Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-11

kindly Don't try to talk yet. There's
nothing as good for you as a nice, quiet
little cry when you are feeling blue"
It seemed that the old miller, who had
known SO much sorrow himself was q
magician In driving it away from others.
Miss Chesters sobs grew easier. Pres
emily she took her little plain bordered
handkerchief and wiped away q drop or
two that had fallen from her eyes upon
Father Abrams big hand. Then she
looked up and smiled through her tears.
Miss Chester could always smile before
her tears had dried, Just as Father
Abram could smile through his own grief
In that way the two were very much
alike.
The miller asked her no questions :;
but by and by Miss Chester began to
tell him.
1t was the old story that always seems
so big and important to the young,
and that brings reminiscent smiles to
may be supposed. There was a young
man in Atlanta, full Of all goodness and
the grGces, who had discovered that Miss
Chester also possessed these qualities
above all other people in Atlanta or any
where else from Greenland to Patagonia
She showed Father Abram the letter over
| which she had been weeping. 1t was
manly, tender letter, little super
lattve and urgent, after the style of love
letters written by young men full Of
for Miss Chester's hand in marriage at
once. Life, he said since her departure
for weeks visit, was not to be endured.
He begged for an immediate answer; and
if it were favorable he promised to fly,
Ignoring the narrow gauge railroad, at
once to Lakelands.
"And now where does the trouble come
in" asked the miller when he had read
the letter.
II cannot marry him." said Miss
DO you want to marry htmH asked
Father Abram.
ooh, love him." she answered, "but
-" Down went her head and she sobbed
Come Miss Rose" said the miller
you can give me your confidence. I
do not question you, but 1 think you
can trust me-"
II do trust YOU" said the girl. II
will tell you why I must refuse Ralph.
1 am nobody; l haven't even a name;
the name l call myself is lie Ralph
is a noble man. l love him with oil
my heart, but can never be his"
what talk is thls?" said Father
your parents. Why do you say you
have no name? l do not understand"
81 do remember them" said Miss
Chester. 81 remember them too well. Ny
first recollections are of our life some,
where in the far South. We moved
many times TO different towns and States.
| have picked cotton, and worked in
factories, and have often gone without
enough food and clothes. My mother
was sometimes good to me; my father
was always cruel, and beat me. l think
they were both idle and unsettled.
zone night when we were living in
a little town on a river near Atlanta
they had a great quarrel. 1t was while
they were abusing and taunting each
other that l learned-oh, Father Abram,
I learned that l didn't even have the
right TO be-don't you understand l
had no right even to name; l was
nobody.
Atlanta and found work. 1 gave myself
the name of Rose Chester. and have
earned ny own living ever since. Now
and. oh, / can never tell him why
Better than any sympathy, more helpful
than pity, was Father Abrams deDrecla-
ton Of her woes.
"Fie, he l thought something was In
the way. If this perfect young man is
man at all he will not care a pinch OF
bran for your family tree, pear Miss
he cares for Tell him frankly, just as
you have told me. and I'll warrant that
he viii laugh at your story, and think
all the more Of you for it
Il shall never tell him." said Miss
Chester. sadly. And I shall never marry
him nor any one else l have not the
right"
But they saw a long shadow come bob
bling up the sunlit road. And then came
shorter one bobbing by its side, and
presently two strange figures approached
the church. The long shadow was made
by Miss Phoebe Summers, the organist,
come to practice. Tommy league. aged
70, was responsible for the shorter shad-
ow II was Tommy's day to pump the
organ for Miss Phoebe, and his bare toes
proudly spurned the dust of the road.
Miss Phoebe in her lilac-spray chintz
dress. with her accurate little curls hang
ing over each ear. cOurtesied low TO
Father Abram. and shook her curls cere-
moniously al Miss Chester. Then she and
her assistant climbed the steep stairway
to the organ loft
In the gathering shadows below, Father
were silent; and IL Is likely that they
were busy with their memories. Miss
Chester sat leaning her head on her hand.
with her eyes fixed far away. Father
Abram stood in the next pew. looking
thoughtfully out Of the door at the road
and the ruined cottage
suddenly the scene was transformed for
him back almost n score Of years into
the past For, as Tommy pumped away,
Miss Phoebe struck a low bass note on
the organ and held Is TO test the volume
Of air that Il contained. The church
ceased 70 exist, so far as Father Abram
was concerned. The deep booming vibra-
ton that shook the little frame building