Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-25

all; their failing minds went gropins.
| back through the dark of the wears i
| the days when they had worshipped tn
| same God with those at their side VIII
| We're bound closely to them by ties o
blood and affection What had survive,
| and triumphed over time? The littl
| lamp OF their faith perhaps and thes
habit.
SinSularly enough, on this auspiciou
| afternoon, Almira Loveday was not !;
| her accustomed place. Mrs. Halves wa
the hrst TO make the discovery, and in tn,
| agitation OF the moment she so far for
| got her surroundings as to voice her s,Ir
prise in an asthmatc whisper tha
seemed too large for the room If fei
| upon them all with the dread of an unex
PeGted calamity in its syllables. Some
body else remembered on the instant tha
| Mis- Loveday had looked tuckered on
an queer at dinner" while the state
ment that shed been as mum as {
clam was circulated in rapid murmurs
The disturbed women stared at one an
other in CONSERVATION, and in the mjds
! OF their helpless wonderment the disturb
er of their peace entered the chapel.
little sigh of relief greeted her, and IN,
congregation settled once more into il,
proper attitude.
There was nothing unusual in her an.
pearance as she made her way up the
aisle, save perhaps her step Jagged more
than was customary, but she did not u.s.
the green and white parasol as cane
though it trailed from her limp grass
very near the floor. At the front row al
cnalrs she paused, making a swift gest-
ure 10 set back an imaginary pew door
then she took her seat and lowered her
mead for reVerential moment She had
barely raised it when the sound of a
SllSht noise back of her announced the
arrival of the bishop. She closed her evae
quickly, as was her habit TO avoid see
ing the minister approach. for the only
f Eau she found with the chapel was the
has
Tor the use of the clergy
but the brlef glimpse she had had %
me reading desk filled her with pride.
f:afIer IN the day, creeping unseen into
me room with her meagre Offering sh,
had found the asters already on the desk
oul there was nothing unfriendly in their
stif freshness, though the contrast ha-
LWeeh them and her own wilted treasures
Hdu struck Jdrrln9ly upon her tired
senses. For one moment discOuragemenf
mad seized upon her then her indomIta BIZ
spirit mad banished it speedily, and She
i"u Spne ABOUT her task with maccus-
toned myers. over and over again the
vines had slipped through hpr prgsr
wrthing away mockingly like some Iv-
ing creatures. ana the flowers had
dropped under her clumsy touch bur she
nad KEPT herself unfiinchingIy at work
inspired bN the thought that il was for
the bishops sake. No one had MISS,
her; many OF the women We're sunnino
themselves on the garden benches. Will
'tli'l~ were III tiltlE own rooms RESTING
ior HIS treat IN" afternoon held in store.
the Dell was ringing for dinner WHOM
Almira l-oNeday had stolen ont Of tbt
Chapel with some sense Of content in har
finished task. Seen after the IaDsc ar
hours. the decorations seemed even bean
tiful 10 her partial eyes though M an.
else had noticed the few wIsps Of yinne
with Struggling crimson leaves thar
twlned around the support III the desk
whose foot was garnshed by a gcant ar
ray Of dusky godcnrod ana scattered
bits Of queen-laCe.
"
The bishop turned ana regarded hfs
congregation, touched by the sight OF
those simple, eApectant souls into a ST.
renee which, for the moment, he did NJ,
seek 70 break. The pdthOS Of the littic
quiet haven appealed 10 him strongly.
coming as ne had from the stress ana
storm OF the world without. while the
loneliness Of those stranded lives chilled
him in an ineXplicable fashion But they
were not all unhappy! He looked quickly
at the placid worn faces, at the ewes
washed Dry Of tears, at the smiling
Sunken mouths, ana read there the untir-
ing resignation that made such living pos
SibIe There We're some who had come
again - the simplicity of their childhood
mo. no oIlE knew the present with its com
lofts ana little trivial happenings; he
could see that in their vacant looks. but
to most of them the voice of their past
sun sounded clariOn-clear, ana they haJ
the lesson Of waiting.
Ills keen glance scanned each face mi
nutcly, but again and again il came back
q the Wrinkled countenance just in front
OF MIN, showing pitiably small and wan
beneath the huge bonnet and the smooth
bands of white hair He looked down a
the closed eyes that told their story
without the aid Of words and from them |
70 the gently smiling lips, and he thrilled
in sudden homage to the courage and
trust in the woman's bearing.
My dear friends" he began tenderly. |
Il Il s.l
fixed upon those closed eyes. The next
they opened and looked full into
MS own. Pleasure was in lneir dim |
depths at first and pride, and then a !
his face and figure. Something in their |
and the surprise of discover
ing that the old woman was not blind |
made the bishop pause.
Almira Loveday tottered slowly to her |
feet, the little SATIN bag that contained |
her neatl" folded handkerchief Il sprig Of |
Jill. and few cardamon seeds fell I'M |
heeded to the floor, and the gay sunshade |
slipped after with an unrighteOus clatear
She took step forward. trembling and |
uncertain. her hands cropping hopelessly |
before her. Some of the old women in |
the same row. frightened by her unseem-
~ conduct. turned breathlesSly in their
chairs; a mumbling stupefaction settled |
upon others. The matron FASTENED from
her place at the organ. but before she |
could reach the small, swaying figure il |
side. Almira Loyeday warded off his pro-
-ecting arm with shaking fingers.
Don't tech me-" she whispered ~
amt iii. | gave out that knew a bishop,
and that want true. | did it to spite |
Mis- Halves, because she'd seen one Let |
me go. Twas Hetty told me bout his !
sownd an things; she'd seen one onct.
when she was off with her pa, She" the
DID woman stopped suddenly, her face
Dtiably broken. 'Be you a bishop" she
continued, sharply.
Yes.
Then what she said want RELY true;
chs Jest made it up. An trusted her an
felt so proud, Oh Hetty-Hetty-'
Don't grieve so. Hetty was right" he
said soothingly, I'VE DO wear different
lress from this for our services
With white sleeves?"
with white sleeves"
There! Mis- Halves. YOU heard the
bishop? You hear him, all o. you? Hetty
was right. | knew She was, the child
Couldn't lie the thin voice trembed pit
aously, but | lied. oh, Mis- North take |
ne away out o all their sights. / can't !
Dear to have EN- starin a me. ! wanted |
al the glory, the president, an the bish-
)p, an everything, an last night /
couldn't sleep for thinkin' O. what I'd
III, so sorrowful. Let me go. I'm tired |
IN it's sech a long ways home There |
Vas better goldenrod higher up but |
couldn't reach it. like as not ] want fit
o tech it, an 50 God put it out O. my
each"
Her reason was tottering in the balance |
femorse and fatigue, together with the
great burden OF her years. were battling
against the supremacy of the intellect