The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-18
1 Church in the Blue Ridge


winter, and the sleet and snow which
Gall IN the Blue Ridge in January and
February. Having no shutters as is
the case with all the houses in the
mountains. the sunshine coming
through the windows. fell in thin
streais over the plain benches and bare
doors of the small church, lighting IN
the chancel, and casting a CLEAN on the
fine head of the young minister who
stood, one late afternoon. grave and
quiet before his heterogeneous congre-
CATION. gathered from distant points
from the homesteads and farms scat
tered along the sunlit slopes OF the
great ranges, with sprinkling OF sum-
mer tourists. come to listen to the
preacher whose renown had gone
abroad
Standing calm and patient. he waited
for the noise made by the tramp of
heavy shoes to cease before beginning
the simple service OF his Christian
church.
In spite of a clean-shaven face and a
slim fgure not over the average height,
Horace Falconer's was an innnresSixre
personality. His deep-set eyes glowed
with a merry enthusiasm. and he looked
beyond the heads Of his small congre-
gauon upon the peaks without. seeing
Visions evidently not of this earth
When the prayer and HYMNS were
over he would plunge into an exhorta-
ton OF singular depth and feeling and
= with a purity Of style and a glow of
l Itch imagery altogether out of keepinR
With the plain little church and the
Altherin2 within.
But his fame went far beyo1H those
mits. The people who had walked up
ne long. winding beautiful mountain
road from the hotel to hear Horace Fall
coner preach, consisted of middle-a ged
women, singularly handsome girl
whose tailor suit and general air spoke
Oh the world, Its pOmps and riches and
81 Well-groomed young man, VINO evil
Gently fitted In appropriately with their
sphere Of action and lives
BY the constant and keen eIances this
young man gave his gay and laughing
companion, as they trudged along the
mountain side. his was evidently no
heeting interest for the charming young
woman beside him.
What are you going up there for?
There are no cushions on the seats n,
carpets on the floor. and it must be
molly. They only open 1t once in six
months
IT'S sure to be crowded. you know,
ana that fellow, F'alconer. from what
I've heard, is on the order of sam Jones
When he sees that good-looking hat of
yours he'll be certain to apostrophize
IL, David fremont said lazily as they
stopped to rest by the wayside on a
soil
valerie Humphries laughed gayly. and
Mrs. HUMPHREYS declared she thought it
perfectly absurd to go clambering over
an impossible road up to the very ton
OF the mountain to hear a young man
rant and call it preaching
IL ne dares to point at you child or
make any disagreeable allusion to fash
iona Die life, l Will certainly walk out Of
his church and will expect you to follow
me"
Why, mamma; he is a charming man
ID harvard graduate and good looking
TOO Old Mrs Brown told me all about
hln' ana considering all the money he
. squanders, on school houses for the poor
little children up here and on the roads.
nd in all sorts of ways to help the
ntaineerS, he must have loads of it,
why, Mrs. Brown says he's building a
railroad out of pure philanthropy"
Good gracious 1 wonder if it's true?''
Mrs. HUMPHREYS said in astonishment.
hope you don't believe all that
stun" David fremont said. But if
you really wish to hear this paragon
Miss Val, we better be going But re-
member my warning. Don't be sur
prised If he looks scornfuIIy at you and
your mother when he mentions the
dreadful fate Of the rich man and
Dives"
Val has talent for idealizing everv
thing" Mrs. HUMPHREYS said, with fond
admiration between the short gasps she
was giving as they toiled up the final
ascent to the small plateau on which
the mountain chapel was built.
The grass grew thick and green over
the cleared space in front, daisies and
yellow jasmines clustered around and
a dense growth of towering trees rose
in the heavy mass of verdure behind
the small structure, as If to protect it
from the sweep of the winds.
rs that your minister" Mrs Hum
phries asked in surprised voice while
looking through her glasses at a slen-
der, unclerical figure.
Horace Falconer, before passing in
the church, had paused to speak to a
young girl who was leaning with care
less grace against the side of the ram
shackle vehicle which had evidently
come from afar. She had taken off
her hat to let the overlooking wind
cool her flushed face. and a shaft of
light striking full on her showed a face
and figure OF magnificent beauty and
the daredevil look in her great tawny
hazel eyes.
She was evidently questioning and
OBTAINING him. a proceeding evidently
distasteful to a tall. muscular. bronzed-
face fellow. smoking silently by her
side.
"Humphl Is she member Of his
flock. Miss Val? 1 don't wonder he
stopped to chat and be inspired. Quite
a remarkable mountain lass. Never
!. saw anything stunning-except
kNyou," David fremont remarked. watch
Sig the group before him with apprec-
zion and through narrowed eyelids.
- "Oh, that must be Halla Carter. I've
rJceH utdIluB ABOUT neT ever since we
came" Valerie whispered excitedly.
She's a tearing beauty and the daugh-
ter Of moonshiner. They are quite
rich. everybody says. and the revenue
men are always after him. His daugh-
ter helps him Mr. Brown told me she
is as fearless and bold as tiger. What
a beautiful girl. Don't you think so?"
Mrs HUMPHREYS declared she was
good looking. but coarse. Nothing else
could be expected of a moonshiner's
daughter.
David fremont expressed no opinion,
but watched the minister whose back
was turned to them. and caught the
wave of feeling which swept over her
face as he turned and left her, and saw
the light of a passionate gratitude in