The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, August 18, 1887, Image 1
1 >
VOU'MK 11.
Sister Tu;i!n;iit< r's Heart.
< untilHU'd l'i in Pn.-U I siii'.
Sunday morning Wrought an onor
emus crowd (,? \|i.nut /.ion, as tlio
villupo edilice was called. I'his was
natural, as on that day the IVesidinp
Kldor was to deliver a sermon, and
a visit from the lYesidinp Klder of
the ?Iistiit-l always drew a crowd,
lint tlio fact noised about throughout
the land, that Sister Todhnnter
had been summoned and was to be
tried, also operated powerfully a*4 an
assembling factor, and many people
who had lou?_r neplected their church
duties nut in an appearance. farmers
for miles around came brinpinp
their wives and da iphters in their
wagons. Vuiine men in Impedes
w ith their sweet hearts were numerous,
and the prove about the church was
full of vehicles and "tied out stock"
when service time arrived.
About ten o'clo k a sudden movement
around the doorway indicated
that proaehinp was about to bepin,
and tlcj eonpropation tiled slowly
within, the men to the left, the women
to the ripht. farsi n Iviley, sittiiip
in tlie pulpit with the ^oitlv
form of Klder llainlin beside him,
watehed with an abidinp interest the
faces of the coiners. \\ hen th.' last
was in ami snttln l% It'* lioavou a (Icon
ii_("!? of relief, Sister 'I'?><] 11unt?'I* was
not present; she was ?r??i111; to remain
at home and let the trial ep> I?v default.
He did not know Sister Todhunter!
Klder llamlin at last arose, his red
countenance elowine like a beaeoi
above the seti of faces, and in a voice
like a trumpet's opened the nicotine
with prayer. He asked Divine
blessing upon Mount /ion, Sweetwater,
ami th(? remainder of the world,
invoking a helpless hand for "the
b-r -r-r-a v-e youn?* soldier of the
cm s" who had "come amonif these
people to battle for the ri^ht," and
upon "the youno" woman, just bud
<1 i11" into matooritv," who hail "eonie
to share his trials and minister with
him." His prayer concluded with an
^ appeal in la half of tho errin/r "ister
whoso wronir doinj,rw wore about
^ O
to consi<'"~
\ NV "May sin) ho led to soo tho error
of hor way." ho said, "an1 turn her
foot into the strait an* narrow path."
And ho thanked the Lord for tho assurance
e-ivon in those lines which
declare that
"Wliilt- ilic lamp IioIiIh out to burn
Tito viW HiniuT mn\ return.''
Klder 11 a 1111 i 11 ceased, and amid tho
shufiiine (?f feet that followed tho
| deep Amen' which rolled from tho
prompt "Amen corner" back into
, the dilatory recess beyond the hist
) post, the congregation resumed their
seats. Then I'arson l?ilov si
forward, and in the clear debatingsociety
tones Ids wife loved so well,
read the oncnin<f h\ inn:
'* t-l ioin Ori'i'iiland'H ii y mountains,
Kr?nn India'* < ??rjil *trnn<l."
Klder lluckncr stood up in advance
of the eon<rre?ration and raised the
% ... I
til no in a stron >' baritone that at once
'v ^
sprainr out boldly and challenged
k' I r*? ? o
the whole assembly, lie was instantly
pursued and overtaken by Mrs.
('ulpepper1# soprano, and Mrs. liuckner's
sweet contralto soon found an
entering place. After her came the
deep l)utnl)le-beo bass of Colonel |
t I .edbotter, who ad justed his ^old-l
vimined glasses as ho came in. This
was a the customary opening. No i
* one in Sweet water won Id have dream- i
oil of invadino the melody with any j
sort of a voice until Klder liuckner. I
Mrs. Culpepper, Mrs. Iluekncr, and
(\>lonel I .edbetter had obtained a
fair start. Any one so imprudent
would have drawn the attention of
the whole conifreiration iiDon himself.
.. n o *
*' ' ' Jiut the quartette wcdl under way,
everybody was :it liberty to rush in;
and so on this occasion, soon, borne
aloft by the. united voices of the en^
tiro congregation, the grand old melSod^
sailed out and swept far away
down the pine aisles into the peaceful
Sabbath heart of the woodlands.
