Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-22

hA6ul. fAS AOA NY USiuS ldlS0 pFOpl-
ct and worker of iniquity"-he
smiled-"well, there is another verse
of Scripture l would call to your at
tention: Judge not, that ye be not
Judged"
He sat down. There was silence
for moment and then buzz of whis-
pering. Captain Eeen, who had heard
him with face of iron hardness,
raped the table.
We will sing in closin'," he said,
the forty-second hymn After which
the benediction will be pronounced"
The Regular minister left the Come
Cutters meeting with the unpleasant
conviction that he had Numbered bad
ly. His visit, instead of tending toward
better understanding and more cor
dial relationship had been regarded
as an intrusion
So that old bigot was the Van Horne
girls uncle" 1t hardly seemed DOS.
sible that she, who appeared SO re-
fined and ladylike when he met her
at the parsonage, should be member
of that curious company. When he
rose to speak he had seen her in the
front row, beside the thin, middle-aged
female who had entered the chapel
with Captain Hammond and with her.
She was looking at him intently. The
lamp over the speakers table had
shone full on her face and the picture
remained in his memory. He saw her
eyes and the wavy shadows Of her
hair on her forehead.
He had taken but few steps when
there was rustic in the wet grass
behind him.
Mr.. Ellery," whispered voice,
Mr.. Ellery, may speak to you just
a moment?"
He wheeled in surprise.
why! why, Miss Van Hornet" he
exclaimed. is it you?"
II felt" she said, that l must see
you and-explain. am so sorry you
came here tonight. Oh. wish you
hadn't. What made you do it,"
came" began Ellery, somewhat
stifay. because well, because 1
thought it might be good thing to
do"
There was bitterness in his tone,
unmistakable. And little laugh from
his companion did not tend to soothe
his feelings.
Thank you," he said. Perhaps it
Is funny. / did not find it so. Good
evening""
The girl detained him as he was
turning away.
Il came after you," went on Grace
rapidly and with nervous haste, be
cause felt that you ought not to mis-
judge my uncle for what he said to-
night. He wouldn't have hurt your
feelings for the world. He is a good
man and does good to everybody. If
you only knew the good he does do,
you wouldn't-you wouldn't dare think
hardly of him."
I'm not judging your uncle" he de-
ciared. ut seemed to me that the
boot was on the other leg"
Il know, but you do judge him, and
you mustn't. You see, he thought you
had come to make fun of him-and us
Some of the Regular people do, people
who aren't fit to tie his shoes. And
SO he spoke against you. He'll be
sorry when he thinks it over. That's
what came to tell you. / ask your
pardon for-for him"
She turned away now, and it was
the minister who detained her.
I've been thinking" he said slowly
for in his present state of mind it was
hard thing to say, that perhaps !
ought to apologize. too I'm afraid /
did disturb your service and I'm sorry
l meant well, but What's that!
Rain?"
There was no doubt about it; it was
rain and plenty of it. 1t came in a
swooping downpour that beat upon the
trees and bushes and roared upon the
roof Of the chapel. The minister hur.
riedly raised his umbrella.
Here" he commanded, ''you must
take the umbrella. Really, you must
You haven't one and you'll be wet
through"
She pushed the umbrella aside.
No, no." she answered. IT don't
need it; I'm used to wet weather:
truly l am. And don't care for this
hat; it's an old one. You have LONG
way to go and I haven't. Please, Mr.
Ellery, can't take it."
Very WELL" was the sternly self
sacrificing reply, then 1 shall certain
~ go with you as far as the gate. I'm
sorry, If my company is distasteful
but"
He did not finish the sentence. think
ing, 1t may be, that she might finish
1T for him. But she was silent, merely
removing her hand from the handle
She took a step forward; he followed
holding the umbrella over her head
They FLASHED on, without speaking
through the rapidly forming puddles
Presently she stumbled and he
caught her arm to prevent her falling