Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-12-28
CHAPTER XXI.
SUNDAY EVENING.

In Greenvale, as in all rural towns.
Sunday evening was sparkling night"
when lads and lassies put on their very
best, the front parlor was given
up to Jane or Huldah, their SWANS
allowed all possible chance to reach
popping point, and the old folks kept
shady. AS rule all the young folks
gathered separately at the church, and
when service was over, each rustic
Romeo hurried to the porch to there
await his hearts desire, and when the
smiling maids like snowbirds willing
to be mated" appeared, faced the mu-
sic with beating heart to receive Joy
supreme or the mitten. Only engaged
couples walked to the sanctuary to-
gether, and to do so was tacit adj
mission of betrothal.
1t was this solecism on Martins part
on his first Sunday evening that caused
Angie so much embarrassment. He had
not repeated it; in fact, so uncertain
was he of his ground with her that he
had avoided Sunday evening church at
tendance almost entirely afterwards.
By the time the excitement caused
by David's night scare and almost fatal
illness had subsidized, Martin had made
some slight advance in Angles favor.
She had been left alone a good deal.
and he seized his chances. She also
seemed to grow more cordial, and by
degrees her cool reserve melted away.
When Sunday evening came again.
Martin, recalling Greenvale's social
custom, resolved on bold stroke, and
Nol1inO oorlU ipUit0d To tot h
churchward. For a moment she hes
itated, knowing full we'll what would
be thought of it, and then. as an extra
shade of pink crept into her face, she
consented. When the bell began to
call, she Joined him on the porch,
dressed in spotless muslin, solitary
rose her only ornament, and, as Aunt
Comfort would say, "lookin's sweet
enough to eat And we'll might Martin
feel proud, for no fairer maid ever
blessed lovers eyes. For two months
now, though they had met often, no
mention had been made of the past.
He had essayed it at first, but soon saw
it to be unwise, and yet maybe that
old-time illusion, like the sound OF
bells now calling them, had never
ceased to vibrate in their hearts. We
are moved by subtle influences, and
memory is ofttimes awakened by the
veriest trifie. The odor of a certain
flower, a strain of music, the signing
of the breeze in the pines, even the
croaklng Of frog in springtime, will
carry us back over lifetime in an in
slant.
Only few years, comparatively, sep
arated the lives of these two-very
short TO him, but long and weary to
her She had much to forgive, but like
many another patient woman who goes
through life silently forgiving an err
ring husband, so maybe had she now
forgiven lovers desertion.
And very sweet the church bells
sounded to Martin, for now the fairest
and dearest of all earth's womankind
was walking beside him in a journey
that was a tacit confession.
There were speaking glances ex-
changed between matrons and maids
in that Sunday evening gathering, and
whispered Il told you SOS" while the
white-haired parson searched for his
chapter. The congregation arose and
sang as USUAL, Angie JOIuluS, WullS
Martin covertly watched her, feeling
proud And when both bowed with
the rest to receive dismissal, and then
walked away in the balmy August
evening, it seemed to him he ought to
enclose her in one strong arm, lest she
escape.
When the lane that crossed the Mizzy
was reached, Martin halted. Lets go
down to the old red bridge" he said,
and without word Angie turned with
him.
1t was a secluded as well as pretty
spot; group OF willows shaded one
end Of the bridge and pile of worn
out pianss; below, the stream broad
ened into a wide pool and beside it
grew sweet flag. 1t had been one OF
their old-time trysting places. oft Wis
tied to gather flag and watch the
moons reflection in the pool.
ITO Re Continued