The last tone died away as usual
* ' it. was the deep hum of Colonel l.edbotfoTs
bass, which refused to bo
*\ quieted for a while. Then the congregation
sank into their seats, and
Kldor Ifamlin stood up ami delivered
a powerful sermon upon the wife
and her true position,
r Then came the. long-lookhd-for mo- j
| ""^v had doscondod from
cjjl*
44 312 1D12TJ'32
* ? I I I I II I ? X* *
tho pulpit to btato tin.' I)usiiu?ss of ili<*
hour, which every one awaited with
feverish impatience, when a form
tilieil the doorway, and Sister Todhunter,
in holiday attire of red silk,
black lace, and a oreat (lower laden
ed (lare-front honnet, stood before
him. As by instinct everybody knew
she was there, and ever\ head save
one was turned toward her. She
paused lone- enough to survey the
crowd contemptuously, then with a
oreat waddle she inarched up the
aisle, took a chair out from under lit
tie .Major lirown almost before he
coule vacate it, placed its back
aoainst the pulpit, and sat down.
"Now," she said, looking at I'arisen
I f i ley while she adjusted the
folds of her dress, ujro on with yer
lies; I in readv." 1'arson Hiley
....i i .1 i r
iiii in u |?ni?- ami iiii'ii i?*ii. in
tlio thoughtless yuuiiir people siiiv*UiM'i'il
anil there was a oeneral stir of
ex pectation. Colonel I .edbetter, witli<?\il
unbending a [(article of his enormous
and ever-l)l(?(?ininir dienitv.
looked at Major I {.-own and winked
with both eves. Ihown put his
hand over his month and couched
violently. Bnt the parson soon rallied,
and turnino- to the oonorcoation
said lirmlv:
' Brothers and sisters, for sneli von
are in the holy union of the church,
and I trust soon to sa\ in affection
horn of joint and sell --aci ilu'in?_f la
hors, I have a painful duty to perforin
this inornino, and that I fain
won Id avoid, hut
'*( )h, shucks, say what yer oot ter
say and don't palaver so niueh."
This, of course, came from Sister
Todhunter. Ii j>: eved a -cond for
the new sen : >n o sn! .ide, and
without lookiii" at her he cont uued:
"Its a duty, and <>f such there can
he no avoidant-* without ouill."
"Very pretty. B'en all the week
i er learniti' hit?"
"1 am called ut>on to nresent to
1 i
you this morning :i11 erring sister,"
In* continued, linking his hands to.
?'-ot her ami bowing them before him
1 ?> <"">
palms <lownwan 1 while ho rocked
back upon his hools ami brought Ins
toes to tho ground again, "who, not
satisfied with violating at home the
proprieties of the domestic circle and
the commands and precepts of the
Scriptures, has come into the house
of the Lord defiant and rebellious,
with sneers upon her lips a id contempt
for his minister and his people
I in her heart. The evidence of this
j hitler is before you; of the former,
her husband, a gentlemen whom you
hi
all know, will speak."
< 'olonel Todluinter was sitting on
the front seat at the elbow of Parson
L'ilev, his chin upon his shirt front,
and deep dejection written in every
line of his face. There was also a
I pallor there. lie was probablv 11 it i
only person in tne ehnrcli who had
not seen or heard his wife enter.
The parson was forced to rouse hiin j
with a touch.
t4( Jot up, Colonel," lie said, "and
state your ease.'1
''Hey?11 The parson motioned to a
spot in front and then to the sea of
expectant faces turned toward him.
Ilr understood, and sidled along with
his white face to the crowd, his Idue
eyes searching every bench, until he
reached the place indicated; then he
folded his poor white hands together
and drew a lone breath of relief: Sister
Todluinter was not in sight. lie
opened his mouth to speak, when an
event occurred that threw the crowd
I _ '
present into the most intense excitement.
In moving to the front Colr">
onel Todhunter caino within four or
live feet of his wife, to whom his
back was half turned, lie had just
satisfied himself that he was secure,
and had said "I,1 when Sifter Tod
hunter loaned forward, extended her
crooked-handled umbrella it.; full |
length, deftlv hooked it in tlm
<) ' V
collar of Iter husband's coat, and
with one jerk lauded him backward
and head-first into her lap. So sudden
was the act, so utterly unexpected,
that everybody for an instant
paused and grazed in open mouthed
astonishment. Then those in the
rear tumbled over each other f<?r better
positions, and big Klder Hamlin
rushed to the colonel's assistance.
