Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-06-14

LII I'D " 1AtlJL, LOUISIANA
his cessation Of correspondence, but
somehow he felt grleved over 1t.
''She might at least invite me down
there once more" he thought. "Well,
anyhow, I've just got to see her again,
frivolous or not frivolous, although
suppose nothing will come of it. I'll
surprise her, to make sure she won't
refuse to see me just for spite"
About this time Bert's weekly holi-
day was shifted to Sunday so for the
first time he journeyed to Castlegrove
on the Sabbath. Arriving at the viii
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 walk and that he would
meet them, he walked up the main
street, which seemed to be even more
deserted than usual. He saw only one
or two pedestrians and an old man
driving a scrawny horse, which was
dragging a cTeaky buggy.
DCAl VAIN AGh AlAAAi past lllC AtLlIG
church, and it 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
one 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
ner door.
There were perhaps fifty persons in
the church listening intently to u
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 seat at the back
of the church and Immediately fell I'M
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 intently
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-
ctzing her for smiling and looking on
the bright side of things, because I
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 peasant stand
ing before a princess.
"Genevieve," he managed to say.
"Genevieve, can you-can you-can.
you forgive me for the way / have
acted and-and for the things ] have
thought? And-and will you let me
go home with you and will you-do
you think you can listen to me while
while try that proposal over
again2"
She smiled-that same old smile
and he was glad, because he had sud-
denly discovered that he liked it. !
perhaps / ought not to forgive
you" she responded, ''but'-and She
tapped the black, leather-covered book
under her arm-"this teaches us that
forgiveness is right. Yes, you may
come with me, Bert. and I'll listen to
what you have to say. was perfect
~ serious that other time; but you
see sometimes girl smiles to hide
her emotion, and sometimes one gets
so nervous that one has to keep the
hands busy. That's why 1 couldn't
stop playing the piano. I'll try this
time, though"
please play it-and SMILE" pleaded
Bert "Td dearly love to propose to,
music, and smiles beat tears all to
niaces I"