The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1909-10-28

hOOrs," she said, IAN a-aSk1n' why |
you don't stop de circus from a-show-
in mex to de church an den a-cranin'
dar necks out de winder till l can't |
get no housework DONE"
'That's only human nature" Doug
las had answered, with laugh, but
Mandy had declared that she knew an
other name for it and had mumbled
something about "hypocritters" as she
seized her broom and began to sweep
imag inary tracks from in front of the
door. i
Many times she had made up her
mind to let the next caller know just
what she thought of "hypocritters,
hn+ her determination was usually
weakened by her still greater desire to
excite increased wonder in the faces
of her visitors.
Divided between these two inclina-
tons, she gazed at Julia now. The
shining eyes of the deacon's daughter
conquered, and she launched forth into
an eager description Of how she had
just seen "wonde'ful striped ana
mule" with a "pow'ful long neck walk
right out of the tent and how he had
''come apart afore her very eyes" and
two men had slipped fright out of his
insides." Mandy was SO carried away
by her own eloquence and so busy
showing Julia the sights beyond the
window that she did not hear Miss
Perkins, the thin Tipped spinster. who
entered, followed by the Widow Will
l0ughby, dragging her sepen-year-old
son Willie by the hand.
The women were protesting because
their choir practice of "What Shall the
Harvest Be?' had been Interrupted by
the unrequested accompaniment of the
"hoochee coochee" from the nearby cir
Gus band.
"'1t's scandalous!' Miss Perkins snap
ped. "Scandalous! And somebody
ought to stop it," She glanced about
with an unmistakable air of grievance
at the closed doors, feeling that the
pastor was undoubtedly behind one Of
them when he ought to be out taking
action against the things that her soul
,abominated.
"Well. I'm sure I've done all that I
could" piped the widow. with a meek,
martyred air. She was always mar
tyred. She considered it an appromri-
ate attitude for widow. "He can't
blame me If the choir is out Of key ITO.
morrow" g.,
''Mercy me!"' interrupted the spinster
''If there isn't Julia Strong a-leaning
. right out Of that window a-lcoking at
! the circus, and her pa a deacon of the
T. church, and this the house of the pas
I tor! It's shocking! 4 must 60 to her"
ma, let me see, too" begged Willie
as he tugged at his mothers skirts.
Mrs. Willoughby hesitated. Miss
Perkins was certainly taking dong
while for her argument with Julia.
The glow from the red powder outside
the window was positively alarming.
Dear me!' she said. II wonder If
there can be fire." And with this
pretext for investigation she, too,
Joined the little group at the window.
A few moments later, when Douglas
entered for fresh supply of paper,
the backs Of the company were to-
ward him. He crossed to the study
table without disturbing his visitors
and smiled to himself at the eager
way in which they were hanging .out
{ Of the window.
Douglas was sturdy young man, of
.eight and twenty, frank and boyish in
manner, confident and light hearted lin
spirit. He had seemed too young to
the deacons when he was appointed to
:fhQir chyrCh nd
.of outdoor games and other healthflll
sports robbed him of a certain dignity
lin their eyes. Some of the women of
the congregation had been inclined to
side with the deacons. for it hurt their
vanity that the pastor found so many
other interests when he might have
been sitting in dark. strcfy rooms dis
.cussing theology with them. but Doug
las had been either unconscious of or
Indifferent to their resentment and
had gone on his way with a CHEEKY nod
and an uncomfortable conviction of
right that had only left them founder
ing. He intended to quit the room
now unnOticed, but was unfortunate
enough to upset chair as he turned
from the table. This brought a chorus
of EXPLANATIONS from the women, who,
chattering, rushed quickly toward him.
"What do you think of my naughty
boy, Willie" simpered the widow.
"He dragged me quite to the window"
Douglas glanced amusediy first at
the five foot six widow and then at
the helpless red haired urchin by her
side but he made no comment s,evond
Offering a chair to each of the women.
"Our choir practice had to be entire
~ discontinued" declared Miss Per-
kins sourly as she accepted the prof
fered chair. adjusted her skirts for a
stay and glanced dedantly at the par
son, who had dutifully seated himself
near the table,
= am sure have as true an ear as |
anybody" whimpered the widow. with