The antrry woman mot the rescuer
r> J
with such energy that his alarmed
neighbors were compelled to lead
him outside and pour water on his
head.
In the mean time Major Brown,
Is-j
: TO "srcrcriE WOEE
CONWAY, :
Colonel I ,< allietter, ilhler BueUnor,
Mr. (, 'u I pepper, and others worn
stnioolin-r to release Colonel Todhunter,
whoso convulsive jilav of leos
and awful e.\predion of face indieuloil
111 il tl*> i-loli i 111. t iou. *1 III-1? III
- 'I I S . ...
n11i11*?I 1roui*tli ofsi\ men was sullicient
at last to effect this, and the
colonel, all breathless arost*.
"Are you liiirt much, ( 'olonel?" I
shouted o.tml Mrs. liuckncr, who had
crowded to the (rout. W ill) one
hand on hi.- head and the other stru^i
1 in?for hi-- handkerchief, whicli was
in the wrottw aoat-t ail j >oeket, and
with tears rolling down his cheeks,
he replied soft y:
' 1 had onlv a little hair left, orav I
hair, madam; I fear she has pulled
that out too."
The huhbub was indescribable, !
and everybody XVi's crowding to the
front. Parson Kilev waved them!
hack.
' Sit down," lie shouted. "Wo
j can't do anytime' so loiijr as you
stand up!" All dropped hack into
their seats, except ahout a do/en of
the most trustworthy and dionilied
churchmen aroun I the refractory sister,
who with a strong jo'ip on the
edye of her chair was holdine- her position,
while she talked to the men
nearest her.
"Von think yerself mighty smart,
Ion l vci'?' slm said, entrhiii??' I'arson
IJiley's eye. '-An' yer wife
inv! ain't she stuck u|>. with her laee
curtain^ an* tea-parties! 'Poo proud
tor invito tno, hut not too proud tor
invito old J.'ino (ir.imhy, whoso hoy
stole a mule." 'IVioro was a shriek
in the jiudionoo, and Mr. (irainhy, !
standing near, h*Jrri?*?I t. hU wife.
4,.\n' there's Tom <*?;!; pp? r. I je er
prettv nice >110 to !i s 11i11 liisse."
up fur or ehuieh-clejiuer. I saw him
pass tnv housi so drunk las' week he
didn't know if he was jniin' homo or
coiuin' haek." Aaoain the thought
less o'ijrcrlcxl Pom ( u I pepper's habits
were certainly unfortunate.
"Ail' there's lirother Spikes, lie's
or eood han' tor weed out or church,
ain't 1.-? An' his cotton in the orass
so ha-l t!iat yer can't see hit front the
/rest audience.
' 'Phis is simply outrageous''' said
Hrotlier Spikes to NIr. John I'Moerly
hotlv; "that woman ou?dil to hei
I ducked.
)11lTht she, indeed!" said Sister
Podluiuter, eatchino- the remark.
I "Then you hotter ^it .lolni Kdoerly |
. .... I. I . II! 1 I I
h i iii 11> v11,i. ins <>t;i inn was inicnI
1 ' n
f(l for tattlin', on I reckon ho II know i
how tor oo ahout hit/' This terrible i
di?r drew all eyes upon Kdin;rlv, and
ho tinned as red as a turkey-comb.
"Madam,' said t'olonel Led In tter.
advancing to a prominent position ii>
all tho dignity ami confidence of his
hijdi standing in Sweetwater, "I
trust you will let your old friend advise
you."
"When did you come tor he my !
old friend?" she replied with terrible
sarcasm. "Was hit when yor!
charged me twelvo per cent, for loan
| of or hundred dollars, or was hit
when you made me pay for or hundred
bushels of corn beeause mv
mule et live?" Taking his hat and
cane, the colonel walked outside and
sat down on a stump.
