Evening star., 1901-11-02

the day? Sure, it's little Arthur that'H be
preachin' to the people of Wymore Gap for
the first time. He's been away to college
these three years, an they do say he's a
smart man-him that took many a ride
down in the carriage with me, an has
played roun' the breakers ever since me
own Tim
He paused and Father Feeley Rrasped
the thin, muscular hand
With the saints by now, Caughey, never
fear Yes, you go and hear young Marvin.
L mind him myself. likely spoken and
civil-mannered lad, who seemed always to
love our mines and men"
Three hours later Arthur Marvin stood
with tightly folded arms, gazing from his
window across the square to the church
which had been his fathers charge and
which. according to the rules and regula-
tions or the denomination he represented
might now become his
Eagerly he watched for each familiar
face in that slow-gathering congregation
There was Mary MacNeal, whose husband
and son had been killed In the explosion of
81 She still wore black, and she had COM
pany In plenty, for there were pretty Bes-
sic Mcguire, whose Dick had been caught
in a premature blast, and Lizzie Dugan
whose husband OF three happy months had
gone down with the last nasty cavern, and
yes. there was dear old Caughey. band
OF rusty black still clung round his Sunday
nat. though TO Arthur il seemed years
since ne and Tfm-square-shouldered light
hearted; honest intentioned Tirn-had chased
Inn nad gone down to work In his fathers
shaft-and had never come I'D again Just
one day! Arthur felt q strange grip on his
throat. He turned abruptly from the win
dow as Caughey. with uncertain steps. en-
tered the unaccustomed place Of worship
Ihey crossed the little square together,
Pastor Marvin tall. stalwart and proud, de-
sPlte MS tnreescore years; Arthur a trife
shorter, slighter and fairer than his IA
tner. but with the same determination In
ms bearing. and Lucy. No one In all
Marvin had one day been called suddenly
TO philadelphia, and when he had come
PACK Lucy had come. too. Some said she
was the daughter of a boyhood friend who,
IN dying, had beQueathed the child to The
Marvins- Another popular tale held that
she was the orphan Of a repentant parish
Toner Be that as It might. the gosslps
united In declaring that Lucy had devel-
Ike rare mountain flower. and that IL
abe did not In due time accept the heart
and hand OF Arthur Marvin. then truly
would every tradition of poetic and ro-
mantle justice be shattered
oioe py side walked father and son. down
the center aisle and up the steps to the
nare.oth ns,,r1. sofa behind the saunt, unioyeiy
Knees. ana old Caughey. nervously finger
tng the crepe band on his old-fa shioned
aerpy. murmured an ave" unconscious of
It's incongruity In this church. where there
eyed Madonnas -1
when the simple Introductory service was
Anished Arthur rose, unfoldad his manu-
script and announced his text Then he
paused and looked almost wistfuiiy into
the upiifted faces. By some strange coin
eidence. Mary MaeNeal, Bessie Mcguire,
Lizzie Dugan and old Caughsy sat close
together on the rtght-hand aisle. His
glance rested, as IL hypnotixsd. on that blur
OF black. then. with shaking hands, he
turned the nrst page Of his sermon.
II was a dissertation on the resurrection
OF Lazarus and the people listened wou-
dsringly TO his vivid word pictures Of the
scsne. his eonorous periods. the infections
Of his rich, well-trained voice. For twenty
minutes he read on. yet each word seemed
" strike against q sounding board and
come back to him with q mockins metallic
rps. Yes, Arthur Marvin. their Arthur.
whom fhsy had known and love as
iad ana youth. had come hssa