Evening star., 1935-04-24
CHAPTER XIV.
TEAPOT TEMPEST.

TEAPOT TEMPEST.
YAMES fell at last into an ex-
hausted sleep. He was still
sleeping soundly at 9 next
~ morning when Aunt Lou wax
ened him. mis- Northrup's
calling you on the telephone" Aunt
Lou told him. "She seems terrible
upset and wants that you should come
right over there quick as you kin
make it,"
James heart leaped high with hope
as he hurried into his clothes, gulped
down q cup Of coffee and ran for q
street car.
Jane didn't want to get married.
Jane had the courage he lacked, the
courage to save them both. He
pushed the slow-moving Car all the
way down South Fifth street and
up North Fifth and jumped from it
before it halted at Oak street. Mrs.
Northrup was waiting for him on the
porch.
'You look very happy, young man"
she said grimly and led the way into
the front parlor.
Whats the matter? What's hap
pened?" James asked, and stilled the
feet that wanted to caper. He'd have
to pretend, of course, to be sorry {.
Mortified, and he wasn't good at pre-
tending. Trust that old harpy to
see through him. He'd better insist
on seeing Jane alone. Good old Jane.
"Its the Altar Guild" Mrs. North
rup snapped, "or, rather, that hateful
Mabel Webster. She won't allow Jane
to have candles on the altar, and
we've got such beautiful ones, hand
dipped. Jane was in Mysteries.
had to give her a bromide. 1t does
seem after all our work -"
1.-THE Altar Guild?" James inter-
rupted stupidity. Whats the Altar
Guild got to do with it?"
James was a Congregationalist,
made out finally from Mrs. North
rup's confused explanation that the
present Episcopal rector was high
church and Mrs. Northrup low
church. A year before the rector,
then new, had the effrontery TO in
stall candles on the altar and Mrs.
Northrup, unhappily, had fought the
innovation tooth and nail.
Now the Janus-faced Mabel Web
ster had called up that very morning
10 say that the Altar Guild, knowing
that Jane would not want to have
her vows desecrated by candle light,
had sent the dedicated candle sticks
10 be replated and refused absolutely
TO produce them in spite OF persua-
sions and threats. Mrs. Northrup
fairly bounced with rage.
"But but is it so important?"
James stammered. He was so disap-
pointed he wanted to die.
Not important to have Jane
stabbed in the back? You of all peo-
pie of course, it's important. The
candles are an integral part of the
decorations. A more heartless, cruel
I should think you could see
that without being told"
"It doesn't seem very Christian" !"
James said weakly.
Christian? I should say it wasn't
Christian. If Mabel Webster after
Heaven -"
Mrs. Northrup had great deal to
say about Mabel Webster, about all
the Altar Guild, in fact. James looked
so miserable that even Mrs. Northrup
was satisfied.
At that moment the telephone bell
rang shrilly. Mrs. Northrup hastened
| to answer it. James heard her cry
sharply, ut simply isn't possible.
will not. Mr.. Northrup and will
not allow it, A silence. Then, t'This
Is the last straw. I shall certainly
appeal to the bishop" She hung up.
Mrs. Northrup had left the room
red-faced and defiant. She returned
white-face and trembling, broken
and suddenly old. James got out Of
her finally that it was the society
reporter calling up to point out to
her that the wedding, scheduled to
take place that evening at $3.50
O'Clock, confiicted with the weekly
prayer meeting hour. No one had
thought, no one had remembered
about prayer meeting.
And now the society reporter said
she had been reliably informed that
DR.. Morton had stated that he would
delay the prayer meeting until after
the ceremony, but that he could not
refuse admission to the church to
any member Of his congregation who
assembled for prayer meeting at the
regular hour.
James wedding list had been care
fully gone over and expurgated.
Many had been invited, but more
had not. Admittance was by card.
Now, the entire riff-raff Of the town
was free to force its way into the
church. Mrs. Northrup, for the first
time in years, burst into hysterical
tears.
It was a terrible hour. Mr.. North
rup was sent for. Beyond vowing
that the Rev. DR.. Morton should
shortly be forced to resign or he
would leave the church, Mr.. North
rup offered no suggestions. 1T was,"
he said over and over, IAN outrage,
yes, an unforgivable outrage"
Mrs. Northrup turned to James.
''You must do something" she COM
manded sternly.
James, with a sudden flash of spirit,
refused even to try to interfere. He
said that the only dignified thing
10 do was to ignore the whole rumpus.
After all, q few candles, a few unin-
Nted guests, were Of small moment
unless they were made so. His ad-
vice was to assume a bold front,
laugh it on-or be forever laughed at.
After long and acrimonious argu-
ment, In which James, to his pain
and surprise, found himself cast un-
accountably in the role of the culprit,
his advice was accepted.
The Northrups would do nothing,
except keep the last horror from Jane.
James was dismissed in ignominy,
not even allowed sight Of the
stricken bride. He walked home
SLOWLY, q puzzled and abysmally
Igloomy young man. God, If he'd only
Ihad the sense to fall in love with an
orphan.
When Jane had barely managed a
- Ia q