Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-11-10

How could he bear 1t, with Eve and
no soul else for his congregation?
This was the second Sunday since the
conservation of that other church of
new marble and gliding, and the sec
ond time he and Eve had been thus
alone together.
1t was chivalrously noble of her.
He read her high motives as he read
her serene and beautiful face. But. of
course, it could not go on She must
recognize that as well as he. If she
were not Eve, Philip might have seen
in her coming thus to his despised
little church the master stroke of her
fathers schemes to drive him out of
the parish. But she was the Eve he
knew and loved, and
And he could stand firm no longer.
The sweet chimes of that other
church ceased. Instead of them he
heard the cheerful twittering of birds.
Otherwise he was surrounded by great
and soothing silence.
Well, 1t ought to have been soothing.
But 1t was not His pale face flushed
as he remembered what he had Just
done, or rather not done.
The shame Of it!
He had allowed his own petty per-
sonal cares and humiliations-the agi-
tations Of a mere ephemera-to tempt
him to insult the Omnipotent and I'm
mortal. He, servant of the Most
High, had refused to pay the service
that was due from him to the Al
mighty. Expressly due from him!
He had cried like a . eS,,a ,or- a pol-
lro .oln a9a E Sn away. 1t mattered
SsSrning that he had shamed himself
before her. She was a fleeing mortal,
even as he was. In little while she.
like him, would pass away, and ere
then she would, God willing, forget
his weakness. But he had banned
himself before the Most High. and be-
fore the dust of his own ancestors. who
had been honorable and brave men
their many misfortunes in these latter
days the result of their sense of honor.
He arose and confronted his igno-
miny with steady eyes il flushed
cheeks, and In a little while he return
ed, calm again and no longer flushed.
to the place from which he had fed.
And again he knelt, alone now save
for the sunshine which beamed full
upon the spot where she had stood.
and whence she had witnessed his
shame.
And afterward he read the whole
service, with. growing sense of
strength, though no desire to rejoice
In its consciousness. He read and
prayed in low voice, for there was
no mortal ear to hear him, and no
other human tongue to join his.
Just himself, and the altar, which
was to him the throne OF mercy and
all good gifts.
So to the very end.
Only when he had finished In the
peace which passes understanding and
was on his feet, very straight and very
white again, and ready to return, com
forted In measure, to his lonely par
sonage. only then did he glance once
more at the place which she had con-
secrated in his memory for ever and
ever.
She was there again, kneeling, with
her face in her hands.
Just for a moment he stood motion
less; not quite so erect now, but whittier
than before. Only for a moment.
And then he moved slowly to his
vestry and shut the door.
Not now a recreant servant Of his
Master, he returned to the church, and
went down its narrow. nave Why
should he not pause and even stand
where she had stood? She had left
her prayer book, and that also was
noble of her. All the other books had
been taken away to that garish little
gem of new church. Only hers re-
manned
He kissed the book and replaced 1t
reverently. In a week 1t would no
doubt be With her in that other church
So much the better for that other
church, and none the worse for him,
or for her. And here he locked the
door sadly, yet with firm hand, and
removed the key Tomorrow Mr.. Mel
ton Hassell might triumph over the
key If he pleased; 1t should be his to
do with as he pleased.
But On the west side of the church
whittier he turned to reach the par
sonage in which Delmain had lived
for more than two centuries. he saw
her.
She was standing by the large, white
marble cross which marked where her
mother lay. Mr.. Melton Hassell had
lost his wife in the first year of his
greatness as master of Drelling. IT
was before the discord between him
and the vicar Of Drelling, and, well,
OF course, she lay in the old church.
yard.
She looked up, and at once moved
toward him, and there was that In her
face which constrained him to wait
for her. The impulse to steal away In
Inc otner direction was instantaneous
on seeing her; but SO. also, was her
movement toward him.
He waited for her and smiled.
Yes, he would give her the key, If
she would take 1t.
But she spoke first. Offering him her
hand.
4 want to say something she said
rapidly; and | want you to believe
every word OF it. I-you may think
what you will of me. but it has got to
be said. Once you asked me il could
love you, and II was hasty, and said
could not. meant would not. But
| love you now, andyou read the
words Just now-if you still love me.
| am willing and anxious to say. like
Ruth, Whittier thou goest | will eb,
and-you know the rest. Philip. Ah.'s