Middletown transcript., 1910-09-24

Inc stranger sank back into the
depths of a chintz covered chair
and gazed across at her. His
face was thoughtful and his voice,
as he spoke, was quite earnest.
You have not agreed to be
friends. It-was all SO long ago,
and you would never tell me my
fault. A smile, half bitter swept
across his face. You have a very
strong will for gentlewoman.
Peace colored hotly.
/ It was, as you say, so long ago,
but | was unjust. l found out
long afterward-that you were
not to blame. We will be friends,
if you wish.
In spite of herself, there had
crept into her tone a little note Of
pain. It seemed to her that she
had acknowledged for the first
time the burial Of her youth.
/ Shake hands on it, said the
stranger, gaily. But I nearly
forgot to beg your pardon for the
action of my tactless cousin.
Peace stiffened instantly.
1t is entirely unnecessary, she
said icily. The arrangement
You see, he interrupted, quite
undisturbed by her sudden access
of dignity, she has q passion for
relics, and the idea that she could
not occupy the pew of the
founder of Roseboro was too
much for her. She is really q
good sort of woman and she re.
garded you
Merely as an undesirable an
tique.
The mans face flushed for an
instant, then he laughed.
Please don't bear malice, he said be-
seechingly. really believe il Sarah
wanted anybody's marriage certificate,
she wouldn't hesitate to take measures to
secure it. Anyway, it is all right now
bis lips took firm line-foF she will oc-
eupy her own pew, and you will not be
troubled again.
Not at all. She has promised to in
crease her church subscription, and I
bold her to her bargain.
But, see here, protested her visitor,
ruefully, she is planning to console her.
self in various ways, and, we'll, don't
think she cares quite as much for May.
nard antiques as she did.
His eyes we're merry, and sorely tried
as she had been, Peace's sense Of humor
rose to the occasion. but she spoke with
determination:
The pew is hers, and intend to use
her own next Sunday.
Then, was the smiling answer, I fear l
shall be absent.minded and forget the
new arrangement,
Peace laughed. She felt at ease now,
and strangely young.
The stranger rose. May I come again?
His glance wandered q little wistfulIy
about the quaint, old-fashionsd parlor
with its atmosphere of sweet homelinsss,
then fingered upea the dainty figure of
his hostess in her lilac gown.
Please do, answered Peace, cordially.
We will talk Of other things and forget
Mrs. Ellison.
If she cherished any sad thought dur.
ing the week that followed, Peace buried
them deeply and went about her duties, J
serene and calm. Not 80, Roseboro, 9
whose curious eyes rested 10 amazement c
upon the tall figure of the stranger as he
entered with astonishing frequency the d
gate. He might have told you Il
that he had walked home once from A
town with Peace and had spent one even Il
ing in the little pRrlor; but Roseboro had a
multiplied bis visits to an incredible q
number and was agog with delighted G
interest. ii
But calm as she had been during the
week, Sunday morning found Peacs
rather white at the prospect Of the or. q
deal of seeing another in what had al
ways seemed her place. She was quite
pale as she passed up the sisle and took !
. seat in Mrs. Ellison's pew. There was =,
. rustic of surprise, but it was nothing :.
compared to the sensation created when i
Mrs. Ellison sailed forward, the stranger
in her wake, and calmly appropriated
the Judges pew. Roseboro forgot itself /"
and Craned its neck better to behold this =
while q whisper became
audible. Even the minister, who had p
become accustomed to seeing Peace in p
he same place for years, gazed ia svi.
dent bewilderment upon the wine-colored OF
nix with the bird Of paradise atop, and ui
almost falteFed when he gave the familiar W
hymn. ct
For some reason, Mrs. Ellison did mot "
appear entirely happy. and the face of 81
ler cousin wore an expression about the %
mouth which Yves strongly suggestive of W
nBard mirth. b'
There was q choking sensation in Peace's
hroRt, for oil her life she had sat in the be
Judges pay. As . little child, she had pi
'een lifted upon the sest by the old Judge, ru
himself, as young girl she bad gone forth
hence ito her first communion, She lei
slt uprooted from her own place, aud hin
stranger in foreign land. dI
The last hymn sung, she hurried blind. be
y toward the door. She was sure that, To-
anyone Should speak to her, she should tai
isgrace herself foreysr by weeping in tb,
ublic, &C
But the stranger, shamelessly deserving dri
lis cousin, overlook her at the entrance To
nd walked down she street with her il Co