Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-14
Lavender Creighton's
 Lovers
By OLIVIA B. sTRoHM
tcopyrigh, rsos. bs Olivia B. stroam.


 little log building was filled with a noisy crowd in high good humor Winslow sat on the platform in com pany with few leading men who were busy making speeches. For now that the schooihouse was success-a practical something in logs and nor tar, everybody was enthusiastic; each striving to prove that his had been the support which promised to make of St. Charles an educational center @, And for this recognition Winslow was grateful What though doubts were at first expressed and. fearful of failure, the villagers gave sly indorse- ment and grudging aid? q am not the first" he thought, flor whose ven- ture the public waited with hands be- hind it's back; in one the crown of thorns-the laurel wreath in the other"
 Unconsciously his shoulders were lifted disdainfully: his lips took cyn- sical curve at thought of how little his venture-a log schoolhouse in the @wildemess-was worthy either re- Yward. Compared with the hopes he shad built on the southern project how puerile it seemed! He had reckoned upon the success of the expedition less from its own possibilities than because of his belief in the integrity and state craft of Aaron Burr. From him-from his reflected glory, he had expected .sgreat things. There was much of the sdreamer in Winslow-the disciple rather than the leader.
 And this, not from weakness, but be- cause of habitual plane of thought where energetic leadership seemed scarcely worth while. To live and dream in an artistic, a poetic world to which others had given practical shape-this was his idea of the best in life. The failure of Burr's plans had reused him to action, and action which, so far as it led, had been sue cessful; it was only that he despised the end.
 But there had suddenly come new turn of affairs, and his horizon had
 
 abilities. It was this recent hope which lifted the tenor of his thought, made less hard the light in his eyes; this-and something else.
 For there was stir at the door, and some newcomers pushed through the crowd Winslow saw Rev. Luke Bal finger rise from his chair near the pull. pit, and go down the aisle to greet him. His heart gave an expectant ,throb. On the threshold appeared the kfhite head of Mr.=Cfsighton Nf'ail, placid-eyed, he stood, on his arm the invalid wife. She was pale and very thin, with the look of one to whom has been granted, in illness, glimpse of the unseen. Winslow's eyes fingered upon her as if to drink in a bit of the divinity which he fancied must be clinging to her. Then his gazed sought and held the other dain- ty if more earthly bit of loveliness that lowered near her in the door way. Lavender had seen in one quick glance that Winslow was there, had 'hoted his eager attention upon their entrance. Summoning all her artful artlessness, she responded to the preachers greeting with serenity and an easy indifference which belied her beating heart. He found seats for her parents. then asked her to lead the singing Nobody can play: we have been waiting for you" he said.
 And I would not have missed com ing; you see, sir: we were determined to get in"
 The reverend man replied with mock gravity: "l see. but were you not afraid of being smitten with blindness, that, like the men of Sodom. you came near to break the dOor?"
 She gave him a searching glance as they went down the aisle together opening her eyes wide with a pretty blush of defiance.
 The minister shook his head. "The eyes are there, no doubt; see that they do no mischief" and shaking his finger at her with a warning smile. he escorted her to the spinet which occu- pied one end of the platform.
 And winslOw's attention wandered from the service 10 watch her as she presided over the squeaky little instru- ment. In her best mulberry -colored gown. with sarsenet sash. she sat de- mure, her head bent over ihe key board. all her mind apparently intent upon q copy of Watts hymns-all her strength expended in energetic pres sure of the stiff old pedals. But that her thoughts. too. were wandering. was apparent from an occasional glance. sidelong. in his direction; then blush would Tedden her cheek, and creep down into the neck which the soft eagze kerchief only pretended to con eeaL To-day she was to give winslow his answer: the answer to his ques- tion: May it's fulfillment be mine.T All the way into the village she had been rehearsing what she should say, zow meet him.
 Yet now vain to think she would have need for words. For wOrds-when as she passed him where he sat on the platform. very glance of the humidly tender eyes. each curve of the Einsome ilps. the rise and fall of linen crossed on the happy bosOm-all made plain what words could only weaken
 The exercises would have bored any but such an audience The people mentally starved were pleased with anything that even parOdisd thought. and speeches. dialogues and songs