interest in the farmer wagons
that drove up. each with a whole family
on beard. The agile but rather dowdily
dressed girl jumped lightly ont on cne
side, while her old father, with long
beard under his chin, alighted ON the
church steps on the other side, aud pro-
ceeded first to lift ont the little ones,
and then from the back seat his sub
startial, matrcnly wife. For a moment
the family made picturesque group on
the church steps as they consulted to-
gether. Then the man went with the
horse and wagon to the sheds in the
rear. and the women and children en-
tered the church.
Soon the young man on the church
stens had companions, and the first fam
lily was followed by 4 score CT others.
! It ic-t ths Hils.. .vu
| tpI"F -.i'G span, aDrcL-C.. 81 i..c ;.,....4,.
Peg. 80, as Alsc n.c.,Eanei him,
SrlEgirs MP tho rear, while 'Iisbeth
| l.v,r ID A.
in her place in the choir il time Mrs.
Higgins ..ave Alec formal invitation
to p placs in t-sir pew, and Alec &C.
ceptcd and followed close behind her,
witt, the children or each side Of him,
ev-;astly proud Of his company They
felt that there was something distin-
gushing about it, and Alec was pleased.
They found thick crowd in the en-
try before the inner door. and Alec was
obliged to elbow himself in rather
roughly, while everybody stared coldly
at him. That stony stare made him
most uncomfortable. but the Higginses
seemed to take it as natural enough,
and gave him what relief they could by
hurrylng to their pew, though most of
the audience were still crowded about
the door
But soon the preacher came. q bent,
but digIitied old man, with a sadly SOL
emn face. in which. however. goodness
shone, and as he made his way to the
pulpit the company about the door dis.
persed to their seats, and soon all was
quiet and solemn for few minutes be-
fore the little organ in the loft at the
rear, back Of the choir, wheezed forth
the voluntary
Alec felt that it was the most solemn
assemblage he had ever seen. Though it
was SO hot day, there was no fiutter of
rams, though fans indeed (of the large
palm leaf variety chiefly were in use,
there was 10 rustic of silk garments as
IN fashionable audience in the city, no
suodued buz. Of final whispers. Instead
there was little rustic of the leaves
that came with the light breeze through
the wide open windows, and the more
oistant murEiur of the fields. One could
hear, too, the ripple and gursle os a
orook that flowed not many rods from
the church, and now and then a bee or a
great fly bpzzed about over the heads of
the worshipers. So intense was this ne
cullar atmosphere to Alec that he wish
ed almost 60 cry out against it and fear
ed ne diseraced himself by his uneasi
ness in his seat. But at last he surren.
dered himself to it, and, becoming los.
III contemplation of the greenerv
through the windows or a buzzipe bee
J or the odor that came to him on the
breeze, he found the church a most rest
full place.
The service began with a HYMN. and
when the choir rose Alec observed that
'Lisbeth and George Iarston stood side
by side. Doubtless in the silent com.
munion Of many Sundays thus so near
each other had grown mp that attach.
ment which 'Lisbeth sternly but silent.
ly repressed, but which the blacksmith
as persistently but silently urged. When
at the second hymn the whole ccnyreaa.
ton rose and turned to face the choir in
the rear, Alec spent his curiosity and at.
tention IN watching those two singers
and felt suro that, however intense theil
affection. no word Of love had Yet pass.