The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-30
AROUND THE SPRING.
BY F. H. LANCASTER.
Copyright. 1901. by Authors Syndicate,

It stood on the side of the wagon
road a plain frame building, unpaint-
al save by the weather that had col
I Ored it to a soft-toned gray. The
dark shadows of the pines fell upon it
I end their needles dropped dreamily
bout it. All the week it stood there.
f This little Methodist Church, locked in
+ The unutterable repose of it's forest
home.
But when Sunday came all was
hanged. The woods became alive
with horses picketed to trees and
|stumps; wagons, jumpers and saddles
declared the different modes of travel
|snd congregation of 40-on pleasant
days even of 50 souls, counting the
|crying babies, thronged up the straw
Istrewn steps and took seat with all
due solemnity upon the solid wooden
benches. No cushioned pew nor velvet
|carpet; no stained glass or pictured
saint; no incense save the breath of
|the sweet-scented pines that fingered
always among the rafters. But in the
pulpit an earnest, highly cultured man,
land behind him a choir of ten male
voices, carefully trained, that sang for
the love of it and not for pay. There
Twas a touch of full throated energy
about this singing that betrayed a
hint of pride that might be sinful, but
Twas certainly natural since each sing
Ter had a listening sweetheart in the
Baldwin looked about him with a
|reckless disregard for the approval of
the pious worshipers. This was a rath-
Ter new experience, and while the sing
ing lasted he felt passing pleasure in
|the novelty. But before the preacher
bad read his text, the old sullen mood
Returned with its bored yawn and the
earnest words fell unheeded
upon his ears.
Baldwin had made couple of mis-
takes and was paying the penalty
Like most men in the first flush of life,
be rebelled against the payment. He
bad fallen in love with the wrong girl,
br thought he had, which was bad;
then he had come to the woods to for
get, which was worse. In spite of the
Dreamy duskiness of the pine tops
there is no lethe to be quaffed in their
forgetfulness Straight
Etemmed and insistent they stand
Straight out, meeting every issue
Fquarely. People who live among the
pines rise with the dawn and labor I'M
BIZ the evening.
And Baldwin was beginning to un-
derstand; he must fight the thing to a
finish and trust to what manhood
there was in him to see him through.
He sat upright, holding his hat
Upon his knees and staring straight
ahead. A young girl across the aisle
hotieed him-and his clothes. Not that
bis clothing was finer or better made
than that of the surrounding beaux.
1t was the way it sat upon him, and
bis Inconsistencies of 1t, that told the
tale of culture that only.cultured eyes.
may read.
When the congregation filed out for
Inc noon recess and gatherd in groups
Under the trees the girl found herself
near the stranger who had
attracted her attention; and when he
raised his hat and spoke about the
Weather in painstaking imitation of the
pther men, she let a friendly little
laugh creep into her eyes.
Teacher has got beau" whispered
group of passing girls. They nudged
bach other and giggled audibly as their
eyes took in each detail of the slender
figure in the creased linen suit and
rather shabby tan shoes.
Law they laughed, "his necktie
looks a year old
Even as we criticise we are our
selves passing the fire of another's in
While they Knocked his at
hire, Baldwin was saying in tones OF
unconscious superiority:
What is the attraction down there?"
The teacher followed his glance.
"A spring" she explained. dryly.
Are you thirsty?" he asked, quickly.
MOI" her tone expressed indigna-
ton.
81 beg your pardon. understood you
TO say that the path led to spring"
so / did. but"
"Yes?" he encoura ged.
Don't you see they are paired off
before they get halfway down the
hill?" She flushed a little over the ex-
PLANTATION and he let his eyes drift
pazily toward the slow moving couples.
Does this thing go on Sunday after
Sunday?" he asked, presently.
oh, yes. Most of the matches in the
have been made at that
Spring"
He smiled at her wholesale manner
of disposing of the subject and switch
ED at the scant grass with a touch of
hesitation in his manner.
Excuse me, but will you please tell
me how under heaven you happen to