The Lemmon herald. (Lemmon, Perkins County, S.D.) 1912-1917, 1912-12-27

aud chancel II WAS all very new sn,
very hideous and extremely uncom
Portable
The minister MAS Joyful and the con
gregst'on was sratined at the spleudor
OF the shabby old church The com.
mtttee on repairs proudly sent In their
report On the SUNDAY before Thanks
giving dav At the same time the
minister read letter from rsnie;
Merton savins that he would slaal.
accert their invitation to attend the
special services on Thanksgiving dar
Cold and crisp the day dawred. and
the usual festivities Of the day were
pushed forward that none might mise
the services Mt the church
There was rustic af expectation a.
the people gathered iu the redecorsted
ediaca Up In the front pew. on the
right ~ the aisle in the old Merton
pew. With its s'ill gorgeous turkey
carpet snd hsssorks sat Serena vehh.
conscious TINT her scat was 4 blot On
tho fair scene
In the front left hand pew sat nr.
Long and his wife, uervously awaiting
the arrival of haniet Merton. for II
WIS understood that the great man
was to I've ushered into the good dor
tors sober brown pew.
The last boil was ringing the choir
was rust',rE the pages ~ their books
and the organ waa growing . low
ent blast of horn and then the soft
chug chug ~ motorcar ft stopped
At the church, the door opened, and
then Rphhush drew long breath A.
Daniel Merton walked Mp the a's,a snd
was usherod into Or Longs seat
For several moments he knelt In
prayer. and then he arose and locked
about him as the service began
Hc saw strange church and strange
people Hr had borne In his minds
eye for Years past \ quaint old church
with warm red carpet aud msuy pcws
each furnished according 10 its own
er's fancy. There WAS nothing here to
remind him ~ the past aud his boy
hood save the scat across tho aisle.
Their" IN the old Merton pew. with
It's ancient turkey csrpetcd Hoor and
fat hasaoCks ant n slender woman
with sweet. serious face bent above
her book That was what Daniel Mer-
ton saw IN the old pew where he had
knel' when n hoy.
The people ~ Redbush saw a tall.
ha pAe o., InnI
with care, a man plainly dressed as
one nf themselves aud those who had
known him whom A boy traced In his
countrnancc y vague likeness to The
ambitions lad uf twenty I've years lie
fore
Then they saw him look about the
church with impassIve face. which did
not change until IL reached the old
Merton pew They saw his keen eyrs
rest on Serena Wpbb's face and on the
old time furnishings before they turn.
cd IN cast n sweeping glance ~ and
down tho aisle at the brown carpet
Then they saw him leave his sea'
and deliberately cross tho aisle and
sit down hcside Serena Webb Serena
blushnd and shared hcr hymn book
with him
The service WIS long for the good
people ~ Re1bush were very grateful
~ their bennficent towngman sni the
minister must express their gra'i.1de
In sonorops sentences that million
alre might apprectsts
"a
ed the church In high disdaiu Work
men had completed its restoration to
its original decorative scheme. and the
florists men were banking palms about
the chancei
ITO think sereuH Webb shouId mar
~ Dan Merton after oil never ssw
him in her life till that Thanksgi ing
dav." murnured Mrs Long In S9rah's
ear
That there old turkey carret did
IT," shifted Sarah Lee Just to think
of him insisting that everrbodv must
carppt their own pew to snit tbem
selves Even old Hutda tones has
made her braided mat 'or hers ked
bush Is behind thc times
In the meantime Daniel Merton vss
rhfsperina ~ serena in rho garden ~
his ald home II rns the onijna
tion ~ Won and tho old pew set IN tire
midst NJ that hldeousjv fHc GRATED
church II vas rnu. sweetheart thai
broke through thls crust ~ mnrrr
getting and made me again in heart
like the boy used to he
II am ~ glad" mUrmUrcd SereI,e
happily "rnt M always keep the Old
turkey carpet, Dan IT carried F"a
hack tn rnur hoThood II brought Fnt
scross the ais1e n me and II hss ear
r'ef us both 10 happiness II is
msgic carpet, indeed