The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-11-29
CHAPTER li-continued.

herd. Dsvt y'u know you're goir
home wfrh US Z supperr
First heard Of IT," the woodsmal
drawled. shifting his shoulder agalns
the post.
The girl glanced at the breaches
standing at the edge OF the road
jerked her head ever so slightly TOWARD
him-a motion so elusive that II would
have escaped anybody else but Jacl
Warhope-and lowered her voice 10 a
whisper:
We'll git i'm L tell us about-Ken. .
She turned away. The shoulders
left the porch post. and the man fol-
( lowed.
The old banker was holding out his
hand for the letters. He glanced them
over. grunted, thrust them unopened
into the pocket OF his faded coat; NUT
tered a word, drew them forth again.
sorted out one, stared hard al the adj
dress and postmark and then. with a
half petulant grimace. knocked the
bunch OF letters together, crammed
them back into his pocket again and.
followed by the others. trudged away
up the road.
The venerable widow, like the rest
Of the village. must have been on the
lookout for the new preacher, for she
was at the door 10 meet him as he
came up the walk with the others. The
old banker presented him.
Glad 70 bauo sos. .n...
Hopkins II has been so dreadfully
lonesome since-T
The mild old eyes foated full of
tears. The preacher seemed not TO
notice
81 saw your husbands obituary in
one OF the church papers"
The widow dabbed at her eyes with
black-bordered handkerchief: the
preacher, In his hesitating, jerky way,
went on.
Il Immediately wrote to Mr.. Colin
offering TO come on a-ah-sort OF va
cation trip and serve the congregation
until the vacancy could be filed. I |
was the more attracted to the thought
Of coming because my health had /
given way under the dual strain of
and teaching. And then. too,
had heard much about Buckeye and
the Flatwoods from a-ah-classmate
IF mine while a student In the college
70 which now have the honor TO hold
, professorship."
The banker frowned thoughtfully
rexie glanced at Jack.
Evening shadows were gathering
hick In the corners Of the room. The
Id man. becoming aware OF them.
danced about him and turned to the
widow.
well. Sister Mason. n you don't
lind. I'll jist show Brother Hopkins
he study. and then you better & long
yer with us { supper"
With the fine courtesy Of one trained
, the parsonage. she excused herself;
10 old banker went on:
Il b1ieve you said he was T. have
he use Of the study1"
The Widow Mason was only too well
sed to the crisp curt ways Of Simon :
olin- She turned TO the young
-eacher.
Brother Hopkins, ! don't want you
feel that you are 10 have merely p
e study. Ny home Is your home.
ease feel free to use all Of II or any p
lrt Of H."
The young preacher bowed very low. =
ID turned to the banker. who led the y
~ Up the stairs with as much su- Il
ority as II he owned the place
lich. In reality. he did %
The study, with its writing desk and -
ltber easy chair. with fits shelves ~
d shelves Of books. showed that its |"
e owner had been a man OF studi- J"
. habits and apparently scholarly at
nments. ~
An immense appletree grew BY the
II window. thrustinE It's stout OF
inches 50 close as almost TO brush 20
panss Through It's opening bios
nx and half sprung leaves enough er
the day remained 10 catch view co
the old bankers two or three acres
psrklike orchard that lay between fsi
parsonage and the red-roofed cot nis
e. spi
he young preacher stood af the eve
dow and gazed out over the or ! .
I'd. aromatic with promise, green
b its thick mat Of blue grass. white ba'
Ter the trees where the blossoms
wed down ash
be banker slapped him on the did
ulder He must have been deeply
Drbed In the spell OF the place. sith FAC
quiet and repose. for be started and faii
Ihed nervously. nos
must have been dreaming"
he OLD man tossed e hand toward mai
window. hus