The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-11-15

The faint ptnkS and reds OF the OlO
decoration gave way to ca green walls
aud chancel. 1t was all very new and
very hideous and extremely uncom
Portable.
The minister was joyful and the cou
gregation was gratified ut the splendor
Of the shabby old church. The com
mittce on repairs proudly sent In theil
report ON the Sunday before Thanks
giving day. At the same time the
minister read a 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 Il rustic of expectation a:
the people gathered in the %redecorated
edifice. Up in the front pew, OH the
right Of the aisle, in the old MertQn
pew, with it's still gorgeous turkey
carpet and hassOcks, sat Serena Webb
conscious that her seat was q blot on
Tue IaIt scene.
In the front left hand pew sat DR.
Long and his wife. %nervously awaiting
the arrival Of Daniel Merton, for II
was understood that the great man
was to be ushered into the good doc.
tors sober brown pew.
The last bell was ringing, the choil
was rustling the pages Of their o
and the organ was growing a low
voluntary when there was the insist
emf blast of Il horn and then the soft
chug-chug of IL motorcar. 1t stopped
at the church. the door opened, and
then. Redbush drew a long breath as
Daniel Merton walked up the aisle ant
was ushcred into DIR. Longs seat.
For several moments he knelt in
prayer, and then he arose and looked
about him as the service began.
He saw u strange church and strange
people. He had borne In his minds
eye for years past a quaint old church
with warm red carpet and many pews,
each furnished according to it's 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
it's ancient turkey carpeted floor and
fat hassocks, sat a 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 a tall.
thin man with a handsome face lined
with care, u man plainly dressed as
one of themselves. and those who had
known him when Il boy traced in his
cOuntenance Il vague likeness to the
ambitious lad of twenty-five years be-
fore.
Then they saw him look about the
church with impressive face, which did
not change until it reached the old
Merton pew. They saw his keen eyes
rest on Serena Webb's face and on the
old time furnishings. before they turn.
ed to cast a 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
blushed and shared her hymn book
with him.
The service was long, for the good
people of Redbush were very grateful
to their beneficent tOwnsman, and the
minister must express their gratitude
in sentences that u million
aire might appreciate.
A year afterward Sarah Lee survey
ed the church in high disdain. Work
men had completed it's restoration to
It's original decorative scheme. and the
florists men were banking palms about
the chancel.
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. ee
.'That there old turkey carpet did
It," shifted Sarah Lee. Just to think
Of him insisting that everybody must
carpet their own pew to suit them
selves! Even old Hulda Jones has
made her IL braided mat for hers. Red
bush is behind the times"
: In the meantime Daniel Merton was
whispering to Serena in the garden of
his old home. ''It was the combina-
ton of you and the old pew set in the
midst of that hideously decorated
church-1t was you. sweetheart. that
broke through this crust of money
getting and made me again in heart
like the boy l used to be-"
IT I'M so glad" murmured Serena
happily. "Let us always keep the old
turkey, carpet. Dan. 1t carried you
back to your boyhood. It brought you
across the aisle to me, and it has car
ried US both to happiness. It is q
magic carpet. indeed"