The Washington times., 1913-06-06
CHAPTER I.
Sermon That Was Never Preached.


ascent which formed the one
street of Feldwick village. II
was a Sunday morning, and the place
was curiously empty. Their little
scraps of gay conversation and laugh
ter-they were men and women of the
smart world-seemed to strike almost
pagan note in a deep Sabbatical
stiffness. They passed the wide-open
doors of a red brick chapel. and sew
eral of the worshipers within turned
their heads. AS the last two of the
party went by the wheezing of a har-
monium ceased. and a mans voice
came travelling out to them.
The lady rested her hand upon her
hosts arm.
Listen" she whispered.
Her host, lord of the manor. lord
lieutenant of the county. and tenth
Earl OF Cumberland paused and leaned
against stone wall Walking was
by no means a favorite pursuit of his,
and the morning for the time Of year
was warm.
/ Dear lady, he murmured, shall we
go a little nearer and listen to the
words of grace? Anything for a short
rest
She approached the wall From
where she was she could catch a side
way glimpse of a tall, slight figure
standing up before the handful of peo-
pie.
Il should Ike to go inside" she
said indifferently. would they think
II an intrusion?"
I Certainly not" he answered, with
visions of a chair before him LAS
matter of fact, I have a special invi-
tation to become a member Of that
nock-temporarily, at any rate
What do you mean?" she asked
2 THE land here" he answered "is
not entailed, and they are very an4-
ious to buy thise little bit and own
their chapel. I had a letter from
worthy farmer and elder, Gideon
Strong, on the matter yesterday. He
wound up by expressing wish that
might join them In their service one
morning. This is their service, and
here we are. Gomez
They crossed the street, and, to the
obvious amazement of the little con-
gregation, stood in the doorway A
gaunt shepherd, with weather-marked
face and knotted fingers, handed them
clumsily a couple of chairs. Some OF
the small farmers rose and made q
clumsy obeisance to their temporal
lord Gideon Strong. six feet four,
with great unbent shoulders, and face
as hard and rugged as iron, frowned
them down, and showed No signs of
noticing his presence. Elsewhere, he
would have been one of the first,
proud man Though he was, TO stand
bareheaded before the owner of his
farm and half a county. but in the
house of God, humble little builcing
though he was, he reckoneo all men
equal
Praying silently before them, on the
eve of his first sermon, young man
was kneeling. He had seen nothing
of these newcomers, but Of a sudden.
as he knelt there, his thoughts and
sensations in strange confusion, him
self half in revolt against what lay
before him, there tioated up the little
isle an exquisite perfume of crushed
vfoIets. and he heard the soft rustling
of a gown which was surely worn by
none of those who we're gathered to-
,,ether to listen to him. He opened
his eyes involuntarily. and met the
steady gaze of the LADY whose Hhim
1t had been to enter me pace,
any one like her. Yet he telt that, in
her presence the task which lay 6s-
fore him had become immeasuraoIJ
more difficult. She was type to MIN
OF all those things the memory OF
TO put away from him, the beautiful.
the worldly, the joyous. As he rose
slowly 10 his feet he looked half de-
spairfngly around. 1t was stern Ee-
ligion which they loved this hana1M
of weather-beaten farmers and their
underIings. Their womankind We're
made as unlovely as possible, with nat
hair somber and ll-made clothes.
Their surroundings were whitewashed
and text-hung walls, and IN their
He gave out his text slowly ana with
heavy heart. Then he paused. ana
giancing once more around the Httie
building, met again the sott, iahgulo
fire of those full dark eyes. Inls tne
he did not look away. He saw faint
interest. a slight pity. a background
of nonchalance. His cheeks husneo
and the fire OF revolt leaped through
his veins.
He shut up the Bible and abandoned
his carefully prepared discourse IN !
which was a mention of hell-tire ana
many gloomy warnings, which womb
have brought joy to the heart OF Cid
con Strong, and 20 each of which ne |
would slowly and approVingly nave
nodded his head. He delivered instead, |
with many pauses, but in picturesque |
and even vivid language. a long aud |
close account of the miracle with which I
his text was concerned. IN the midst |
OF IL there came from outside the merry |
voices of the rest of the party. The |
earl was rested now. and wanted /
cigarette
Shall We go?' he whispered.
She nodded and rose. AT the door she
turned for a moment and looked back |
ward. The preacher was in the midst
of an elaborate and painstaking sift-
ing of evidence as to the season Of the |
year during which this particular mir
scle might be supposed to have taken