The Republican journal., 1898-07-28

ties. Miss NJ "A. Howe, trained nurse Milford Mass
them half dozen times if Almiry ain t
comm ~
Miss Penelope was in a tremble, but
had the stuff of martyrs in her. In the
little hustle over finding the places she
managed to whisper to Hannah Mary: Il
don't see how you dast bring an offering
to the Lord with the blood of his murder
ed MINISTRIES on your head
Hannah Mary stared at Miss Penelope
in mute wonder. What on earth did she
mean? Did she think she had killed AL
mira? or what in the world
The tuning fork twanged sharply, and
Hannah Mary was instantly intent upon
her part. The lamps with their tin re-
Electors were arranged to light the gallery
only, and the meeting house below was
dark Here and there little CLEAN struck
the top of the lail, or the polished oak of
a pew door, and one could easily fancy
dusky shapes wandering about aisle and
chancel, OF grouped in shadowy corners.
All the romance OF Hannah Mays life
hung about the Old meeting house. The
gray slab in the little bury iug ground that
commemorated the virtues of her great
grandmother added to its list of domestic
graces the unusual tribute, ''She was
marvellous sweet singer"
Old lady Baxter loved to tell the story
Or that Sunday morning when a British
officer IN the congregation stood spell
bound after the hymn was ended. his
eyes fixed upon the lovely face of the
singer aud his senses CENTRALIZED by the
beautiful voice, quite forgetting to sit
down till Mistress Doddridge plucked
him by the coat-tails. Always when
Hannah Mary sang in the unlighted meet
ing house she fancied it filled again with
the men and women of those days. In
the great Doddlidge pew she could see
the flash If scarlet and the rapt face
of the lover upJurned to the gallery,
where she, Ter own great grandmother,
poured out her soul for his ears alone
1t was the one little touch of fantasy that
kept her life from fading utterly into the
commonplace. To night the Imagination
took possession of her as never before,
and John Stetson, released from Almira'
vigorous oversight, caught the full lervor
OF her lips and eyes as she turned from
the lover of her dream an instant towards
him.
But Miss Penelope's tender heart was
still burdened with her message, and she
pulled Hannah Mary by the sleeve as she
sat tanning her flushed face ~ don t
s'pose you know" she said ''about the
way they get them egrets-half a dozen
beautiful birds killed at nesting time for
hat one bunch, and all the young birds
eft to starve''-
''Give us the key, Penelope" called
Elmer Sharp, and Miss Penelope turning
to the organ, but not before she had seen
a smile break over Hannah Mary's face
and perceived that she was inwaldly CON
vulsed with laughter. Her fingers trem-
bled on the keys and two tears splashed
down upon the bony hands from a foun-
tain that was very near to overflow.
But after rehearsal Hannah Mary S arm
crept quickly around the fiat waist, and
her fresh cheek almost touched Miss
Penelope's as she whispered; 80 Miss
Penelope, don't think | laughed about
the little birds-it's dreadful and dom t
see how anybody can be so cruel--but
grandmother made these regrets out of
turkey feathers. We thought they looked
real pretty, but | wouldn't wear EN- for
anything to have folks s'pose they were
real III take 'em right out soon's |
get home.''
You're good girl, Hannah Mary"
said Miss Penelope. She looked curious
ly at the girl, conscious of sort of illumi-
nation about her face, and added, fer
vently, 81 hope you Il be happy"
Half an hour later John Stetson was
still saying good-by to Hannah Mary at
the gate. Neither of them had noticed
the old tanEery, or the smell of the four
oclocks as they passed the minister's
garden, but now Hannah Mary looked
across the road and saw the lamp burn
ing in the front room at Mrs. Bakers.
so John" she said, II meant to tell
you, Almiry said if you wanted to know
why she didn't come to choir meeting you
should ask her. Mebby you better 90
over; she's sttin up.''
and goin','' said John. Il got the only
girl l care about right here now, but IN
bleeged to Almiry for stayin' home to
give me chance.
'"TheIe goes grandmother, humping
for me to come in" said Hannah Mary,
with a start. 81 mustn't stay another
minute Why John, YOU got my re-
grets on your shoulder. l guess | didn't
sew EN- very good.
A fresh cannonade and Hannah sped up
the walk and let herself softly III at the
door. She took off her hat and sat down
to view it judiciously, with a new sense
of competence and mastery. Without
knowing it she had entered upon that
that sovereignty with which love alone
endows woman.
Hannah Mary, what you dom out
there" demanded her grandmother.
''Just fixin' my hat little before put
it away" quivered Hannah Mary.
''You takin' out them regrets?'
"They came out, grandmother. I
guess they wa MT sewed good" but in an
instant love rose up to shame the coward
ly evasion. She came into the bedroom
shielding the faring candle with her hand.
A great tenderness swelled within her