Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-07-15

- anu AcluS WHICH
were scattered here
and there upon it. A light still burn
ed In the vestry. while Solomon
Mucklebackit. the sexton, waited on
the porch for the minister to come
forth.
"There'll be snaw the night" he
muttered. placing the key in the oaken
door. preliminary to locking up;
"there'll be snaw the night. or I'm sair
mista'en. And the Annan"s rising
it's snawing moo amang the hills"
All at once the light in the vestry
was extinguished. and the minister, a
man about fifty years of age, appeared
on the threshold. wrapped in heavy
winter cloak and carrying thick
staff
"Lcck up. Solomon. my man." he
said.
Solomon obeyed. turning the key in
outer one Of solid oak, while the min
ister stood waiting on the path. Then
the two. side by side, and with much
the same kind of mechanical trot.
passed across the churchyard, pausing
now and again to struggle with the
fierce gusts. and TO hold on their head
gear-the sexton his Sunday bonnet"
and the minister his broad-brimmed
clerical hat.
Reaching the iron gate. which was
rattling and creaking in the wind. they
descended three moss-grown steps. and
reached the highway. Here all was
pitch dark. for the shadow OF tall yew-
trees fell from the other side. deepen
ing the nocturnal blackness: but,
crossing the road. they opened another
gate. crossed the garden where the
yew-trees grew. and reached the door
Of the manse.
Standing here In complete shelter.
they heard the "sough" OF the blast
overhead among the tossing boughs.
like the wild thunder Of stormy sea.
The manse was n plain two-story
building. as old as the times OF the
Covenant and containing numberless
cheerless chambers. the majority of
which were unfurnished. Here the
Reverend Sampson Lorraine had
dwelt in solitude for flve-and-twenty
years. He had come to the place as
shy young bachelor, student, and
a bookworm: and despite all the sieges
that had been laid to his heart. as was
Inevitable in place where marriage
able men were few and spinsters many.
bachelor he had remained ever since.
People said that n love disappointment
in early life had made him thereafter
invulnerable to all the charms Of wom-
en-, but at first his single condition
made him very popular. Presently,
however. as his position as bachelor
grew more confirmed. and his eccentri-
cities increased. he ceased to awaken
much interest.
Opening the door with latch-key,
he entered bare lobby. and striking
a light, led the way into large room
on the ground floor. 1t was scantily
furnished with an old carpet, an old
fashioned circular table with drawers.
and several chairs; but on the walls
were numerous shelves. covered with
books. The room had two large win
dows looking on the back lawn which
sloped down to the river. but was with
out curtains of any kind.
A fire burned on the hearth. and
rude box OF peat fuel stood by the
nreside. One side of the table was
spread with clean cloth. on which
stood a tray with bread. oatcake,
cheese, and butter. and a large stone
water-jug, a black-bottle, and some
glasses.
..Sit We down. Solomon" said the
minister, placing a lighted candle on
the table.
solomon stood. hat in hand. Every
Sunday evening for many long year
he had entered the house in the same
way. at the same hour, and received
the same invitation.
Seen in the dim light of the room,
the sexton was a little wizened. white
haired man. with hoary. bushy eye
brows, keen gray eyes, and sunken.
tanned cheeks. He was dressed in de-
cent black, with a white shirt. and the
kind of collar known in Scotland as
"stick-nps" The minister, on the
other hand, was tall and somewhat
portly, with round, boyish face, gen.
tie blue eyes, and mild. good-humored
mouth. His hair was white as snow,
and fell almost to his shoulders.
"Sit ye down, sit ye down." he re-
peated; "and take a glass-the night
IL cold"
Solomon placed his bonnet carefully
on the edge of the table, and seated
himself respectfully on one of the
cane-bottomed chairs. Then. leisurely
and solemnly, he poured out glass of
raw spirit. Meantime Mr.. Lorraine.
having divested himself OF his cloak
ard hat, sat down in the armchair by
The flrcside.
Here's fortune. SIR" said Solomon,
drinking off the whisky; then, wiping
his mouth with his sleeve. he sat bolt
upright and expectant, waiting to see
II his superior had anything more TO