Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-02
Lavender
|CreightOn'S
Lovers
By OLIVIA b. STROHM

Copyright, 1905. by Olivia B. Strohul

CHAPTER XXX-CoNT1NUED.
So on this suspicious morning the
little log building was filled with 9
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 thai
the schoolhouse was success
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-
lint and grudging aid? II am not
the first" he thought, "for whose ven
ire the public waited with hands be-
hind its back; in one the crown of
thorns-the laurel wreath in the
other"
Uneonsciously his shoulders were
lifted disdainfully; his lips took Gym
ical curve at thought of how little his
v'nture-a log schoolhouse in the
,lderness-was worthy either re-
ward. Compared with the hopes he
had built on the southern project how
ruerile 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
great things. There was much of the
dreamer 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, 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 a new
turn of affairs, and his horizon had
dawned broader-bright with new pos
sibilities. It was this recent hope
which lifted the tenor Of his thought,
made less hard the light in his eyes;
thls-and something else.
Tor 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 &c down the aisle to greet
him. His heart gave an expectant
throb. On the threshold appeared the
white head Of Mr.. Creighton. Tall,
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 be fancied
must be clinging to her. Then his
sazeu sought and held the other dain-
ty, if more earthly bit of loneliness
that lowered near her in the door
way. Lavender had seen in one quick
glance that Winslow was there, had
noted his eager attention upon their
entrance. Summoning all her artful
Rrtlessness, 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 l would not have missed COM
Ing; you see, sir, we were determined
to get in.'
The reverend man replied with mock
gravity: Il 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 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.
7 And Winslow's attention wandered
from the service to 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 the key
board, all her mind apparently intent
upon 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 a blush
would redden her cheek, and creep
down into the neck which the soft
gauze kerchief only pretended to con-
ceal. To-day she was to give Winslow
his answer; the answer to his ques-
ton: MAY it's fulfllment be mine?"
All the way into the village she had
been rehearsing what she should say,
how 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 humidity
tender eyes, each curve of the winsome
lips, 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 parodied thought,