"(iontlemen," said Parson lliley
suddenly, seeing his force rapidly j
fallino away, "the only tiling to do \
is to carry her out and smul her home. I
If you will all take hold wo can carry
her out quickly." Tho men were
ready for any escape from the merciless
lashinir the woman was oivino
O o I
them. With a rush they seized her,
chair and all, she fiohtino desperate- 1
ly, and bore her outside. After a
brief rest, during which the assultino
party repaired damages, they lifted
her nifnin and mad for tlie wajron.
The rail fence furnished her a
hold when they tri m1 to lift her over,
and it became necessary to take it
.1,,..... 'I'lw i i- I
.. /nil. i nun (iiiiHii'T in'i'rc siriij^l^K'
ensued at 11 io waffdii. I* indin" 1 tor
O
self overmatched, Sister Todhunter;
l^uvo vent to :i si rill scream that
brought ('olonel Todhunter to her
side in ropootanco and ahmn. lie
attempted to sooth her. hilt she was
no sooner lifted into tlio wa^on than
she kicked the dnsli hoard off and
seized him hy the ear. It took the
elTorts of the crowd a train to releaso
r>
him. Klder Hamlin, who had recovered
his wind and rallied, here, climbed
into the wngim with the others to
help hold her, while the rest hitched
up her mules. Then, led by Hilly,
+ ' , 1
v;
tctjk
3. C., THURSDAY, AI
her ten-year old son, wlio Intel watch*
od the proceedings in sullen silence,
the strange load moved off, a delegation
accompanying ii to keep things
straight. As they crossed the creek.
Sister Todhuntor by a sudden movenient
managed to throw Klder llain1
i11 overboard. lie stood up in tin*
water and swore a great round oath
that horrified everybody. lint Sister
i'odhunter 'tughed hysterieally.
Wilt 1 ii i ii out, put 11 i i: i out or
MouiT /ion' too! Mon t vor lioar
liitn or oussin' back there?" IChler
11 a i ii I i 11 had retired to the hank, and
was donouiuino- the whole rare of
obstreperous women, l?ut not swearmo.
Ilk- one oath was confessed it.
open inoetino afterward, and willinolv
forgiven.
This, however, was Sister Todluinter's
last effort. She was seized
with a collapse on reaching home,
and heooed to bo placed on the
jrrass. There si I tints, she declared
that death wis near, and lieeoed
them to 1 ea\ v1 her. Iler husband
came np and ministered to her, and
she was heard to a-k liilly to lead
her to the well, as she wanted to
jump in and end her misery; and
!lill\ told her he wisheil she would.
Then 'he commilte returned. It,
transpired ;ift rward that Sister Todhnntcr
rallied enough to oo into the
lions , and in a sudden return of her
passion, slammed the door on tin*
neck o, ('olonel Todlninter, w ho in
oautiously looked in, and held him a
prisoner until a mutual understand
injr was effected. As mav lie well
understood, the terms were not liberal
for ('olonel Todhuuter.
tv.
(,)f course Slater Todlninter was
summarily expelled from the church.1
The affair furnished Sweetwater with
a sensation f<?i cveral weeks, but by j
ami by it crew to be an old topic,
and Sister Todlninter could venture
.
into town upon her shopping without j
attracting; univvrsnl attention and
comment. She was a cash customer,!
a fact that helped wonderfully to
oain her defenders, and, besides,
many people regarded herns victorious
in the church lioht, and enjoyed!
the way she laid about her. lint i
there was no friendship between the'
female side of Sweetwater and Sister
Todlninter. She had talked too!
plainly.
I leader, did you ever seen baby
fade avvnv without nonari I
II >
1 ?:i111i11?_?" the oldest physicians and
wrin^'ino tlm very life from its
mother, hour by hour, day by day?
watch its poor little face or >w old
and pinched, and its oreat eyes crow
a 1 n J <">
brighter until they seemed to burn {
like caiidlo-llamcs in the empty!
sockets? So faded the little, I mbo
that nestled in the depths of its soft
nest when the parson's \\if(! showed!
the assembled matrons of Sweetwater
her laces and curtains in the shadowed
room back of the parlor. I)ay 1
by day the mother sat in her low
rocker, her tender eyos upon the wasti11rr
form, a fever in her own brain,
and a weight upon her heart that
had driven out every tear-drop and
left her powerless to weep. I>y day '
and by ni<_dit she sat there, bathinif
the bahe in the dry oriel" of despair.
