The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-11-12

gregatiOn for church work, abate1
somewhat. But he worked on steadily,
his earnestness and perseverance
carrying him through moments of dis
couragement and apparent failure un.
til, at the beginning of spring, he had
accomplished the seemingly impossi.
ble-the money for the new church
had actually been raised.
Then, one Sunday morning, he cleo
trlfed his congregation by quietly
reading mis- resignation, He felt, he
told them, that his work in Windham
was successfully completed, thanks to
their own generosity. He had decided
to accept a call to a larger church in
a distant state where the opportunity
for work was greater, for he was young
with a young mans ambitions.
In spite of the LOYAL protests of HIS
congregation, he resolutely declined to
reconsider this determination, and dur.
ing the next few weeks began the
packing and shipping of his house
hold goods Although he made no
mention of the fact in connection with
his going, it was generally believed
that Mrs Bancroft's health formed the
real reason for the change.
Would she leave Windham without
meeting any of the members of her
husbands church? This was the ques.
ton which The village discussed with
growing excitement as the day of de-
parture drew near. But Mr.. Bancroft
made his hurried round Of farewell
calls alone, and in response to covert
hints and open inquiries merely ex-
pressed his regret that his congrega.
ton could not nave mad the pleasure
of knowing his wife, but he begged
them to believe that he would have
arranged It if 1t had been possible.
He should always remember his Wind
ham friends most pleasantly.
An invalid wife is goin' to be a
terrible drag on him." Mrs. SaXton
ptophesied to her daughter, Milly, as
they watched the slim, athletic figure
striding down their front path to the
gate. But she amt hindered him from
dom a grand good work here. We
couldn't never have got the new
church if it hadn't been for him"
The next evening The carriage which
was to carry Rev Mr. and Mrs. Ban
croft the three miles to the station,
drew up before the parsonage, and
later the whole village heard it when
it drove away Mrs. Kimbal remained
over one more day to close the house,
then she locked the front door, hung
the key on its familiar nail in the
woodshed and was carried off by the
stage for a long visit with her broth
er's family in North Walpole.
The deserted house had a lonely
look behind its screen OF shrubbery,
as it stood awaiting the arrival OF its
next occupant.
Late one afternoon, nearly a week
after the departure of the minister and
his wife, Milly Saxtun burst into the
kitchen where her mother was prepar-
ing supper. Her shawl, which had
slipped from her shoulders, streamed
out behind her, Her eyes we're wide
with terror.
MAJ" she gasped, cluichng her
mother by the arm, Didn't Mr. and
Mrs Bancroft go last week?-didnt
we hear EN- go?'
why yes, said Mrs. SaXton, blank
ly. They were goin' to take that nine
o'clock train at Derry An Emily
Himbal, she went next day.
We'll, Mrs. Bancrofts come back!"
cried the girl, Historically. shes up
there at the housed"
"Oh, my land" exclaimed Mrs. Sax
ton.
Il just ran up to peek in the window
an see if they'd taken all their things,
an when put my face up against the
glass there she stood lookin' at me in
that empty room / thought | was
goin' to drop right where l was, but 1
Just shut my eyes an give one scream
an ran. 1t was awful"
The girl dropped into a chair Her
mother stood looking at her for sew.
eral minutes. Then she threw her
apron over her head and went to the
kitchen door.
"Ezra!" she called, "Ezra!" Just you
step here a minute"
Deacon SaXton appeared with an
empty milk pail in each hand
IL want you should come up to the
parsonage along with Milly an me.
Mrs. Bancrofts up there. Somethin's
wrong or she wouldn't have come
back"
Deacon Saxton followed his wife I'M
questioningly as she led the way
across the yard and mp the street and
turned in at the parsonage gate. Milly,