Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-03-29
The Hermit
\ A Story Of the Wilderness
= BycnARlEs CLARK MUM
Author Of Pocket Island. Z ~. Uncle Terry x
'-.. =, AID : Rockhaven.'''. CO.. Is: 3}s
CHAPTER XL.>
By CHARLES CLARK MUM
&Cups right. lsGi. BY Lea and shspayu. }

CHAPTER AL. s9< : s4#.
THE SPREAD or HAPPINESS. r.
Two months had elapsed since the
specter Of Scar Face and Dayid's tor
turing conscience had caused him to
leap into oblivion, and he was al
most forgotten. The Mizzy falls still
poured out from beneath a sheathing
OF ice. and slittering pendants hung
from the rocks beside it or swayed
from the trees that bent toward it be-
low. The mills We're choked with
snow, the great house near by was
empty, not footprint showed that the
premises ever had a visitor. and the
ghost that once haunted them had
been banished. The sossips had more
cheering subjects to discuss, and Mar
tins discovery of AMI, his good Sa-
marian service and care for that pitt
ful man, old Cy's voluntary imprison-
ment with him in the far-away wilder
ness. and the hope that both would
return in the spring. were discussed
at every fireside. There was also an
other topic OF warm heart interest
the news that Angie and Martin were
now openly pledged to marriage in the
near future. it was not long in spread
Ing, for when Angie somewhat peni-
tently Informed Aunt Comfort, that
motherly soul first kissed and caressed
her with fearful JOY, and then straight
way Informed Aunt Lorey and lin the
vernacular) that settled it,
no hindrance to Aunt Lorey, for be-
fore the sun had again risen on fair
Greenvale. the important news was
known all over the village.
And what romantic tale of faith
full devotion we'll rewarded it was, and
how the congratulations and good
wishes came showering upon Angie!
For years she had lived her patient,
helpful life, always thinking of and
doing for others, bearing her own
troubles and wrongs in silence, until
she had grown very dear to the hearts
OF all, and now to come into her inher-
TIED rights and the crown of love and
betrothal almost at once, with the pros
Dect of again meeting father sup
posed to be dead, was a reward greater
than fairy princess ever received.
And well deserved, as all consid-
cred.
Aunt Comfort shared the general
love-feast CT goodwill and wishes, and
Martin was also hero. DR.. Sol was
not forgotten, and even Meier received
a few crumbs for his plodding through
the snow early every morning for
weeks to build a rousing fire in the
schoolhouse for Angie-acts which
were attributed to his devotion to her.
The social life of Greenvale also re-.
ceived new impetus that winter, and
evening gatherings OF the middle aged
and young folks, to which Angie and
Martin were inevitably invited, became
frequent. They were considered the
guests of honor at all these simple
functions, and none complete without
them. Angie was, of course, the SO
cial star, who was, sought as queen;
her wishes were consulted, her sug-
gestions were asked for, and she was
forced to receive homage she cared
not at all for. The general sociability
also eliminated in several dances
where she and Martin were obliged to
lead the grand march, and she was be-
sieged afterwards by would-be part
ners. Aunt Comfort also entered into
the spirit Of jOy0usness and battled
with Angles sense of economy until
an ample supply of new gowns and
frocks were added to her wardrobe.
You've been denyin' yerself n. 60
ing without things long 'nough," she
said when the subject came up, IAN
now you've got ter dress up, If I've
got ter sit up nights SEWN. Then
you've got ter consider Martins feel
ms. He's got mans nat'ral pride in
you, that you mustn't forget, {
He also considered" and the cost
ly ,hothouse flowers kept coming to
Aunt j. Comforts in spite of zero
weather. =
There was another side to the social
impetus, and that. the religious one.
The church that had been repaired by
Martin, and where the Reverend Up-
son proclaimed what might be called
the new school of thought, received
good support and was well filled each
Sabbath. Most Of the audiences were
composed Of those who had grown lax
in their church attendance, or seldom
listened to the Reverend Jones. but
many alternated between the two
churches. It became a species of COM
petition between the two preachers.
which harmed neither and really aided
both by provoking widespread discus
sion out of church and more general
interest in religion. The fact was the
Reverend Jones had become old-fogy-
ish, his arguments 1moss-covered, and
the dry bones of Calyinism had lost
their power. The newer ones Of Uni
tarianisn were more appealing to the
broader minded, and even interested
those who still held to the old theol-
ogy. In village like Greenvale moth
ing can be concealed, and the Rever-
end Upson's utterances each Sunday
were quoted from house to house soon
after, discussed in Phinney's store and
! Capt. Tobey's tavern, and weighed and
4 compared with Reverend Jones SER
mons time and again, and it must be
said that to those sturdy farmers who
had wrangled on predestination, doubt
ed Noah's maritime knowledge, and
discussed the cause of Adams fail
for years, Parson Upson's theories
seemed the more logical and his idea
OF God the more comm endable. a
curious and quite unexpected change
Z CANA nVor Qo1orovd 7rv,ne, ~, ,,,~11 Y. (,