The little, frame lay bared before her
leo-s of a thimble's thiekness, with
tho skin crumpled upon them, arms j
that were the arms of a doll, and |
hands that scarce cheeked the lioht
that fell upon them when the mother
lifted them a<jain and aj/ain in her
o r*.
mute despair.
The doctor had yielded up liopo; !
save one or two, tho neighbors, worn
out, had withdrawn; and to-day, the j
day of which I write, the mother sat
waiting for the rustle of the anm*l's ;
n n
wi??.
As there she sat, suddenly the!
doorway was darkened, and Sister
Todlinntor from the mountain of her
awful presence looked down noon
the scone.
"Why hain't you sent fur me?"
she said bluffly. Parson Uiley's wife
looked up ami then bacK again. She
did not comprehend that she was addressed.
Sister Todhunter looked at
the baby. Then she ran her hands
under il gently and raised it, pillow
and all. "Twas but a feather's weight.
The mother yielded meekly, and fastened
her eyes anxiously uf>on th '
great rescuer who had arrived. *
' Is there any hope?" she
humbly. ]\p" asked
4 I lope?" Sister Tod!
her a look of scorn /outer
so! I've soon many e| should
/fr sicker kitten 'i
/
i-r "src"cric ecu
(i I ST IS, ISS7.
tins <^it well, (io.^it mi* snitio niul- s
loin. ii
"M it I loin V" ?
uYi?s, mullein. Don't yi*r know I
mullein when you si'oliitV' I'ar in t
: >; I * :f . ,.i ' i i ? i i _ii a
n Win* bll<K)K CUT lit ,l<l S'lUIN .
"I have never seen any," she said. \
"\\ oil, tft? an' tell the cook ter I
hrinjr ine some. Lord, what sorter s
women will the ne\' set he! Never ?.
seen mullein!" Hut the mother was I
" one, ami the lady who had 1
heen Keeping her company turded up
her noso and silontlv followed her. t
The cook had heard of mnllein, fort r
unatelv, which ?*rows wild in all s
(ieoroia, and soon appeared with
some. i
"So," said Sister Todhunter eon- i
tentedL when she saw it. "Now oo r
make some strong tea outer hit. \
Make hit with milk." The cook I
hurried away. Kveryhody seemed I
to oain life when Sister Todhunter I
took command. j 1
The tea soon arrived, and the new '
nurse administered a couple of tea
spoonfuls.
"lie can't retain anything a moment,"
said the mother, "it is no use
to torture him an\ more."
' win yor hushr >i-tor io<iiiuntor
almost shouted the (pmstion. i '
Don't yer roek'n I've soon or sick '
1 ?:tl>v '< "o nowV" ?
I'arson liiloy' wife "hushed" ami '
became a nmlo obsei ver. T!u> < hild ^
retained tlio food, nnd present ly'Sis* <
lor Todhuntor oave it moo. Tim!1
second lime its eyes woro lixod upon
tho cup, and its litth* lips wore freely
raised to meet it. It drank half a '
cupful, th ii turned its face on Sister '
Todhunlcr's broad knee and slept. '
Seenc this, a ore it hone <jrew in its 1
, ^ . f
inotlior a heart and poored llko till I '
imprisoned spirit through her anxious '
eyes. Metaphorically she be?pm to
lean upon the vast lioure by her side,
which seemed m? confident and resourceful.
"law dawn," said 'rodhunter 1
bluntly, looking up into the face
lixed so hungrily upon hers. The I
youn?r woman's eves ?rrow wistful h
and beseeching.
"I can't .loop, ' she lid, ''and my 1
baby dyino1. Sister Todhuntor o'avo
her a peeuiiar lo< <k. ?
"( )f all the fools!" she bernm, then *
changed her mind. "I.ay down rijdit
.1 .III '?1
I lien1 (III l I *?' lll'll itll WUI (Ml II1C. I In'
baby ain't erdyinY' Ami moved by
some stiaii'?o power, tlio mother J
<ll If'VCM I.
The baby slept. Hue, two three, !
four hours passed. Then it waked.
