The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-25

the burning. Now the young man lay in bed
trouserless upon a plantation that was sort
OF Adamless Eden. Miss Morris and Miss
Marina had lived alone since their father
died. twenty years back, with black Marthy
and Ben for servants.
3. Miss Marina was stout and rosy. as Miss
Morris was thin. She sat up, rubbed her
eyes hard and said sleepily: what you fuss
ing about, Efnor? Here's what you can do
ask Ben to lend Brother Brandon that last
pair of pas trousers We gave him. He hasn't
worn them out has he. Marthy?''
'No'm-m. Marthy said, with throaty
giggle, He been a-sayin' dem las breeches,
he is; says he spects he got ter grow threes
TO- more years fore he can fill UNI up dee
500 odatious big up round de waist parts
We'll. they'll be long enough if Brother
Brandon is SO tall. Miss 1arina said philo-
sophicaIly. settling back 81 her pillow. Go
and send Ben in with 'em. Marthy, and tell
him to tell Brother Brandon we are sorry and
that We'll go with him to preaching, though
we didn't mean to. don't intend" this
vigorously to Miss Morris, that anybody
shall ever have it, to say we were ashamed
to see another man standing in our fathers
Clothes
Perhaps young Brother Brandon was ambi-
tious OF martyrdom. Certainly no martyr at
the stake ever showed a finer courage than 1t
took to march UP the aisle at Horeb ten min
utes late, feeling himself the focus of curious,
even hostile. eyes. and conscious that he
looked very like a cross betwixt a circus
clown and a scarecrow. The late Squire Nor
ris had been truly man of girth. His black
cloth broad falls. thought shiny along the
seams, stood in plaits and FUCKERS within the
saving compass of yellow leather belt
Above them the trim gray flannel sack looked
ridiculously shrunken. They bulged quite
bit at the knees and sat very close around
the foot. But after one long, agonized whis-
tie over his own appearance Dick Brandon
had set himself to make his hostesses forget
them, and SO successfully that, though they
had been on the verge of tears, in five min
utes he had them laughing.
The Riggs contingent was another matter.
If only Nelly would be mercifully hindered!
Brother Riggs was a certainty Nothing
short OF an earthquake or sudden death could
have kept him away Brandon caught the
brothers measuring eye fixed upon him In
disappearing scorn. but he kept his head
| high. All through the kneeling minutes of
! silent prayer his petition was for strength
ana light
He got up trembling, but read the chapter
and gave out the hymns in a clear. hard
voice. Through the singing there came to
him breaking silver strain, Nellys voice,
| freighted with the sweetness of compassionate
| love.
| Somehow the note melted him. softened,
strengthened. He lost the hampering sense
| of earthly vestures, earthly things. When he
got up to speak, it was with tongue of fire
| that searched sand soothed equally, carrying
| all before T.. &,
Rapt, TRANSPORTED, intent only upon the
Kings business, he went from height to
height arguing, persuading, until rugged
men sobbeG aloud or shouted praises. The
church was snaalish with bare, brown wood
Zen walls and high, narrow windows. Maybe it
was the play of light through the whispering
leaves outside. but more than one believed
that upon this memorable day there was vis-
BILE in Horeb church the fluttering of angelic
wings.
4 Brother Riggs sat hard-eyed and critical
until near the end The spirit took him when
he least thought, and took him hard. He
| made a leap across bench and altar space and
flung himself into the pulpit crying: The
Lord gave me my daughter: the Lord takes
her away to be your wife in spite of me and
the devil!'' and huggng Brandon as though
4 he meant to break his ribs.
| Then somebody raised a hmm. an old
camp meeting chant. tsfull of militant faith.
! Everybody sang end sang until at last the
congregation brought itself to the level OF
4 Sunday uninspired.
] Brother Brandon rode straight to his board
ing place. although he was hard pressed to
go and dine with Brother Riggs. But he
came next day, clothed in his right mind,
to propose properly for Miss Nelly and be
accepted in due form.
i AS she nestled in bis arms he said, smiling
a tender, whimsical SMILE 81 cannot feel
that deserve you. darling. not even though
II have won you through ordeal by fire."