The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-07-23
ELDERS TOP BUTTON
BY LESTER THOMAS.

home bakery Here the Ladies' Ala So
clety met at stated intervals, and the
local Temperance union held It's months
ly rallies
Grace had stopped at the house on
her walk up from the village 10 make
her usual Outburst against fate and
also to buy some OF Miss Faiths
whipped cream cake to take home 70
the colonel.
~ tAlnk IT'S perfectly terrible" She
said. for the elder to deal in horses.
] know perfectly well that last Sunday
after church he told young Lem Rob-
bins that he'd buy that s0rel mare of
his. and Inside of two days he'd sold
her to old Mrs, Newell and made $50.
II isn't respectable. Dad says that II
he wants to be horse trader he had
better give up his job as elder. What
do you ihlnk, Miss FaithT
even, l don't know" She answered.
81 don't think he had any right TO
trade on the Lords day. Horse swap
ping always did seem to me kind Of
grownun boys play. He's real good
man. ana there alnt nothing against
him that / know of. The only thing Is,
ever since he was boy he's done just
as he pleased, and nobody to say him
nay. It's good for every one to obey,
more or less'
"Dld you know him when he was a
hoy?n asked Grace eagerly. Dad says
H.. ,uao a,ttftII,. mad ln.Efury I,vnn
now. think he is. with that iron-gray,
curly hair. and the brown eyes with a
twinkle In them. It's queer he's never
4 married DO you believe what they
say about him and Lillah ThompsonY"
81 don't listen to gossip" answered
Miss Faith. delicately, hut, all the
same, after Grace had gone away with
her cream cake she thought Of what
she had said.
Faith stopped cooking as the front
doorbell tlnkled lightly announcing a
customer In her tiny shop. Before
answering this summons she put on
white apron and pinned up a few
curIs which cooking over the fire had
dlsarranged.
It was David. Dressed in his suit
OF corduroys, high brown shoes laced
TO his knees, and a brown slouch hat,
he looked more Ike the boy she had
known than the elder Of Bethany
church.
"I've been fishing he said. "WouldI
you accept fine string of pickerel
Miss Faith?"
Faith looked at him from head to
foot wlth manifest disapproval in her
brown eyes. His hat needed brushing,
his clothes were worn and dusty, and
The top button Of his coat was MISS
ling. 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 deliberate
IL, with malice aforethought meaning
to shock walpole Center out Of its
smug little actions. And, all at once,
the fiat truth came out.
"Do you know he asked, "that the
church committee called meeting
tttS tiltIHouu ADtul AitA
"What's the meeting for?" she asked.
aIsn't It about Lillah and you, or just
the horse trading7"
"Illah and meT he repeated in
amazcnent. oWhy. Falth-Faith--
You don't mean thatT He caught at
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
don't care what happens II they
put me out of the church. III 60 away.
/ believe In freedom, first Of all"
Faiths eyes filled With sudden tears.
she turned on him with one Of her
rare bursts Of anger.
"Yes.e she repeated you believe
In freedom. no matter how it hurts
Yourself and those who love you best.
refused you fifteen years ago, Dave,
because you were Wild, and you took
revenge on me by getting religion and
Joining the church Have they got
anything special against youg
"Only that someone saw Lillah sew
button on my coat one day. Fearful
evidence, Isn't it7''
Faith glanced out Of the window.
Along the road leading to the village
came several women. The minister's
wife was leading and they all headed
for ihe little home bakery, to call for
Faith on their way to the church
meeting
Quick MS a flash, she went back into
her sitting room and returned with a
little silk sewing hag.
Don't You dare move, Dave" she
said. aud as the delegation entered
Miss Butterick was very busy sewing
on the elders top button.
"David aud l are just planning
about getting married. she said pleas
antly, and the minister's wife caught
her breath and congratulated them
both.
Most nkely.r she said, knowingly,
'.there won't be any meeting g-now"
When ,hey were alone Faith spoke
first. her face pink to her ears,
"It was the only thing could do,
David" she said primly TO get you
nhf in the ewes of The conuiunitv" #"