The warm mullein and milk was
ready, and it drank aoain. A (rain it '
slept. And the mother lyine- there *
silently drifted away into dreamland
too, for the lirst time in many days, f
ami slept the sleep of exhaustion. )
Thus I'arson I'iley found them in )
the almost soundless twilight, when 1
hurryine' hack from the deathbed of;
a distant friend who had smit for him. |
ho tiptoes into the room. If ho had 1
been confronted with lieel/ebun '
himself, he could not have boon more!
astonished. lie grazed upon the '
sleeping wife and burly nurse in
whose broad lap slumbered the little
one he loyed better than life, but
whom, as lie rode homeward throuodi *
the lonely pine-lauds, he had yielded '
up to its Maker. Mis face flushed. M
The woman raised one hand, swept a
elanee over the two sleepers and 1
then motioned to the door. 1'arson 1
1 filey bent his head and noiselessly v
passed out. I le stood anione tlio j 1
jasmines at his e-ate, with 11ipale '
face turned up to the blue sky which
seemed o near him there, iiiakine- no <
sound; and it seemed to him its lie |
waited that a mystery was unfurled v
about hint, and lm grew and broaden j
ed tin J or its touch. Iy
Still the suns glided by, but the!
child lived lived and grew strong. *
()ne day ("olonel Todhunter dr(?ve 1
the mules uj> to the front door and '
halted them. Sister Todhunter plae- '
ed the infant in its mother's hip and <
said: 1
"Keen him on mullein and milk a !
while lon?fer. lie's all ritdit now.
Shet up!" she. added, seeing the
mother's eyes till with tonjs and her'
bosom heave; "an' if yer need me,
sen' down."
"Vou saved my cliild," sobbed '
I'arson Ifilby's wife, "and I'll pray
for you always." c
"Me saved him! That's er pretty ''
thing fur er preacher's wife tor . as ! (
The Lord did it, ehile,-- the lord and '
his mullein tea. She nearly crush- 1
ed th" life i it of I'arson Itiley in '
her hurry to <rot out. <
' i
\ i i Mat I
'\wa<;;mi, no uogiu soizmg ono of .
nor hand*. n t
"sl"!t "I,';" r1'0, '"I'li'-'l. fimtoliinff 1
"t away. 1J0 lUol?.,| ?t beaoocl!
"wy- ,
-Won't yon |,,t mo thank von?" '
1 l?t >'<> aav '
l?"K ''I'""', other matl.T."
mo bundled ' v
l iiotvw l 2 b-^tmie, an tho Lord
fur '< 1 dv'If will find thing* thon,
< ,/wixt Billy ami Mr. Todhunter '
jJh'e changes fur thor gojji' wrong is '
tho bos' in tho worlb But, Barson,
1 you ran study (Hi supp'u. When
yor go tor turn ernothor woman out
of or church, don't yor go tor tlio i
> neighbors fur hot character, nor tor1
lier husband1, if ho hnpp-m. tor bo a
? i trillcn"' kind or man; but cotuo
trai^ht tlio lu'iulijuarters. Trouble
ml worry sometimes sorter crusts
?v< r or woman's heart, so that ev'v*
uuly can't see hit, I'arson, but hit's
i - no M o i .
IltMn HII III'' SlIIIIU* OlIU UJMMI
li Mo.'k ami clambered into tin*
vjiiron, where in deafness sut her
icm lord. "(.iood-bye, 1'arson,
ho said, as tliov drovo olT. "I'm
lad tlior baby's mendin'. Keep
ii111 on mullein ton." Tlio parson
i Ftod his hat.
*( Jod ldoss v<>n, madam," ho said
ourfullv. Mo watched shorn as they
oiled down tho lane. Tho wheel
.trunk a stump.
Mid unyliodv oversee seen or
nan?" ho hoard hor shout, 'diim-j
no tin in linos!" ho saw tho colonel;
ook violently ss tho reins worn
vronoliod out of his hands, and then
10 saw his patient little hairless I
ioad with its hroad oars settle down
letoon his shoulders aoain. I Ye,senty
a turn in tho road hid them from
ioht.
(< o.\i i.i i t;i?.)
A !lol\ Kiss.
lie was tall and angular and exromoly
irravo. lie wore a suit of
dark hroadoloth and snowy linen, as j
looaiim his dignity as a oleroyinan. j
!" sat erect in one corner of the
fa, with liotli feet placed sipiaroly
>ti tin' lloor and his lingers interloolcm!
before him.
