The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-23
IN THE PEW
BY THE DOOR.
Ey EDITH COPEMAN HALSEY.
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ter beside her. She never talked
much when Mrs. Morris dropped in.
She needed to.
about David?" questioned her
guest.
From David" was the answer.
"Well," responded Mrs. Morris,
CDR. Wilson was sayin' last night
that it was just wonderful, his bein'
called to that big church. I hear he
went there to preach for 'em when
their minister was goin' to leave, an
some of the big bugs made up their
minds they'd have him and nobody
else. Lands! When I think Of the
way you took that helpless little baby
an brought him up, an you a widow
an no kin at all, an how you've sold
most half of this little farm to edu-
cate him! My! I hope you'll get a
little gratitude for it, an some re-
ward"
David is my reward" quietly an
swered her hostess.
"Oh, yes, Of course" Then after
a pause, Il suppose the salary's aw-
full big"
ut seems so to me-" was the reply.
"Well," with a little look Of disap-
pointment, Il must get along. l
suppose you'll go up with DR.. Wilson
to hear him preach his first sermon
as pastor?"
Then the old face opposite flushed
q little.
ooh, no! It's so far and there will
be so many people there, I suppose;
oh, no, I couldn't CO."
Mrs. Morris considered a moment.
"Well, l don't know. 1 should think
you'd want to see how he looks
among all the high flyers. Of course,
it costs a lot to go so far, and with
a quick glance at the little figure be-
fore herr you mightn't feel real easy
among 'em. Well, goodbye. Any
way, faint as if he was your own"
Then she was gone and the sensi-
tive soul was left with the sting, and
the wound, and the pain.
He wasn't her own! He wasn't
her own! Oh, the sharp, keen pain
1t brought her. She "mightn't feel
easy among EN-" She knew that,
but why did well meaning Mrs. Nor
els say it? She did not belong to the
great world out there-David did!
She, if she went to be present at that
wonderful service, would hardly
know how to act, unless-and she al
most held her breath-unless she
might slip in a rear seat where no
one would notice her at all. =
She picked up David's letter again;
she had read every word Of it four
times that day. 1t said: "You must
sou r, the train, and then I will take
care of you!" Much more there was
In the long letter. "It doesn't sound
as if he"-and the thought sprang
out at last-"feels ashamed of the
country mother. David. would do his
duty, anyway, and maybe I want too
much" The tears rained over her
face, but presently she lifted her head
and asked herself what they had been
for. Hadn't David always loved her?
Hadn't he always been kind and good
and attentive to her?
But down in her heart she knew
that only David himself in some way
could remove that haunting fear.
Hes no call to be so very grateful"
she said in loving Reuse I'm a
selfish, exacting old woman, that's
what I am, shedding tears when I'd
much better be thanking the Lord
that my boys able to preach" So
she rose above the worry, stilled the
voice in her heart that whispered,
HE isn't your own. he isn't like
'you," wrapped about her the mantle
Of unselfshness that she had always
worm, and wrote David that she
guessed she'd better not come.
But because of the great love in
her heart, and because Dr.. Wilson in
sisted, it came about that the mistress
Of the little farmhouse took the long
journey, and found herself one of
many who were entering a church
that seemed to her stately and beau
tiful beyond the telling.
"You must just let me slip in by
the door," she whispered TREMENDOUSLY
to the reverend gentleman beside
her, and knowing how very tired she
was, and seeing the frightened look
on the gentle old face, he answered
soothingly, "Just as you saE-just as
you say"
He seated her carefully black by
the door," and then went to join the
ministers already seated on the plat
form.
The tired little woman in the back
of the church sat trembling with ner-
vous excitement and fatigue. At first
only a dreamy, dazed feeling pos
sessed her. Then she was conscious
that the great church vas filled with
people, people who seemed to belong
to another world than her own.
That's Mr.. Ferris" she heard
some n say in a low tone behind
her, as a tall. distinguished looking
mar passed the pew where she sat.
Hes one of the most prominent men
In the church and worth millions!"
Wonderful music was flooding the
building, such music as she had
dreamed she might hear in heaven.
Then with timid, eager glance she
was searching the palm-decked plat
form for "her boy" Her eyes were
dim, but she found him. He was
~grasping DR.. Wilson's outstretched