News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-09-10

"What in the name of common sense is
the matter?
Slowly, as If In a dream, Tabitha
stood up. and with her rose Hettie, al
most pale, her little eyes flashing
strange intelligences at her most init
mate friends.
Lawyer Bates frOwned as he took in
the fact that Mrs Menefee had not
risen He drew his calculations quick
Iy. 1t was as he had feared ever since
she had refused him the privilege Of
calling. She had allowed herself
through constant daily association
with the young divine, to become too
interested in him, and she was going
to make a public exhibition of her feel
ings by openly voting against the leave
of absence.
Bates became angry during the awk
ward pause that ensued, for the en-
tire assembly seemed now to be spec
ulating on the cause of the widows
strange conduct.
1--WE might as well call it unani-
NOUS" said Bates, with level glance
at the offender. Il am sure that the
only opposing voter did not fully IN
derstand my proposition"
Mrs Menefee received the thrust in
silence, her eyes turned appealingly
on the preacher.
at seems" Stammered Mr.. Murray,
"that Mrs.-that the lady is the only
one who really does understand the
situation. Under the circumstances
she is right in not voting either way.
"The truth is ! am not asking for a
vacation to get married, but for leave
Of absence to take a short bridal trip
to my fathers. This afternoon Mrs.
Menefee and l were quietly married
by Rev. Simon Hawkes. at his house in
the country. We thought we had bet
ter marry quietly. l thank you all for
your unanimous consent to my depar-
ture and feel sure that | shall return
refreshed for my duties"
The greatest of surprises are often
| borne in silence. The faces before the
| young minister We're as blank as if
| they had never mirrOred a thought.
| He dropped his eyes before that COM
| posite stare of dead stupor and went
| and stood by his wife, as if to protect
her from the criticisms that were be-
| ginning to shoot like electric bolts
| from the minds of his flock.
The benches groaned and creaked
and banged as the people sank upon
| them. Only Jason Bates and the bride
| groom kept their feet. Bates sense
seemed closed to prOpriety. A cloud
lay darkly on his brows, his nostrils
GUS brute first at the preacher and then
at the mature, sagacious woman who
sat with eyes downcast.
'Marriedv' he gasped. "You twor'
The bride smiled whitley. Her smile
was her armor, and she wore it with
brave recklessness, though the signal
| light of fear was in the glance she
gave the lawyer.
Brother Bates" said the minister,
"you have often urged upon me the ad-
visibility of marrying, and-and l am
sure you cannot find fault with the
choice | have made"
Bates seemed unable to formulate a
|
upon the back of the bench before him
shook as if deprived of muscular pow
er. He hesitated still staring Dlankly
at Mrs. Murray, and then he sat down.
Mr.. Murray smiled as if fattered at
the effect of his announcement and
then said:
"For this once we will omit the doX-
ology, and if there are any who wish
to come forward and speak to us we
shall be glad to receive them here
He sat down, put his arm on tn
back of the bench behind his wife and
whispered something to her. The con,
gregation sat as if dead. A profound
silence seemed to steal in from the out
side and fill the room. 1t was broken
by an audible grunt from Hottie Mel
win. She seemed conscious that it had
reached all parts of the building and
rendered her conspicuous, yet sh"
was not DESTROYS of disowning it,
"NIy Lord" Immediately followed
the grunt. "Who ever heerd tell of the
like? Poor boy, poor boy?'
"Shr' Kissed Mrs. Wittekind, rising
to the surface of a deep stupor into
which the announcement of the
preacher had plunged her. Hush
They'll heer you"
II'll be dad drafted" calculated Ike
Wittellind, and he turned to look at
the rows of faces behind him. I'll
be bum fuzzledr He caught Bates
eye, but the lawyers face was blood
les and yellow. He stared through
Ike as if he were clear glass,
| Tabitha said nothing. She had put
htr thin hand to the side Of her face
aid was staring open mouthed at the
BRIDE as if at a specter. Presently her
ghnce swept on and hardened as it
fel on the churchyard. She could see
The branches of a tall poplar that
SHADED Joe Menefee's grave.