She was rather below the medium
i/c. I 11?r hair was combed smoothv
back and coiled in a simple knot
ndiitnl. 11 or dross was devoid ol
iil)|e or plaiting, t?nt sertipuloiisl\
lent in its simplieity. She sat at the
art her end of the sofa, with her eyes
nodosity fastened upon her folded
minis.
Silence reigned.
The clock licked in slow measure, i
is if duly impressed with the soloni-i
lit y of t lie occasion.
The cat by the liearth washed her
ace industrious!\ blinked her twoi
Icepy eye at the two on the sofa
i nd 11icii curled hoiself up for a ipiiet j
nip.
lie turned himself partly toward
ier, and his eyes rested upon her
,villi satisfaction. Mis lips parted.
"Mary."
She raised her eyes to his face.
tk I >o you remember, it is seven I
rears to-nioht since our betrothal?"
Mary's eyes fell to her hands strain
is she inurinured:
"Vos, I remember."
A Ioiio pause, in which Mary
hanoed the folding of her hands.
\o-ain he spoke gravely:
"i have boon thinkine-. Mary you
eel as thou<fh vou know moV As if
rs %>
on could trust mo? These seven
cars have been years of peace and
deasure; have they not Mary?"
"( >11, yes," siohod Mary.
"Mary, it has coiuo to me that this
s ipiito a holittino' time to seal our
>ot r< it lial."
Mary in doubt raised her eyes to
lis.
"lias the thought come to you
Wary ?"
Met still Mary looked at him in
vomler. lie shifted his position a
ittlo and then tried to make his
hoiiohts more plain to her.
- Mary, you remember in the lliblo
hey used si^n^ of aiT. ction wo use
lot. I)ues it not seem bolittino that
n
vo should follow the example cdveu |
is and oroet each other with a holy
dsn?"
"Speak, Mary what is your thoui^hs
in the subject?"
Thus appealed to, Mary urisvorod:
ll V * I ! - ? 1 ' ?
vuii i i m n k Dt'si always, .InlOpll."
Iln rose to his full height from (Ik?1
tofa, ami took a slot) toward her. j
Mary rose also, and stood withdown ast
eyes and clasped hands before!
ii111. Tim ?-at was still slooping. Iloi
Irow a stop nearer and took her hand
in-lit lj> in his. The color licean to j
nount to her fact?.
' Shall it l?o to-inorrow niifhtJ
r> ?
dary ?
uAs you like, .Joseph."
"At 7 o'clock?"
' At seven," said Mary, ami ho loft
tor.
The next night Mary, fooling ratlisr
moro uneasy than usual, sat at her
cnitting and watched the hands of the j
lock, .lust as the hands pointed
ixaetly V the knocker at tin? front I
loor rose ami foil. She laid aside
tor knitting and wont with outward
alinncss to lot him in as usual, lie
cit his outside c(j:it mi 11ui hull, ami
hoy came inio the room toj/othor.
lo s^lanccd the clock.
It. is 7. Vou remember of wliatj
.vo wero speaking lust evening,
dary? Shall wo ask .a blessing that i
t may prove all wo may anticipate,
hut wo may not ho disappointed?"
They knelt while ho put the poti
LlOlf.
And now, us they rose from their
vices, ho approached her ami the
Lr\ino' ordeal was passed through
wall.
\ It must have proven most satisfuo- j
lojr', for when it hud boon repeated
Bdyeral times, .losoplt exclaimed:
V I'liat is jjfood. What wo have
raised these seven years! Let us!
' lthrn thanks." /f droit / '/'<< /V<.svJ
.? I
I
\
i
h!
MWIUKR i.
>1 icro>ro|)i? :il NVomlcrs.
"Suppose wo look Jit si fly a
t < mglie.
"All right," said I. "Flies liavo
been inve.uigating mo for :i long
time, and nothing wouM J?'vo ino
more pleasure tlian to see a fly's
tontnie transfixed am! to investigate
r> t o
it oalmly under a microscope."
