The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-02
EVENING STORY
The Elders Top Button.

hill. At one time before the war It
had been the blacksmith's shop on
the old Marbury estate, but sam But
terick, Miss Faiths father, had re-
modelled it, putting funny little gin
gerbread porch in front, ana scar
Hoped edges along the root Here
Miss Faith had lived ever since ms
death, conducting genteel home bak-
cry. Here the Ladies' Aid society met
at stated intervals, and the local tenn |
perance union held its monthly rallies. !
Grace had stopped at the house on
her walk up from the village to make
her usual outburst against fate ana
also to buy some of Miss Faiths
whipped cream cake to take home to
the colonel.
Il think it's perfectly terrible, she
said, perching on the arm of the red
window. for the elder to deal in
horses. 1 know perfectly well that
last Sunday after church he told
young Lem Robbins that he'd buy
that sorrel mare of his, and inside of
two days he'd sold her to old Mrs.
Newell and made twenty-five dollars.
1t isn't respectable. Dad says that If
he wants to be horse trader he had
better give up his job elder. What
do you think, Miss Faith?"
Miss Faith bent over a black iron
doughnut kettle, and deftly took out
We'll, don't know she answered.
ct don't think he had any right to
trade on the Lords day. Horse
swapping always did seem to me kind
| of grown-up boys play. He's a real
! good man, and there amt nothing
| against him that 1 know of. The only
thing is, ever since he was boy he's
| done just he pleased, and nobody
| to say him nay. It's good for every
| one to obey, more or less
Did you know him when he was
a boy asked Grace eagerly. Dad
says he was awfully good looking.
Even now. L think he is with that
iron-gray. curly hair, and thef brown
| eyes with a twinkle in them. It's
queer he's never married Do you be-
lieve what they say about him and
| Lillah Thompson
Il don listen to gossip" answered
| Miss Faith. de1icately. but. all the
same. after Grace had gone away
with her cream cake she thought OF
what she had said. A light woman is
| labeled even in a rural community.
Lillah Thompson had incurred the an
ger and indignation of the women for
miles around.
Not only had the elder betrayed in
terest in her at various times, but he
had taken her out riding, which was
almost equal to an open declaration
in the eyes of Walpole Center. Faith
stopSed cooking as the front doorbeli
tinkled lightly announcing a custo-
mer in her tiny shop Before answer
ing this summons she put on a white
apron and pinned up a few curls
which cooking over the fire had dis
arranged.
1t was David. Dressed in his suit
of corduroys, high brown shoes 1aceJ
to his knees, and a brown SLOUGH hat,
he looked more like the boy she had
known than the elder of Bethany
church.
Also, there was almost a roguisk
CLEAN in his eyes as he read her
thoughts.
I've been fishing" he said.
Would you accept a fine string of
pickerel, Miss Faith?"
Faith looked at him from head to
foot with manifest disapproval in her
brown eyes. His hat needed brush
ing, his clothes were torn and dusty
and the top button of his coat was
missing. Instinctively she noticed
4 that first and all that it implied-the
lack of real woman's hand in his
life. 1t seemed as if David caught
the drift of her thoughts and the
flash of tender pity in her glance
He sat down on the edge of the
counter, leaning toward her on the
other side. and, somehow. he found
himself telling his troubles. He had
gone fishing in such a garb deliler-
ately. with malice aforethought
meaning to shock Walpole Center out
of its SNUG little notions. Just why
a mans clothes should lessen his
moral qualities he could not see. he
said. People were getting narrower
all the time, more SNUG in their alb
sud convictions. And, all at once,
the flat truth came out.
DO you know he asked, that the
church committee called a meeting
this afternoon about me?"
Her eyes sought his in Startled ap-
prehension.
David, you don't meant isn't
about Lillah?"
He nodded his head, gloomily.
They've been after her ever since
she came here, poor girl. She may
have got into a little trouble. but she
isn't half as bad as she is painted.
She's down sick now, up at Tracy's,
and not one of the women will go near
her. That's Christianity, amt it?'
Faith hesitated, one slim white
hand gripping the counter.
Whats the meeting for?" she
asked. Isn't it about Lillah and you,
or just the horse trading?"
"Lillah and me?" he repeated in
amazement. Why, Faith-Faith--
You dom mean that?" He caught ar
her wrist and gripped it hard. You
don't think I'm that sort, do you =?
, Have you forgotten, Faith? I've only
asked you about twenty times to mar
; ry me. You've always said no. Now
1 don't care what happensi If they
put me out of the church, I'll go
away. 1 believe in freedom, first of
ALL
Faiths eyes filed with sudden tears.
She turned on him with one of her
rare bursts of anger.
Yes" she repeated. You believe
in freedom, no matter how it hurts
yourself and those who love you best
You believe in showing that you can
do as you please, and break all the
little unwritten laws that make us
different from the beasts of the field.
1 refused you fifteen years ago, Dave,
because you were wild, and you took
revenge on me by getting religion and
joining the church. Elder" she
laughed at him. Its the best thing
that can happen to you If they do put
you out. 1t may bring you to your