Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-01-28

Alec felt that II was the most solemn
assemblage he had ever seen. Though i
was 90 hot a day, there was no futter O
fans. though fans indeed (of the larg'
palm leaf variety chiefly we're In use
there was no rustic Of silk garments al
in q fashionable audience In the city. nj
subdued buzs Of final whispers. Insteat
there was little rustic Of the lsavel
that came with the light breeze through
the wide open windows, and the more
distant murmur Of the fields. Ono couli
hear, too, the ripple and gurgle Of .
brook that flowed not many rods from
the church, and now and then q bee or q
great fly bussed about over the heads Of
the worshipsrs. 10 intense was this pc.
oulisr atmosphere to Alec that he wish
cd almost to cry out against 1t and fear.
cd he disgraced himself by bis unsasi-
ness in bis seat. But at last he Surren.
dered himself to 1t, and, becoming lost
in a contemplation Of the greenery
through the windows or q buszing bee
or the odor that came to him on the
breeze, he found the church q most rest
full place.
The service began with a hymn, and
when the choir rose Alec observed that
'Lisbeth and George Marston stood side
BY side. Doubtless In the silent COM
munion Of many Sundays thus 10 near
each other had grown up that attach
mont which 'Lisbeth sternly but silent
ly repressed, but which the blacksmith
az persistently but silently urged. When
at the second hymn the whole congrega-
tion rose and turned to face the choir in
the rear, Alec spent bis curiosity and at
tention In watching those two singers
and felt sure that, however intense their
affection, no word Of love had yet pass
cd between them. 'Lisbeth sang in q
clear, full soprano, her voice rising naive
ly and almost unconsciously above the
rest, while the blacksmith, with his
frank blue eyes and honest, open face,
looked up to heaven and poured out his
voicv with hers in clear baritone that
blended perfectly.
When the service was finished and
the congregation broke up for the Sun
day school, Alec again felt the cold,
stony stare Of the little crowd into
which he was wedged, on one side Mrs.
Higgins gossiping with a neighbor, on
the other several other substantial ma
irons gossipins with other neighbors as
il 1T were the only opportunity during
the week they had to speak to each 9th
or. But soon Alec saw George Marston
making his way through the crowd to.
ward him, and giving Alec's hand
hearty grip and speaking q still more
hearty welcome, he invited Alec to Join
bis Sunday school class, and when they
had made their way to the door the
blacksmith introduced the young man
to half dozen lads who stood about,
some older, some younger, but none
with anything to say. Alec felt awk-
ward. and was glad when the superin-
tendent rang his little silver bell to
call the school to order. They took their
places in groups about the church, here
big group Of uneasy children, there a
group Of young ladies, or half dozen
old men and women. George Marstons
class had a retired nook in the choir
gallery, from which Alec had an excel
lent opportunity to survey the little
gathering without himself being much
seen.
1t was not at all an unpleasant hour
that Alec spent there. He found Mars
ton keenly intelligent, sympathetic and
well read for a countryman, and before
he left foresaw that he should find in
him a genuine and true friend. Already
in these few days what deep ties Of in
timaoy he had formed with this strange
people
As soon as the service was over, he
slipped away as quickly as possible to
the kitchen Of the tavern for a good
drink Of cold water, but he found Lis
beth before him busily getting dinner,
for which he confessed himself quite
ready.