Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-06-12

du9uo0f We just got 20 see ner again.
frivolous or not frivolous, although 1
suppose nothing viii come of it. I'll
surprise her, to make sure she won't
refuse to See me just for Spite"
About tais time Bert's weekly holt
day was shifted to Sunday; so for the
first time be journeyed to ~Castlegrove
on the Sabbath. Arriving at the VII
lage he made his way at once to the
Walters home, but was surprised and
disappointed to find no one there.
Thinking perhaps the family had
gone out for a walk and that he would
meet them, he walked up the main
street, which seemed to be ever more
deserted than usual. He saw only one
or two pedestrians and an old man
driving a scrawny horse, which was
dragging a creaky buggy.
Berts walk led him past the little
church, and 1t seemed that he could
hear a choir singing. Yes, a choir
was singing one Of the old-time
hymns.
Curiosity and lack of anything else
to do prompted Bert to mount the
steps and enter the building. AS he
did so the singing ceased and some
n began talking. 1t was a woman,
and there was something strangely
familiar about the pleasant, we'll
modulated voice. He entered the
vestibule and peered through the In
e door.
There were perhaps fifty persons in
the church listening intently to a
young woman who stood in the pulpit.
She was quoting from the Bible, say
ing, "Woe unto the foolish prophets
that follow their own spirit and have
seen nothing"
Bert slipped into a seat at the back
of the church and Immediately fell un-
der the spell of the sermon or of the
young woman, or both. That the rest
Of the congregation was under the
same spell was evident from the way
every one leaned forward in his seat,
hanging closely to every word that
was uttered, with eyes fixed i~ntently
on the girl that gave voice to them.
No one was sleeping Or even drows-
ing.
When the services were concluded
Bert sat in a daze while the others
trailed out Of the church.
"Too frivolous! = he said repeated.
ly to himself. Here I've been criti.
Ching her for smiling and looking on
the bright side of things, because ]
thought she had no serious thoughts
and all this time she's been preaching
Talk about foolish prophets. I'm the
prize one of the lot"
The girl who had delivered the
sermon came along the aisle and
stopped by his side. He leaped to his
feet, CROPPED for words, stammered and
twisted his hat out Of shape behind
his back, like he was q peasant stand
ing before a princess.
"G~enevieve," he managed to say
OtucNIcfCy Cuu yOu JouSu
you forgive me for the way I have
acted and-and for the things | have
thought? And-and will you let mt
go home with you and will you-dC
you think you can listen to me while
while / try that proposal ovel
again.
She smiled-that same old smile
and he was glad, because he had sud
| denly discovered that he liked 1t.
perhaps / ought not to forgive
| you," she responded, 'but"-and sht
tapped the black, lea%ther-covered bool
under her arm-"this teaches us that
forgiveness is right. Yes, you ma!
come with me, Bert. and I'll listen t.
what you have to say. / was perfect
ly serious that other time; but yo'
see sometimes a girl smiles to hid'
her emotion, and sometimes n get
so eryou that one has to keep tn
hands busy: That's why | couldn'
stop playing the piano. I'll try thi
time. though"
"Piease play it-and SMILE" pleaded
Bert. "rd dearly love to propose t.
music, and smiles beat tears all Il
pieces"