Middletown transcript., 1901-11-23
IN minister nushed aside tn.

ment. The air was filied Win
fv;nc fakes; a mass of dark clouds sun
hucged the horizon. His visit 70 E'uer
Jones for the purpose of setting ms
doubts concerning the advisablllty OF
substituting new hymn books for the olu
ones seemed, for the third time, destined
to be postponed. He sighed again as
he dropped the curtain. This time, now
ever. the sigh was that OF person re-
lieved from some disagreeable duty.
"Martha," he called, and the old
housekeeper entered, 'tyou may Dring IN
the tea. I shall not go to Elder Jones
tonight"
"It's ready moo, sir" she answered
"a tbocht We wanted bite for we went
DOT in the storm"
"YesP" said the minister absent mind
edly. adding, in hesitating manner,
"Will it be ready tomorrow
"The turkey?" asked Martha.
eyes"
DPS faene eneuch tae kill this vera
mint"
"But what pityp' sighed the man.
"O' coorse, but ane msun leev' by
raison O. the commandment, an hoo can
ane leev wi 'oot mater"
Apparently convinced by her logic, the
minister walked to the dining room. lie
looked smilingly about, his glance linger-
ing a moment on the only spot OF color
in the room-a geranium in the east win
dow. It had stood there ever since his
wife died-always little towards the
right, SO as to make room for the little
China dog which served as matchbox.
The rest of the room looked stiff and
bare. Two oval portraits in narrow gilt
frames stood rigidly erect some three
inches on either side of the porcelain
clock which had licked away the last
twenty years on the mantel. The minis
ter's "Marcus Aurelius" and "Thomas
De Quincy" stood side by side on the
wooden desk in the corner, while the key
to the bookcase lay on the crocheted
lamp mat where it had been put the first
day Martha entered the Hobartson house
hold. The table stood in the centre. 1t
was laid for two-a curious idea of the
minister's. Sometimes the second place
was occupied by some belated traveller or
stranger who happened to knock at the
door. Tonight, however, it was empty.
The minister carefully brushed some
particles OF dust from his coat before sit
ting down.
"You have some fresh biscuits tonight,
see," he said, turning with pleasant
smile to Martha.
eyes," replied Martha, fattered by
this unusual notice of her cooking"
"An' ill dae We mair guild than ony ser
mon, tho they dinna last SO long. A
ken over weel bread is 'ooman's ane SER
mon an goes tae mons heart befor'
ony kim O. langidge,' here she handed |
him cup of steaming and fragrant tea
"Have some O. the fried 'atties? Oncom-
mon guild they be, billed wi the bakkon,
an fried fine an brown in the fat"
81 have't the least doubt that" said |
the minister, as he helped himself liber-
ally. "Did anyone come to-day?"
"Widow Stowe. She brocht SOON
jelly fo' yir riverence."
ga kind woman"
"She's gabbyr'
''But she's kind to the poor" protested
the minister, smilingly.
'Bringin' I'M iellies en- pies? Bread
wud be mair guild TO- the puir things.
But We maunna be over hard OH her.
She gaed to the cooking schule Ma,
ma, guide master, a. ken her over weel.
Bringin' her iellies hereP'
"Then Paul Howe did not come with
the tract?' asked Reverend Hobartson
rather hastily, as he bent over his plate.
"No, the wratchp'
The minister did not reproye her for
expressing so harshly her opinion of the
man. Her verdict was the public one.
Paul Howe had always had an unpieas-i
ant reputation in that part of the country.
A yagabond by nature, rendered savage
and reckless through force of circum-
stances, be had come to be regarded as a
suspicious character. No crimes had ever
been laid at his door, but a number of
dark stories were whispered of some un-
savory affairs in which he was said to |
have been implicated.
The minister leaned back in his chair
and gazed thoughtfully at the clock.
Its almost too late for him to come
tonight. Yet Brother Harper-"
There was knock at the door. Come
imp said the minister.
The door was flung open wide. and
without any hesitation man stepped in.
1t was Paul Howe. His face was pale
and sullen, his eyes hard and cold. In
the dusk of the room he looked SO hid
eous that Martha trembled with appre-
hension. The minister arose. Is
"Good evening, Paul." he said, pleas
antly. "You have brought the paper?
All, yesi Rather cold tonight, isn't it'll,
um I'M 'm-heavy storm we've been hay
lng-um 'm-yes, it's all correct-no.
here is a mistake. He has left out the
last statement"
He wus sayin' he wanted to see YOU
fust," said Howe. His voice sounded
unusually loud in the small room.
"Ah, very WELL" replied the minister
Il thank you for taking the trouble to
bring it over. Sit down and have a cum
OF tea before you go. You must be hmm.
CRY after your long walk"
Hungry exclaimed the man. with a
short laugh 81 reckon be. Hain,t
eaten bite sence Yesterday. sayin nv
app'tite fer Thankpgivin' Day, ye know.
YES" said the minister, with smile. Il
II know. But must you necessarily fast
to-day ON that account;
"Well, people alters do eat a lot on
Thanksgiyin' Day, an | don't want to