The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-15

also the tail hat standing on the pulpit
beside him. His presence, however,
chilled the usual experience meeting
following, for only the men talked, and
1t was short and dull. The Meeks laugh
was not heard at all, and Brother VIM
ter sat quietly in his corner, as though
undecided whether, under the circum-
stances he would be warranted in push
ing to the front The millers sister had
nothing to say either, spending her time
in watching the minister's wife and
daughter, who did not recognize the inn
pertinence, and altogether the occasion
was not what was expected.
When the meeting was dismissed, my
father stepped forward to welcome Mr..
Shepherd to Fairview. After him came
The. Meek, and SO, one by one, the peo-
pie advanced to be introduced, and, at
ted awkWardly shaking him by the hand
retired again. Mr.. Shepherd, led my
father back to where his respectable
wife and pretty daughter were, and per-
formed the ceremony OF Introduction,
and imagined as my father looked at
them that he thought they were birds
of too fine plumage for that cline, AMI
would soon fly away again. The Meek
stood Immediately behind him, and was
next presented, and then came all the
congregation in the order of their i'm
pOrtance. except the younger ones, who
stood near the door looking on, and who
crowded out hurriedly when Mr. Shep-
herd came toward them, followed by
his wife and daughter. Although they
desired acquaintance with the new min
lister and his family above all other
things, they were so awkward and un-
certain IN their pOlteneSS that they
hoped the new minister would some
how gradually become acquainted with
them without an Introduction, and new
er discover that they did not know how
to be comfortable in the presence of
strangers 10 Erring was among the
number of the intimidated and I
thought he was anxious that the new
people should not see him until he had
gone home and smartened himself up,
as if they were of more Importance than
he had expected. for he kept himself be-
hind the others. 10 had habit of ap-
pearing on Sunday in his everyday at
tire-because everybody else wore their
best on that day, it was said-and this
was one of the days he violated the GUS
tom of the country, probably for the
reason that the occasion was an extra
ordinary one.
1t was my fathers custom to invite
the ministers who came to Fairview to
spend the day at our house, that they
might be convenient for the evening
service; and although he hesitated a
long while in this case, as If afraid the
accommodations he could offer were not
good enough, he hurriedly consulted
with my mother at the last moment, and
walked out to the gate, when they were
preparing to start for home. / could not
hear from where I stood what was
said, but 1 believed the invitation had
been given and accepted, and when he
began to look around the yard 1 was
so certain that I was wanted to drive
them home that I put myself in his
way, as the wagon road led through
lanes and gates, and could not be easily
described. My mother had already
hurried home by the path through the
them. When I went up to the wagon
in response to my fathers becl0on, he
lifted me into the seat beside Mr.. Shop
herd, his wife and daughter occupying
the hack n said 7 oh
the way and open the gates.
AS we drove off 1 felt the bright eyes
of the girl were devouring my plain
coat, for she sat directly behind me,
ask 10 to trim my hair that morning.
The grease on my rough boots contrast
ed sharply with the polish Of Mr.. Shep-
herds patent feathers, and my great
red hands were larger than his, which
were very white, and shaped like a wo-
mans. I soon saw he was a poon
driver, and asked him to give me the
reins, which he willingly did, with a
good-natured apology for his incapaci-
ty, pleading lack of experience in that
| direction.
knew they wanted to talk of Fair
view and it's people, but were shy of me,
so 1 pretended to be busy in looking
after the horses. but they said nothing
| except that there was a greas number
present, which was true, as The house
was full. I pointed out the houses as
/
tanning.
"Old Lee lives there."I said as we
passed the house Of the renter on our
farm. He wasn't at church today; he
! has probably gone over to the turkey
roOst in Bill's Creek bottom
l had said it to shock them, but they
laughed very gayly over it, and the girl
i had heard them call her Mateel-
said she presumed that wild turkeys
We're plentiful. 1 had secretly been
longing to look at her, SO 1 turned part
ly around, and replied that the woods
were full of them. She was very pref
| ty girl, dressed more extensively than
l had ever seen Agnes dressed, but not
| with SO much taste. She was rather
pale, too, and I could not help thinking
that her health was not very. good.
''There're deer here, too" l said to
them. finding that the subject promised
to be amusing.
Mr.. Shepherd and the girl looked very
much interested, but the minister's wife
was so stately and dignified that felt
| sure could never be comfortable in her
| presence. "One came running through
our field once when 10 and I were
| ploughing," I continued. THE folks
were away at camp-meeting, and JIG
| took the gun and went after it, heard
| him shoot after a long while, and then
he came back, and said it was too heavy
for him to carry home, but that If
would finish the land on which we
| were ploughing, while he rested, we
would hitch to the wagon and go after
it. I felt so pleased about it that ]
finished the work, and when I was
through, he looked at the sun, and said
we might as well eat supper before
starting; and that had better take the
| harness off the horses while they were
feeding, as they would be more COM
Portable. At supper he asked me if un-
der the circumstances didn't feel it a
duty to give him my pie, which 1 did
and after he had eaten it, he took me to
one side, and said that though he was
ashamed of it himself, he was COM
PEELED to confess that he had missed. "
This amused them more than ever
and the girl asked who 10 was. This
reminded me that had neglected my
friend. and I Immediately gave a short
and glowing history of him, not failing
to mention that he knew of more turkey
roostS than old Lee. and that we would
visit one of them soon aud return by
their house with a fat turkey. They