Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-01-22

she got herself ready and climbed into
the wagon beside her husband.
They drove down the road through
the July twilight. Crickets chlrped In
the gathering dusk; In the meadows
the frogs piped; and far away the
whippOorwills were calling unsteady.
Bemis Martin drove stOlidly, with
never a word to his wife, and not
glance In her direction. Mrs. Martin
sat stifily upright, unmindful Of every
thing save the tumuit in her heart and
her desperate determination, which
grew the stronger in the face Of her
seeming helplessness.
They entered the bare little vestry
of the church, where some dozen per-
sons, men and women, were ranged
along the hard settees. The minister,
seated on the little platform, nodded
a smiling welcome, which was utterly
lost on Mrs Martin.
"rm goin' tomorrer-Tm goin' to-
morrerl" she was repeating wildly to
herself as they took their seats.
The minister rose and opened the
meeting with a quavering hymn. At
its close he turned his eyes toward
Bemis Martin.
"Will Brother Martin lead US in
prayerT said he, and the little COM
pany knelt on the uneven floor, while
Martin hoarsely cleared his throat, and
then began prayer.
The rumbling voice died away.
There was the usual chorus Of
"Amens," and then a tense silence,
during which Mrs. Martins heart
thumped 80 loudly that she feared 1t
must betray her
10 Lord" 1t was q weak, pathetic
treble. Bemis Martin uncovered his
eyes and looked at his wife in I'M
feigned surprise. In all the years Of
their married life he had never before
known her 70 lift her voice in public
prayer Her upturned face, with the
closed eyes, was scarlet. He saw that
her clasped hands, resting on the set
tee before her, trembled violently.
20 Lord, some of us come to Thy
throne seldom. Perhaps it's because
we amt worthy, an perhaps it's be-
cause we don't want to be pesterin'.
But this evenin' we come before Thee
to show that our hearts amt so full
Of wlckedness as some Of Thy servants
would have Thee think. Thou know
est o Lord, we amt wicked Just be-
cause we thirst for a little inherent
amusement that's been denied us for
forty years. Thou knowest there Amt
no wickedness in SEEM a-a"-she
caught her breath-"a circus" she
finally cried, def1antly. She was aware,
without uncovering her eyes. that
every head In the room was lifted, and
that every eye in the room was staring
at her in wonder. She was aware that
her husband had clutched her arm, but
she pushed his hand away from her,
and went on wildly:
They're all Thine, o Lord, every
cr1tter in the cages an every man an
woman actor Thou madest them all,
an Thou doest all things well. There
can't be no harm In goin' to see Thy
handiwork. But there's some folks
say It's wicked to want to CO. o Lord,
read their hearts Alright. See through
their shams an learn that 1t amt the
circus that's wicked in their eyes, but
the spendin' Of half-a-dollar to git
In"
Her voice had risen to historical
pitch. The tears streamed down her
wrinkled face.
They've been hard an harsh an
close, o Lord. They've driven their
own children from their door. Touch
their hearts with Thy love an Thy un.
derstandin'. They say Thy arm IL
mighty. Show Thy strength to them
Melt their hearts of stone. Make them
see 1t amt no sin to spend fifty cents
for circus once in forty years. II
Thou doest this, o Lord, we will be.
lieve in Thy might an that Thou art a
lovin' God, an Thy servant will sound
Thy praises forevermore. Amen"
There was dead silence In the room
save for Mrs. Martins hysterical sobs
Every one rose and stared at Bemis
Martin and his WIFE, The mans face
was an apoplectic red. He trembled
as from an acute attack Of ague. The
minister hastily started a hymn, and
under cover of the music Bemis Mar
tin led his overweight wife from the
vestry.
The die was cast, and she was pre-
pared to take the consequences. She
knew Just how she would answer the
stormy outburst of his wrath. Silent
ly he unhitched the horse; silently he
placed her in the wagon silently they
drove homeward under the July star
which burned softly in the hazy sky
Her shoulders still rose and fell con
vulsively, and her cheeks were still
wet.
She felt an arm steal clumsily about
her In the first caress she had known
in years.
There, mother. therel wouldnr
take on so. You have had It consid
er'ble hard, that's fact" said Martin
huskily.
Early next morning the minister
drove over to the Martin place. Be
mis-, In his ill-6tting Sunday clothes
was Harvesting the horse.
Good morning Brother Martin
said the clergyman. II just ran over
to suggest that, in light Of Sister Mar
tin's-er-rather peculiar prayer las
night, I'm inclined to think that per
haps it might prove one of those mys
FERROUS workings of Providence ii you
should let her go to Randall today
She might go over with some OF those
folks who always go, you know"
Bemis drew himself up.
"She Is goin' to the circus with me,
ne said defiantly.