Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-03-01
WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE.

81 don't see no reason why you shouldn't
stay in and go TO meeting this evening.
We've been having some good meetings
all along. They'll be a big turnout to-
night It's going to be clear and there's
a moon. You better stay in and go"
81 don't think I better. ] don't think
John d want me to-"
'' guess he could get his own supper
for once; and while you're here, you
might as well stay in and go"
1T amt his getting supper. He's done
that enough times, and he don't mind
doing it; but l don't think he'd want me
to stay tonight"
You don't mean to say that he's so
set against religion that he wants to
keep you from going to meeting, do you?
lie always seemed sensible to me, and
that amt sensible. We can take you
home Just as well after meeting as be-
fore"
Mrs. Hewett had been spending the
day with Mrs. McCallister. She had
come over from the farm with Mr. Hew
EFT in the morning. He had brought
over a load of corn. Mrs. McCallister
had promised to take her home toward
day with her. Mrs. McCallisters hus-
band kept the one store in Elk Falls.
The two women sat in the little sitting
room back of the store. They were sew
ing. IL was a warm day, and the door
was opened on a porch. The porch was
covered with morning-glory vines bright
with blossoms.
Mrs Hewett got up and went over to
the dooOr, with the pretence of getting
nearer the light to thread her needle
she was a plump little woman. Her pale
red hair was combed straight back from
her face, and coiled loosely in her neck.
Her fair skin was flushed. The bright
calico dress that she wore. covered with
little brown sprays, was oVer-starched.
and ratified as she walked across the
room,
"Jonn never said much about it, but
know he's against these revival meetings.
we used to come TO church sometimes
head over her work. John never has to
say much for me TO understand what he
means
her visitor. Her face would have had
look of horror, if it had not been over
balanced by a look of curiosity.
I've heard people say John Hewett
was an intidel, but l never believed it.
/ always told them so. I've said manYs
the time, John Hewett may not have got
religion yet, but he's no more intidel than
YOU and me. That's what I've always
said" She drew the needle through the
cloth in quick short stitches, and waited
hearted as John liewett couldn't be an
inhdel."
Mrs. Hewett came back to her chair
and sat down. She buried her face in
the cloth she was sewing on. He is
she said. i'm a half-whisper.
Il don't believe it, Mrs McCallister
held her work tightly in her hands-"I
don't believe it,!
ne is, I've always known it,
You don't mean to tell me he don't
Mrs Hewett bowed her head. There
was a SILENCE of several minutes. Then
AIRS McCallster stood up.
I'm going to get supper, and you're
going TO stay and go to meeting with US
If ! was in your place I'd make stand
and go right along. Now you're going
stay inst settle NOuTgplf
that"
kitchen, and Mrs. Hewett went on with
her sewing, the tears falling on her work.
She felt that she had already taken the
stand against her husband in the confess
sion she had made. She longed to be at
home getting supper for him. She
thought of the cold lunch he had had in
place of his usual hot dinner, and remem-
bered that she had planned making bis
There was no church in Elks Falls.
| The foundation had been laid, and the
people were hoping to build the church
i'm the fail. At present services We're
held in the schoool-house. The school
house had been placed, for the conven-
! fence of ALL in the centre of the district,
and was nearly a mile from the village.
/ The village was on the banks of the Elk
River, but the school-house stood out
/ on the unbroken prairie. 1t was a large
one-stOry wooden building, painted white.
An Imprinted three-board fence surround
ed it,
The prairie was bright with moonlight.
on the south it stretched away to the
wooded banks of the Elk River and the
/ lights Of the little town glimmering
among the trees. Owing to the clearness
of the night and the great interest that
/ had been shown at the three previous
meetings the attendance was to be UNI
/ usually large People were still coming,
the heavy wagons rafting over the hard
| prairie roads The horses were hitched
/ to the fence around the sChool-house.
When Mr.. and Mrs. McCalster drove
M in their spring wagon with Mrs Hew-
! EFT, it was with difficulty that Mr.. Mccall
! lister found room to hitch his horse. The
| lights from the omen doors and windows
shone out, and the people were singing.
TITS to bad we have to miss any of