Aeoordinglv, Mr. Hopkins placed
the subject in position, sind, turning
the tid?lo, I brought iiiv eye to boar
111?<>ii the olijoct. The fly's tongue is
certninl\ a coiuplicatod piece of
mechanism. No description would
do it justice; and it must bo seen to
bo appreciated.
The next subject was a section of
horse-fly, showing the complete kit
of tools with which he pursues his
investigations into the flesh of horses.
There was a fine saw, with teeth
plainly visible, :i piercer for irritating
the wound, which caused the blood to
flow, and all arranged for use. Then
we looked at the saw-fly, which frequents
rose and goose-borry bushes,
and laws places in the twigs and doposits
its coos. The stinging nparatu
. of the ordinary honey boo next
claimed our attention. Having' had
some experience with a bee's business
department, I congratulated myself
that the mystery of its operation was
about to bo unvailed. The sight
confirmed mo in my purpose previously
formed, of giving bee-luvos a
wider berth in the future. A bee's
stinger looks formidable under the
microscope. Teeth project from the
side like a sword fish, and attached to
il is (lie poison-sio which contains
the article which, when inserted into
a man's hand by an enterprising I?ot*,
makes him wish 'hat he had never
been born.
"Vou will see," said Mr. Hopkins,
"that !>v increasing the power of the
tni roscope the formation of parts of
the various objects examined is clearly
shown, and the more closely they
are examined the m< re complete they
appear. There are no botched jobs
in nature."
" I )o your investigations," I asked
"lead to the conclusion that all those
complete and beautiful things were
evolved from an incomplete oermV"
Mr. I lopktns replied very emphatically:
"No, sir; they do not. I take
no stock in the modern conclusion on
that point."
The hornet was next investigated.
It has bei n said that he differs from
the flea in this resnect, that when
you put your linger on him you know
he is there. Much as we dislike to
meet the hornet and be interviewed
by him, especially when seated on
the orass eatinir loaf cake at a picnic,
he appears remarkably well under a
microscope. Mr. 1 lopkins called my
attention to this interesting fact. On
the ed?fe of the hornet's winirs are a
c> O #
series of Iiodks, which, at certain
times, are used to hook the winos together,
but no one lias vol succeeded
in hookinjr or nnkookino tho wine's
of tlio captured insect. The hooks
won! plainly seen through the instrument.
A bee's foot and a frineed
pad< lie of the water beetle closed our
investigations amone the insect trihe.
A section of the leaf of the eutcherplaut
was next shown. It was covered
with little stars perfectly formed.
These stars are composed of silex,
and if the leaf is burned the stars are
not consumed.
I )iatoms are a subject for special
study. I hoy are vegetable plants
comprising innumberablo varieties,
which can only ho seen and classified
I... 11 ;,l ..f iim i
VII' uiu ? '* VIIV Iin^iunv.:wui7? 1 /1 il I *
ouis have been seen upon which 125000
tran verso linos liavo boon shown
hy tho aid of the most powerful microscopes.
Polarized light is another
(lopartmont of microscopical study.
Tho polarizer is attached to tho microscope,
and hy its means tho most
beautiful forms and colors are soon.
There are an infinite number of available
subjects in this realm, t'heniioal
crystials, mineral subjects, nieklo
prisms and objects from vegetable
life all show a vast variety of colors
and forms. -f'.'iiaoijo Mail.
\ cry Old People.
When John IJownoy diod rocontly
in Kast Toledo, Ohio, ho was 103
r *
years or ago.
Mrs. Noah IJaby, of I'lainliehl, N.
.1., still supports herself by work, although
she is believed to bo 115
years of ago.
Probably the oldest man in tho
State of Tennessee is I lenry Cloggy,
of Meigs country, who is 105 years
of ago, and still in the best of health.
t >no of the most interestinc ladies
of ('umbridge, Mass., is Mrs. Charles
Bradford, who is W 1 years old. She
is a groat lover of music and perforins
beautiful on the piano.
John J. Whipple, of llockland,
Mo., is 1(H) years old, and attributes
his good health and great longevity
to always eating and drinking according
to inclination.
Aunt Knchel Rutherford, of Sunt- ^
mit, Mo., is ninenty-one years of age, ^
and lias tift v-sovoti grandchildren and
120 groat-oraudchiUlron. >he is an
inveterate smoker, ami a wreathe of
smoke always encircles her head.
1