The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-11-03
CHAPTER Ill

" ms REORGANIZATION, the doctor
devoted the night following his advent
into the little frontier village to the
investigation of the Quaker preachers
ntness for his use. He took Pepeeta
with him, the older habitues of the
tavern standing on the porch and smil-
ing ironically as they started. The
meeting house was one of those con-
Ventional weather. boarded buildings
with which all travellers in the West
ern States are familiar. The rays Of
the tallow candles by which it was
lghted were streaming feebly out into
the night. The doors were open, and
through them were passing meek
raced, soft-voiced and plain -robed wor-
shippers.
Keeping close together, Pepeeta light
ana graceful, the doctor heavy and
awkward, both Of them thoroughly en-
parrassed, they ascended the steps as
bear and gazelle might have walked
the gang-plank into the ark They en-
tered unobserved save by few of the
younger people who were staring va
cantly about the room. and took their
seats on the last bench. The Quaker
maidens who caught sight of Pepeeta
We're visibly excited and began to
preen themselves as turtle doves might
nave done II bird of paradise had
suddenly flashed among them. One Of
them happened to be seated next her
She was dressed in quiet drabs and
srays. Her face and person were per-
vaded and adorned by simplicity,
meekness, devotion; and the contrast
between the two was 80 striking as to
render them both self conscious and
uneasy in each others presence.
The visitors did not know at all
Wnat to expect in this unfamiliar
place, but could not have been aston
lshed or awed by anything else half
SO much as by the inexplicable silence
which prevailed. If the whole assem-
blage had been dancing or turning
comersaults, they would not have been
surprised, but the few moments in
which they thus sat looking stupidity at
the people and then at each other
seemed to them like a small eternity.
Pepeeta's sensitive nature could i'll en-
dure such a strain, and she became
nervous.
Take me away" she imploringly
whispered to the doctor who sat by
her side, ignorant of the custom which
separated the sexes.
He tried to encourage her in a few
words, took her trem-
bling hand in his great rpw, pressed
1t reassuringly, winked humorously.
and then looked about him with a sar-
donic grin.
To Pepeeta's relief, the silence was
at last broken by an old man who rose
from his seat, reverently folded his
hands, lifted his face to heaven, closed
his eyes and began to speak. She had
never until this moment listened to
prayer, and this address to an invisible
Being wrought in her already agitated
mind a confused and exciting effect;
but the prayer was long, and gave her
time to recover her self control. The
silence which followed its close was
ess painful because less strange than
,he other, and she permitted herself
10 glance about the room and to WON
Ter what would happen next. Her Gu
'iosity was soon satisfied. David Cor
son, the young mystic, rose to his feet.
de was dressed with exquisite neat
ness in that simple garb which lends
20 a noble person a peculiar and seri-
ous dignity. Standing for a moment
before he began his address, he looked
over the audience with the self-pos-
session of an accomplished orator.
The attention of every person in the
'oom was at once arrested. They all
'ecalled their wandering or preoccu-
oied thoughts, lifted their bowed heads
Ind fixed their eyes upon the COM
figure before them.
This general movement caused Pc
oeeta to turn, and she observed a sud-
len Transformation on the countenance
If the dove-like Quaker maiden. Al
lush mantled her pale cheek and a
'adiance beamed in her mild blue eyes.
t was a tell-tale look, and Pepeeta.
Who OWNED its meaning, sr..iled sym-
But the first word which fell from
he lips of the speaker withdrew her
attention from every other object, for
lis voice possessed a quality with
which she was entirely unfamiliar. 1t
would have charmed and fascinated
he hearer, even If 1t had uttered inco-
lerent words. For Pepeeta, It had an
,ther and a more mysterious value. II
vas the voice of her destiny, and rang
n her soul like bell The speech of
he young Quaker was a simple and
lnadorned message of the love of God
o men, and of their power to respond
o the Divine call
Each sentence had fallen into the
sensitive soul OF the fortune teller like
! pebble into deep well. She was
,azing at him in astonishment. Her
ips were parted. her eyes were suf-
used and she was leaning forward
,reathlessly.
When at length David stopped
peaking, II seemed to Pepeeta as If a
udden end had come to everything:
s. IL rivers had ceased to run and stars
o rise and set. She drew a long, deep
'reath, sighed and sank back In her
eat, exhausted by the nervous tension
o which she had been subjected.
The effect upon the quack was hard
y less remarkable. He. too, had lis
ened with breathless attention. He |
ried to analyze and then to resist this |
nesmeric power. but gradually sue
umbed. He felt as IL chained to his |
eat. and 1t was only by great effort |
hat he pulled himself together, took |
'epeeta by the arm and drew her out |
nto the open air.
For few moments they walked in |
Hence. and then the doctor exclaim- |
d: PIP peeta, 1 have found him at
asst"
'F'sInd whom?" she asked sharply.