Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-07-30
Chapter Nv

High Prairie swains failed to nnd
Selma alluring. She was too small,
too pale and fragile for their robust
taste. Naturally. her coming had
been an event I'm this isolated commu-
nifty. With no visible means Of COM
municat ton news Of her leaped from
farm to farm as flame leaps the gaps
in q forest fire. She would have been
aghast to learn that High Prairie,
iRexplicably enough, knew all about
her from the color Of the ribbon that
threaded her neat little white corset
covers to the number IF books on her
shelf. She thought cabbage fields
beautiful; she read books to that
dumb-acting Roelf Pool; she was
making over dress for Maartje after
the pattern of the stylish brown
lady's-cloth she wore (foolishly) to
school.
On her fifth Sunday in the district
she accompanied the Pools to the
morning service at the Dutch Re.
formed church. Maartje seldom ha6
the time for such frivolity. But on
this morning Klaas hitched up the big
farm wagon with the double seat and
took the family cOmplete-Maartje,
Selma, ROelf, and the pig-tails. Roel1
had rebelled against going. had beer
cuffed for it, and had sat very still
all through the service, gazing at the
red and yellow glass church window.
Selina's appearance had made quite
a stir, of which she was entirely I'M
aware. AS the congregation entered
by twOs and threes she thought they
resembled startiingly a woodeut in an
old illustrated book she once had
seen. The mems Sunday trousers and
coats had square stiff angularity,
rs though chopped out Of block.
The women. in shawls and bonnets Of
rusty black, were incredibly cut In
the same pattern. The unmarried
girls, though, were plump. red
checked, and not uncOmely, with high
round cheek-bones ON, which sat
spot Of brlck-red which impaired no
glow to the face. Their foreheads
were prominent and meaningless.
In the midst of this drab assem-
blage there entered late and rustling-
ly tall, slOw-m0ving woman in city
bought cloak and bonnet quite I'M
like the vintage millinery Of High
Prairie. An ample woman, with
fine fair skin and a ripe red mouth;
a high firm bosom and great thighs
that moved rhythmically, slowly. She
had thick. insolent eyelids. Her
hands, as she turned the leaves Of her
hymn book, were smooth and white.
AS she entered there was little
rustic throughout the congregation; a
craning of necks. ,''','"'.'
"Who's that?" whispered Selma to
Maartje.
"Widow Paarlenberg. She is rich
like anything"
"Yes? Selma was fascinated.
"Look once how she makes eyes at
him."
eat himf Who? WhOr
"Pervus DeJong. BY Gerrft Pom hs
is sitting with the blue shirt and sad
looking So"
Selma craned, peered. 'The-oh-
he's very good looking. isn't her
"Sure. Widow Paarlenberg is stuck
ON him. See how she-Sh-sh-sh -
Reverend Decker looks at US. tell
you after"
Selma decided she'd come to church
oftener. The service went on, dull.
heavy. 1t was In English and Dutch.
She heard scarcely "a word Of it. The
Widow Paarlenberg and this Pervus
DeJong occupied her thoughts. She
decided, without malice, that the
widow resembled one of the seekest
of the pink porkers roofing In Klaas
Pools barnyard, waiting to be cut
into Christmas meat.
The service ended, there was much
talk Of the weather, seedlings, stock,
the approaching holiday season.
Maartje, her Sunday dinner heavy ON
her mind, was elbowing her way up
tho aisle. Here and there she intro
duced Selma briefly to a woman
friend. Mrs Wander Slide, meet
school teacher"
"Aggie's mother?" Selma would be-
gin. primly, only to be swept along
by Maartje on her way to the door.
Mrs Won Mijnen, meet school teach
er. Is Mrs. Won Mijnen." They re-
garded her with grim gaze. Sc
lima would smile and nod rather nerv-
ously, feeling young, frivolous, and
somehow guilty.
When, with Maartje, she reached
the church porch Pervus DeJong was
unhitching the detected horse that
was harnessed to his battered and lop-
sided cart. The animal stood with
four feet punched together In a drOop-
ing and pathetic attitude and seemed
inevitably meant for mating with this
decrepit vehicle. DeJong united the
reins quickly, and was about to step
into the sagging conveyance when the
Widow Paarlenberg sailed down the
church steps with admirable speed for
one SO amply proportioned. She made
straight for him, skirts billowing,
fiounces flying, plumes waving.
Maartje clutched Selina's arm. Look
how she makes! She asks him to eat
Sunday dinner l bet you! See once
how he makes with his head no."
SeIina-and the whole congregation
unashamedls watching indeed
see how he made with his head no. His