The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-24

ME knew, for the supply OF daily bread
which she deposited in the hollow tree
disappeared as regularly as it was
placed there. .,
The camp-meeting opened with a
great promise of success. The pre-
siding elder said he felt "as ef there
was goin' to be a reg'lar or-fashi'ned
pour-down O. the sperrit, an a stirrin'
up O. dry bones," whereupon all the
brothers and sisters in Israel shouted
a vigorous "Amen" in concert.
There was a goodly attendance from
"down below" Never before had so
many strange faces been seen in
Brownsville.
It began, as have said, on Friday.
The first day got it only fairly under
headway. On the second day the ex-
citement, without which no camp
meeting was considered success in
those days, began.
Before nightit had taken possession
of most of those who were, or had
been. members of one church or an
other. What the nature OF the excite
ment was T shall not undertake to say.
It was something which few could, or
did, resist and the anxious-seat was
crowded with penitents.
At night, after the great fires were
lighted, the scene was one Rem
brandt would have delighted in, with
it's vivid contrasts of light and shade.
The ruddy flames lesped up and lit
the forest luridly for rods. away,
among the great tree trunks. Over
head the leaves shone like silver in the
strong light thrown upon them from
below. The rapt, eager faces OF men
and women stood out with startling
distinctness against a background OF
shadow. They were all turned toward
the stand, where two ministers e1-
horted and prayed, alternately, with
great fervor and goodly exhibition of
lung-power. Devout brothers and
sisters said "Amen," regardless OF ap-
propriate time or place. Soul-stirring
old Methodist hymns were sung
hymns which have rung down the
wears like bugle-calls, and whose
echoes yet linger on our frontiers, as
the star of empire moves westward.
Rhoda Stevens sat near Mr.. Wayne.
I have made mention of the sickness
of her brother. Samanthy's hemlock
sweat had failed to produce the de-
sired effect. As Rhoda was entirely
unused to caring for sick persons, an
aunt had been sent for from "down
below" to take charge Of the sick boy.
She had concluded, after hearing of
the camp-meeting, foreman in Browns.
Vile until it was over, and, in conse-
ouence of her presence in the Stevens
household, the visits of the singing
teacher had been infrequent of late,
for he did not care to 60 there very
much while propriety in the shape OF
q maiden aunt was constantly regard
ing him with q suspicious eye.
It was perhaps most fortunate
thing for Rhoda that her aunt was
needed there. Ignorant of the ways
of the world, and with confidence in
the honesty of Wayne's intentions,
the influence he had established over
her might very likely have been ex.
.erted for bad. Such no doubt would
have been the case had circumstances
been other than they were, and Rhoda
been left unprotected. She, in her
innocence, could not understand how
it was possible for man to be bad
while he appeared 30 entirely the op-
posite, and she wondered why he 80
abruptly ceased his visits after her
aunt came. Had she known the truth,
she would have known that he felt
afraid of her aunt's sharp eyes. They
were eyes that could see beyond such
a mask as that which he wore.
On that Saturday evening, at camp
meeting, he looked around from the
bench on which he was sitting, and
met Rhoda's eyes. He smiled, and
presently came and sat down beside
her.
care you here alone?" he asked.
"No, Aunt Sarah came with me-"
answered Rhoda. "She's sitting over
there with Mrs. Porter"
ST hope she'll stay there, 80 that I
can havea chance to talk with you,
without feeling that she's listening to
every word" said Wayne. cts been
long time since I've had such a
chance" ..
ct haven't seen much of you since
Tom was SICK" said Rhoda. "I hope
you weren't afraid of catching the
fever?"
''No, but I was afraid of catching
something from that aunt OF yours"
he answered. IT don't think she likes
me very much. At least it struck me
that way the first time I came to see
you after she took up her habitation in
your family. And then, too, I've been
very bury"
Rhoda looked at him little sharply
when he said that, for she knew bet
ter.
"You look as if you did not believe
me-" he said.
"Do I? Well, perhaps I don't"
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