The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08

and monotonous as their outer exist
ence: that they must be incapable of
the stronger emotions of human life,
You are inclined to believe them when
they tell you that they rejoice in their
freedom from the affections of the outer
world. But the human heart has never
been entirely smothered even among
these quiet folk, and my story is Of a
romance among them.
George Armstrong and his aunt were
spending the summer in PittsfeId, and
before they had been there long they
drove over the mountain 10 see the
Shaker village as one of the sights. For
some reason. when they arrived at the
store. and asked to be shown through
the buildings and grounds. no one of the
elderly sisters was about save Deborah,
who kept the store. She could not go
herself. and sought in vain for some one
else of suitable age to act as guide
Failing in that. she surveyed the young
man and his mother, as she thought her,
10 see if they could be adapted to the
circumstances The mother seemed
very practical sort of person. but the
son was far too good looking. Still. in
his mothers company, he ought to be
trusted for thirty minutes. anyway Yes;
rather than lose the money so dear 10
the Shaker heart. she would send the
only sister at hand. young and pretty
though she was
/ With considerable misgiving. word
/ was sent forth that Sister Alice should
present herself In a few minutes
| she appeared. coming demureIy down
the broad stairs, and as George Arm
| strong gazed up at her his interest in
/ sightseeing increased considerably She
had wonderfully sweet and attractive
face. and her little Shaker cap had not
I been able to detract from its charm.
Her hair had been put back smoothly
as the custom demanded. but some little
/ curIs had insisted upon showing about
her temples, and told Of the unnatural
restraint Of the others. she did not
seem quite like . Shaker. She mad es-
+ caped .he lean, meager look which most
of them attain. and even her Shaker
garb did not entirely conceal a trim lit
tie figure. She appeared. moreover. to
have a real interest IN life; it had not
yet become for her the treadmiH it
seemed for most OF the community
With a very few words of introduction
Sister Deborah started the party off
with whispered instructions 10 90 as
rapidly s possible They took the sights
in order. They went into the medicine
store. and saw the long rows Of extracts
and medicines. costing a Jew cents and
/ selling at a dollar bottle. Verify the
Shakers seemed Interested in the healing
Of the nations. They went into the
church. with its rows of low. straight
backed chairs and its beautifully s3lish-
ed floor. Young Armstrong gazed long
I ingIy at the latter. and wished that Sis
ter Alice could waltz. Next they visited
the living buildings, and glanced into
the small bedrooms. so perfect in their
order and with their little attempts at
adornment. The magnificent kitchens
were then seen, with the huge brick
\ baking ovens and their large ranges and
| tiled floors.
All the time the young man OF the
party kept up an animated conversation,
showing much interest in things about
him and finding desire for information
that prompted many questions When
they reached the fruit gardens he be
gan to fear thar the attra cions We're
, nearly exhausted, and so. hoping to
/ proIong matters, he expressed a desire
for some cherries. thinking that hey
would have 10 be picked He was not q
! little chagrined TO find that there was
lmore than a busheI already at hand He
felt partly compensated. however. by
an indistiDct idea that Sister Alice mad
understood ais motive for asking for
the cherries and had come very near
smiling at his discontinue. In vain he
tried 10 conjure up some other reason
for delay. He was carried reIentlessly
back toward the store, and had to con
tent himself with opening the gate for
her on the way. and talking as much as
the short time allowed When they
reached the store Sister Alice dtsap-
peared up the stairway. He noticed that
the elder sister glanced at the clock
very significantly and at him without
much apparent pleasure. and he prompt
Iy began making purchases for himself
and S aunt TO an extent which almost
Modified Sister Deborah and rather .ur-
prised his aunt. Then he returned 10
Pittsfeld.
But this was not his last visit to the