Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-12-14

OLD CY WALKER.
and morning by the heads of the fami-
lies, two lengthy sermons by the ortho-
doX parson, each extending to seven
teenthly," then to finally" and Gin
conclusion" occupied most of the day.
To the young it was long, solemn pc
Rod Of gloom from sun to sun, and if
a boy was detected near a brook, or
caught cracking a nut, merciless pun
ishment followed.
When the first bell sounded at nine
o'clock, all (unless Sick) were supposed
to get ready, those at a distance came
in all manner of conveyanceS, left lined
up in the long row of sheds back of the
church. At ten o'clock the second bell
was rung, when all were expected to be
in their seats and penitent frame Of
mind.
Ii late-arriving farmer entered,
tiptOeing down the aisle in talIowed,
but squeaking boots, all turned, frown-
ing at him, and when the last note of
the tolling bell died away and the par
son arose in the tall pulpit, the So
lemnity was so dense that it could be
felt.
Then came short prayer a hymn
read in full but abbreviated little by
please omit the third and fifth
stanZaS,' and droned in long metre by
the assembled sufferers, and after that
the long prayer in which the worthy
parsOn not only recited what the Lords
plans were, but his theories in refer
ence to them, together with a surfeit
of advice. At last amen" was reached
and then came a general clearing OF
Threats.
At this juncture the old ladies usu-
ally nibbled fennel Or f1agroot
OF the sermon that followed, also in
long meter, the least said the better.
Few understood it as anything peril
nent to their daily lives or followed it
beyond "tenthly," and when the newt
able collection, closing hymn, and ben
ediction ended the two hours of gloom,
the young people at least were glad to
escape.
AS he expected, Martin, when he at
tended church the first Sunday, was
stared at Slyly, and when services
were over a few Of the elderly ones
halted in the porch to greet him, for
DR.. Sol had spread the news that he
was now QU rich and might take
up his resio~nce in Greenvale. Aunt
Comfort was one of these, but Angie
merely bowed and walked on with
Hannah. AS their path was the same,
Martin had half expected the two
families would walk homeward to-
sether and thus give him a chance to
chat with Angie; but it did not occur.
When the greetings were over, how
ever, he walked away with Aunt
Comfort.
When evening came, Martin was in
somewhat OF a Quandary. He had
met Angie three times, and on each
| occasion she had shown no more than
ordinary courtesy and no vestige of
any deeper feeling. Then to walk on
ahead of the rest, as she had that
morning, seemed almost a snub.
! But certain logged determination
inherent in him conquered indecision,
and when the evening bell called and
she appeared, he boldly advanced and
in the most polite manner offered
/ his company churchward
! Now it is we'll understood social
! custom in Greenvale that, when a
! young couple of manageable age
walked to church together, they were
engaged, or willing to be so consid-
cred. and hence, when Martin walked
UP the aisle that evening and faced
about to let Angie enter the pew
first. every eye in the church was
upon them and her face was very red
Full we'll she knew what all were
thinking and what a tempest of Cos
sip would follow. 1t did not occur to
Martin, however, until service was
over, and as he opened the hymn book
found the place and stood up, he was
quite proud of himself But on the
way home species of frost seemed
to fall upon Angie and her WON,
you come in?" when the gate was
reached, was so chilly he came neal
refusing it. The old custom had re.
Cured to him by this time, however
and he felt he owed her an apology
! But it must be delayed. for Aunt