Show BART V service 0 joseph SYNOPSIS the congregation ot f the old white church in locust hill turns au out t in lull full lorce force to look over the new preacher dr jonathan farwell and there Is much speculation among the communicants as to what sort ol of man be will be cassius brady treasurer of the church had recommended dr farwell for the post after hearing his baccalaureate sermon at the graduation of dale farwell his ton son who Is a geologist bradys daughter lenora interests vale dale who lives alone with his bis father CHAPTER I 1 continued 2 later when their elders had withdrawn for their talk dale found himself charged with the responsibility of entertaining miss brady in a secluded corner of the hotel lounge what I 1 cant understand he declared wonderingly is how youve been around here for three years and I 1 never saw you I 1 still dont believe it I 1 should have found you before I 1 feel cheated and now its too late she teased youre all through here im not so sure im thinking of doing postgraduate post graduate work n next e x t year dale volunteered hopefully 1 I know ill be around for a while when you get back im going to see you but I 1 may not be here lenora remarked soberly daddy brought me a very good report about my mother I 1 told him but ive almost made up my mind that I 1 ought to stay with her next year well dale ventured boldly perhaps the farwells farrells Far wells will be living in your town by that time your father seems rather keen for it she laughed softly daddy has amused me so today hes been the treasurer of old white for ages and he almost never attends but dont tell him I 1 gave him away he surely is enthused over your father you should be proud doctor farwell is a wonderful speaker pretty fair dale agreed complacently 1 I be at all surprised if he is the man you need im growing convinced of it B before the day was over cassius brady had gained jonathan far wells promise to consider the new pastorate if the proposal came through official channels within three weeks a committee from locust hill waited upon the western pastor and heard him preach in his own pulpit A formal invitation followed and was accepted dale would rot not admit to himself least of all to his father to what degree his expectations regarding that first church service included seeing lenora brady but he was doomed to disappointment there was no sign of the brady family in the congregation when doctor farwell mounted the rostrum dale made a swift survey of the faces within range the brief tension gave way to a general rustling whispers by the time the minister finished reading the lines of the hymn dale experienced his first feeling of relief the reaction on the majority of the listeners er was undeniably favorable dale rose to his feet with the others smilingly declining a share of the hymnal offered by his neighbor in black 1 I know the words he assured her with his brown head tipped back hands clasped behind him the ministers son raised his voice in song all unmindful of the interest his vocal effort was creating among the nearby listeners CHAPTER 11 II staid composure marked jonathan Far farrells farwells wells demeanor when he stepped down within the altar rail after the benediction to meet meef the members of his congregation many of whom pressed forward for the purpose each new arrival was greeted with a firm handclasp and a searching glance from the black eyes making it evident he would be known by name when he met the minister a second time approving comments upon the morning sermon many of them effusive were accepted with grave unconcern when henry marblestone locust hills banker and wealthiest citizen elbowed a way through the milling crowd to proffer his own particular greeting those nearest to 0 doctor farwell gave place deferentially marblestone had headed the committee responsible for the pastoral selection and the satisfying prestige lingered with his florid face ace wreathed in smiles henry declared well doctor that was a very good effort I 1 can see where you and I 1 think alike on a lot of things congratulations I 1 that is very kind some undertone in farwells Par Far wells response had a chilling effect upon henrys ardor there was an awkward silence then marblestone deferred hurriedly to the two women at his elbow it my wife has been very anxious to meet you doctor and this is my daughter evelyn welcome to old white doctor farwell Farwel ll your discourse was positively ta delightful inspiring it henry you know I 1 it this breathless and unfinished offering came from a pudgy woman wearing a white fur piece that came nearly to the crown of her lavender hat scarcely waiting to observe if her encomium had registered sarah marblestone merged unobtrusively into the atmosphere of her husband leaving the field to her tall daughter farwells farrells Far wells black eyes narrowed a trifle as he found himself elevating his hand so that it might encounter the limp fingers of miss marblestone he saw a willowy figure in a clinging green gown A pale blonde with eyes very nearly matching the shade of her dress A smiling red mouth displaying small white teeth the voice suggested a cultivated drawl so glad to meet you doctor we just heard that your sor son had arrived too this momentary respite served to aid the banker in recapturing his former assertiveness where is the boy doctor were taking both of you home to dinner he explained heartily my cars out front just as soon as you can break away from here 11 thank you farwell returned mildly dale and I 1 have arranged to dine at home we are scarcely unpacked you know I 1 appreciate it just the same oh well whatever you say well make it later it was evident that invitations to the marblestone