The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-11-17

alone and works on the fish racks.
She is worse off than am"
1t was little glimpse into the girls
life that interested Albert, and, in the
light of what he knew of her history,
pathetic one. Truly she was alone in
the world, except for the two kindly
souls who made a home for her.
YOU will so away tomorrow, I sup
pose" she said with a faint tone of
regret as they were rowing home
Father said your boat was coming
after you today"
He looked at her a moment, while a
slight smile showed beneath his mus
tache. Il suppose shall have to- he
answered, 'but I should like to stay
here 4 month. I've not made sketch
Of your house, even."
~ wish you would" she said with
charming candor, 1T is so lonesome
here, and then maybe you would show
me little about painting"
could you endure my company
every day for month"; he asked,
looking her full in the face
II don't believe you could endure
ours,' size replied, dropping her eyes,
and then she added quickly: ''There is
q prayer meeting tonight at the Cape
Would you like to go?"
'Most certainly" he answered.
Albert had expected to see the Gypsy
In the harbor when they returned that
AFTERNOON, but was happily disappoint-
ed. II hope they will stay at Bar Har-
Dor week." he thought.
That evening when Telly appeared,
ready to be escorted to the prayer
Injecting, he was certain that no fairer
girl was to be found anywhere
She was dressed in simple white, her
masses of sunny hair half concealed by
a thin blue affair of loosely knitted
wool and had a cluster of wild roses at
her throat. 1t was new and pleas
urable experience to be walking beside
we'll dressed young man whose every
look and word bespoke enjoyment Of
her society, and she showed it in her
lsimple, unaffected way.
That evenings gathering was unique
one in Albert's experience and the re-
Ilglous Observances such as he never
unpainted building, and when Telly
and he entered and seated themselves
on one of the wooden settees that stood
in rows not over a dozen people were
there. On a small platform in front
was a cottage organ and beside it
small desk. A few more entered after
they did, and then a ford faced man
arose and, followed by short and
stout young lady, walked forward to
the platform. The girl seated herself
at the organ, and the man, after turn
ing up the lamp on the organ, opened
the book Of gospel hymns and said in
a nasal tone, 1--WE will naow COM
mence our sarvices by singin' the Forty
third Psalm, and all are requested to
rise an jine." In the center of the
room hung large lamp, and two more
on brackets at the side shed a weak
light on the gathering, but no one
seemed to feel it necessary to look for
the Forty-third selection.
Albert and Telly arose with the rest,
and the girl at the organ began to chase
the slow tune up and down the keys.
Then the red faced man started the
singing, little below the key, and the
congregation followed. Telly's voice,
clear and distinct, joined with the rest.
A long prayer, full of halting repeti-
tons, by the man at the desk followed,
and then another hymn, and after that
came a painful pause. To Albert's
mind it was becoming serious, and he
began to wonder how it would end,
when there ensued one of the most
weird and yet pathetic prayers he had
ever listened to. 1t was uttered by an
old lady, tall, gaunt and white haired,
who arose from the end of settee
close to the wall and beneath one of
the smoke dimmed lamps. It could not
be classed as a prayer exactly, for
when she began her utterance she look
ed around as if to find sympathy in the
assembled faces, and her deep set, pierre
ing eyes seemed alight with intense
feeling. At first she grasped the back
Of the settee in front with her long,
f1eshless fingers, and then later clasped
and finally raised them above her up
turned face, while her body swayed
with the vehemence of her feelings.
Her garb, too, lent a pathos, for it was
naught but faded calico dress that
hung from her attenuated frame like
the raiment Of a scarecrow. It may
have been the shadowy room or the
mournful dirge of the nearby ocean
that added an uncanny touch to her
words and looks, but from the moment
she arose until her utterance ceased Al
bert was spellbound. So peculiar and
yet so pathetic was her prayer it shall
be quoted in full:
20 Lord, come to thee, KNOWN
I'm as worm that crawls on the
airth; like the dust blown by the
winds, the empty shell on the shore,
or the leaves that fall on the ground.
come poor an humble. l come hun
CRY an thirsty, like even the lowliest
O. the airth. I come an kneel at thy
feet believin' that l, poor worm O.
the dust, will still have thy love an