The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-09

professed. Hear him shoutin' Nina
cried, craning her neck for better
view of the altar stir. By this every
body was standing, and at least half
the more jealous among Bethel men,
bers were up among tho penitents, pray
ing, counseling. consoling They made
an indetsrminate throng in the open
square before the pulpit. Teddy had
sprung upright in the middle of it, wav-
ing his arms and wildly crying:
"Glory! Glory! God is my Fatheri
know he loves me, eben me. Glo.ryi
Glor-ee-eei'
"Bless the Lordl Sing his praises, all
ye people," Brother Green said from
the pulpit steps. Brother Milliken had
been kneeling beside Teddy, praying
low and earnestly for him. Now he got
up and stood, tall and tremulous, beside
the rejoicing youth. At the very back
of the house Teddy's mother, thin,
discouraged looking wo - in shabby
weeds, pushed her way mo the aisle
and made to go to her son. Before she
had got half way Nina Winfield flung
herself over the pew in front of where
she sat, darted up the passway and
caught Teddy's hands in her own, her
face working, tears raining over it.
Miss Winfield gasped once, then sat
suddenly down, limp and livid, so wild
was her rage. The stir of Nina's exploit
had set those very far back to standing
On the benches instead of the floor. Nj
ma was by no means unconscious of the
interest she had evoked, though her ex-
cited feelings were really beyond con-
troll. She was by nature i'll balanced, by
temperament hysterical Besides her
best girl friend was Sophy Ann Brazzle-
ton, who had got religion at the same
time Nina did, yet had been shouting
ever since.
Nina meant no longer to be outdone
by Sophy AIMS precocious saintliness
Then, too, she was stirred by the SER
mon, still more by the sight of Teddy
among the redeemed. Alice, she knew,
would be mad about it, so would ror
mother, but neither of them would
dare take her to task while the revival
lasted. They would fear what she
might tell to the church folk, especial
ly Mrs. Talbot And afterward-that
was long way off-no matter what
came then, Nina felt that to be the her.
oine of night like this paid for very
many snubs and much reviling in the
bosom of her family.
AS Teddy saw her and gripped her
hands he shouted louder than ever. A
contagious thrill ran through the ex-
cited throng Old Brother Baxter, who
had raised the tunes for half q century,
struck up ID his deepest bass:
''Savel Savel Save, LordI
Send converting power DOWN.
Save, my dear LordV'
Instantly the simple monochord swell
ed from every throat. Three more peni-
tents sprang up, shouting aloud in the
Joy of new hope. Friends and kinfolk
crowded in to embrace them and wiring
the hands of the Christians about. Other
penitents half ran, half fell, up the
choked aisle. The air seemed to pulse
with electric feeling. Brother Walton
prayed without ceasing, now at this
bowed head, now at that. Brother Green
did not stir from his chosen penitent, q
big, rough fellow, who had come to the
altar as though dragged by invisible
hands.
He was Matt Taylor, the blacksmith,
famed the countryside through for
strength, skill and wickedness. He had
not moved from the spot where he fell
rather than knelt upon first reaching
the altar. Strong, slow sobs shook him
from head to foot. His hand was cinch-
ed hard upon that of the minister. Now
and again he spoke thick word Of
hopeless supplication.
Lord" came dry and gasping, II
ain't-wuth savinl You know that
you-know-every- thing-an-Ih had er
good-mother! She was good-mighty
goodl LIANT never been-no credit ter
her-but she said-it was her last word
You loved me-better'n she did.
tried ter fergit-but-it staid with me
it fetched me-here Lord, save me
eff you choose--ef you do love me-like
she saidl Ef-you don't-I'm lost
world without-end. Save mel Save
me! Jesus Christ, save mel'
Amen and amen arose on every hand,
tuOuSu Ido BOOu poOpio uuu hoo hOaiu
his hating words. None but the all
hearing ear indeed might have disen-
tangled them from the massed confu-
sion of sound about. The blacksmith's
wife sat amazed in fear and trembling
hope. He was not actively unkind to
her when he was sober. That was about
one day in seven. The other six she spent
in making fair weather for his uncer-
tain temper, and often got blows as a
reward Of her endeavors She had been
church member when she married
him. but since he had refused steadfast-
ly to give her money for church dues
she had kept away from services until
she was hardly counted Methodist.
It had almost taken her breath when
he babe her get ready to come with him
to Bethel tonight. She did not know
how for weeks something Brother Green
had said had been ringing in her hus-
band mind. The minister's horse cast
q shoe one Sunday as he was riding past.
He had routed out the smith to save the
L. Ia L Hoo