board seldom were treated so cavalierly in the vanguard of those pressing forward at the conclusion of the services was miss abbie brown she sped swiftly down the center aisle leaving her friend hannah garner staring after her in helpless vexation As abbie hovered uncertainly on the side lines her birdlike glance chanced to fall upon dale who had taken refuge in the shadows under the gallery until his father should be at liberty at the moment the younger man was bestowing absorbed attention upon a bronze tablet set in the wall abbie regarded him closely speculation became a certainty making a brisk circling movement she approached the stranger from the rear and announced her presence with a playful tap on the arm arent you doctor farwells farrells Far wells son she demanded yes im dale his eyes lighted with amusement remembering remember in 9 the red hat and its owners comment upon his name 1 I thought so you dont look much like your father im sure I 1 hope like locust hill im going to it is a very attractive town the little ive seen of it dales eyes strayed towards the tablet 1 I know before that this was such an historical spot ive just discovered that the british burned the church herel here he smiled again a trifle apologetically ive always been rather keen on american history really then you must meet m my y brother he has everything about locust hill right at his finger ends A son of the american revolution of course hell be so glad to know youre Antei interested ested in colonial things with this common ground established miss abbie ventured to bridge the years and im sure you and your father will find the parsonage very comfortable it must seem dreadfully large for just two nien men I 1 was sorry to hear bear about dour mother my mother A startled expression in the blue eyes my mother is dead for goodness sakel sake I 1 what will you think ol of me mr farwell here ive been talking your arm off and I 1 never thought to tell you who I 1 am im abble abbie brown I 1 guess I 1 just took it tor for granted that everybody here knew me by the way miss brown it dales eyes hd sought the front of the room do you mind telling me who those people are the three talking to my father henry marblestone and his wile wife and their daughter evelyns pretty she ill say if excuse me IU ill see if father about ready to go now dale received another playful tap on the arm youre interested in other things besides history arent you quitting the church together dale farwell and his father walked in I silence over a path that led past the thickly set gravestones a short route to the parsonage that stood on an a far corner of the church property the new home was a roomy brick house product of a more modern era than the picturesque church with its wide white clapboards As A 0 1 7 T Q I 1 A N 1 I 0 f in tow I 1 lam sok 11 11 it 4 IN 4 11 4 4 wit 41 1 4 01 AN I 1 dale stood regarding the burial ground doctor farwell hunted through his pockets for the door key dale stood regarding the burial ground did you know there was fighting around here father I 1 just saw a tablet that says the church was burned by the british in 1781 seems a lot of your former parishioners were in the colonial army some of them buried here after the fighting soldiers of 1812 too it would not be surprising farwell had located his key we are living in an old part of the country now you should find it interesting he thrust open the door and passed within dale follow following ing 1 I see anything of mr brady today did you 70 he was not at the service I 1 had a note from him yesterday explaining pla ining that he and his family were out of town have we some milk I 1 will take a glass up to my room I 1 have some work to do with the reopening of old whites parsonage locust hills feminine contingent found itself faced with a problem for which there seemed no DO immediate solution the two farwells farrells Far wells N were vere living alone in the house not only was the fact well established but it appeared that the pair in some preposterous fashion were managing their own meals there might be no logical argument against a father and son menage but the idea was disquieting it was wai one of those situations which car ried an appeal for action to add to the general irritation no visitor to the parsonage had succeeded in penetrating farther than the parlor closely drawn window shades gave rise to the interesting speculation that the remainder of the ground floor was unsettled watchful eyes had accounted for the fact there was none too much furniture unloaded from the van women visitors comparing eager notes agreed reluctantly that the one attainable apartment was more attractive than might have been expected carefully verified statistics accounted for the rooms inventory one grand piano tightly closed one mahogany center table four upholstered chairs and three floor lamps one oriental rug in dull coloring and considerably worn covering most of the oak parquetry two large steel engravings hung on opposite walls one of the pictures abraham lincoln surrounded by his cabinet was a trisa trifle askew on its wire no women could sit in a room five minutes with a crooked picture on the wall lesser items in conference had to do with the utter lack of those little homelike touches that bespeak a womans comans presence the marble for example its dreary expanse was broken by a small clock nothing else not even a photograph to furnish speculation most unbelievable of all the parlor and its deficient furnishings were immaculately free from any vestige of dust A grudging unanimity in that finding but the kitchens what id like to see ill venture its a mess thus the oracular comment of one of the parishioners TO HE BE CONTINUED |