The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-05-17

"Who was the poor old lady that
prayed so f~erventlyf I never heard
anything like It since I wal a boy"
"Oh, that's the Widow Leach" Teily
responded. "She always acts that way
and feels So, too, 1 guess. She Is an
object OF pity here and very poor.
She has no relation living that she
knows of, lives alone In a small house
she owns and works ON the fish racks
summers, and winters has to be helped.
Her husband and two spps were lost
at sea many years ago, aud father says
religion rs all the consolation she has
left"
"Does she always pray Ms fervently
as she did tonlght1"
"Oh, yes; that's her way. Father
says she is a little cracked about such
matters. He pities her, though. and
helps her a good deal. and SO does
most every one else here who can.
She needs It." Then, after n pause,
she added, "How did o enjoy the
meeting, Mr.. Page"
"Well," replied Albert slowly and
mentally contrasting 1t with many Sun
day services when he had occupied n
pew with the Nasons Mt their fashion
able church In Boston, ut has been an
experience I shall not soon forget. In
one way II has been n pleasure, for 1t
has taken me back to my young days"
Then he added n little sadly, ut has
also been q pain. for II recalled my
mother and how she used to pray that I
might grow TO be n good man."
"You are not n bad man. are your"
responded Tcily ut once, looking curl
ously Mt him.
ooh, no, j hope not" he answered,
smiling. IL try to DO M l would be
done by, but the good people here
might think l was, maybe, because /
nm not q professor OF religion. For
that reason I should be classed as n
Of the sinners, I presume"
"weii, so Is father, but that doesn't
make him one. Deacon Oaks calls him
q scoffer, but l know he trusts him In
NIL money matters, and I think father
Is the best and ktndest man In the
world. lie has been so good and kind
to me / would almost lie down md die
for him X necessary"
"How do you feel about this matter
Of bellef?" Albert asked after n pause.
"Are you what this old indy would
call q believer, Miss TerryT
"Oh, no." she replied slowly, II fear
I am not. ! always go TO meeting Bun
days when there IL one-mother and I
and once In awhile to the Thursday
evening prayer meeting. L think it's
because 1 enjoy the singing"
When they reached the point Albert
could not restrain his desire to enjoy
the society of this unaffected, simple
and beautiful girl n little longer. The
moon hat Frank had planned to use
was high overhead, and ava out owe
the still ocean stretched n broadening
path OF silvery sheen, while at their
feet, where the ground sweils were
breaking upon the rocks, every splash
Of foam looked like snow white wool.
"If It's not asking too much, Miss
Terry" said Albert with almost polite
ness, won't you walk out to the top
OF the cliff and sit down n few mo-
mcnts while 1 enjoy a cigar2 The
night is too beautiful to turn away
from Mt once"
Tclly asscnted, and they took posses
sion OF the rustic scat where Albert
had listened to her history tho night
before. What n food Of emotions came
to him as he watched his fair COM
panion, all unconscious Of his scrutiny,
and with them n sudden and keen In
terest to unravcl the mystery of her
pnrcntage and the hope that some time
he might do 1t. He also felt an unac-
countable desire to tell her that he
knew her pathetic story and to express
his interest In 1t and his sympathy for
her, but dared not. ut may hurt her
to know / know It," he thought, "and
| Will wait till she knows me better"
Instead, he began telling her about
himself and his own early life, his
home, his loss of parents, his struggle
to earn n living and how much success
he had so far met,
When his recital and cigar were both
Mt IN end and II was time to go in he
said, IL may not have another chance
to ask YOU, Miss Terry. before l leave
here, but when l get back to Boston
may | write to YOU, II will you an
swcr my letters II 1 ho?"
The question startled her n little, but
she answered:
81 shall be pleased to hear from you,
Mr.. Page. md Will do the best 1 can In
replying. only do not expect too much"
When he had biGdcn her good night
and was alone In Ills room the memory
Of Mrs. Leach and her pitiful prayer,
coupled with Tclly's pleading eyes and
sweet face. banishcd all thoughts Of
sleep, and lie watched the moonlit
ocean while he smoked and meditated.