Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-11-27

mace was mendcd. and the organ was
repaired.
Indoors the warm glow of the old
red carpet was replaced by sober
brown pile, and the newly vanished
pews were carpeted with the same ma
terlal. Wooden foot rests took the
place Of the discarded hassocks. and
| polished seats were supplied instead
Of the comfortable cushions.
The faint pinks and reds of the old
| decoration gave way to sea green walls
and chancel. II was all very new and
very hidcous and extremely uncom-
| Portable.
The minister was joyful and the con-
gregation was gratiiied at the splcndor
of the shabby old church. The COM
mittee On repairs proudly sent in their
report on the Sunday before Thanks
giving day. Al the same time the
minister read letter from Daniel
Merton saying that he would gladly
accept their invitation to attend the
special services on Thanksgiving day.
Cold and crisp the day dawned, and
the usual festivities of the day were
pushed forward that none might miss
the services ut the church.
There was u rustic of expectation as
| the people gathered In the redecorated
ediflce. Up In the front pew, on the
right of the aisle. In the old Merton
pew. with its still gorgeous turkey
carpet and hassocks. sat Serena Webb.
conscious that her seat was a blot on
| the fair scene.
In the front left hand pew sat DR..
| Long and his wife. nervously awaiting
the arrival of Daniel Merton. for 1t
was understood that the great man
was to be ushered into the good doc
| tors sober brown pew.
The last bell was ringing. the choir
was rustling the pages of their books
and the organ was growing low
voluntary when there was the insist
ent blast of horn and then the soft
chug-chug of n motorcar. II stopped
then Reddish drew a long breath as
Daniel Merton walked up the aisle
and was ushered into DR. Longs seat.
For several moments he knelt in
| prayer. and then he arose and looked
about him as the service began.
He saw a strange church and strange
people. He had borne In his minds
| eye for years past quaint old church
with warm red carpet and many pcws.
each furnished according to its own
er's fancy. There was nothing here to
remind him OF the past and his boy
hood save the seat across the aisle
| There In the old Merton pew, with
its ancient turkey carpeted floor and
| fat hassocks. sat slender woman
with sweet. serious face bent above
her book. That was what Daniel Mer-
ton saw In the old pew where he had
| knelt when a boy.
The people OF Redbush saw Il tall
thin man with handsome face lined
with care, a man plainly dressed as
one of themselves and those who had
known him when boy traced in his
countenance vague likeness to the
ambitious lad of twenty-five years be-
| fore.
church with impassive face, which did
not change until II reached the old
Merton pew. They saw his keen eyes
rest on Serena Webbs face and on the
old time furnishings before they turn
cd 10 east sweeping glance up and
down the aisle ut the brown carpet.
Then they saw him leave his seat
and deliberately cross the aisle and
sit down beside Serena Webb. Serena
blushcd and shared her hymn book
with him.
The service was long. for the good
people of Reddish We're very grateful
| 10 their beneficent townsman, and the
minister must express their gratitude
| in sonorous sentences that million
aire might appreciate
A year afterward Sarah Lee survey
ell the church in high disdan. Work
men had completed its restoration to
its original decorative scheme. and the
florists men We're banking palms about
| the chauccl
ITO think Serena Webb should mar
| ~ Dan Merton after all-never saw
him in her life till that Thanksgiving
day" murmured Mrs Long IN Sarah's
| ear.
''That there old turkey carpet did
IT," shifted Sarah Lee. Just 10 think
Of him insisting that everybody must
carpet their own pew to suit them
selves, Even old lIulda Jones has
made her u braided mat for hers. Red
bush is behind the times
In the meantime Daniel Merton was
whispering 10 Serena in the garden of
his old home at was the combna-
| ton of you aud the old pew set In the
midst OF that hideously decorated
church-it was you. sweetheart. that
broke through this crust of money
getting and made me again In heart
| like the boy | used 10 be
II am so glad" murmured Serena
happily. Let us always keep the old
turkey carpet, Dan. II carried you
back TO your boyhood. II brought You
across the aisle to me. and II has car
ried us both to happiness. II is a