I guess, as far as
living up to his profession goes, the elder will compare pretty
favorably with Levi Boulter, who gets up and testifies every
night, and cheats the very eye-teeth out of people in the
daytime."
Levi Boulter was a middle-aged widower, with a large family, who
was supposed to have cast a matrimonial eye Flora Janeward. The
use of his name was an effective thrust on Mrs. Bell's part, and
silenced Flora Jane. Too angry for speech she seized her
sister's arm and hurried her into church.
But her victory could not remove from Mary Bell's soul the sting
implanted there by Flora Jane's words. When her husband came up
to the platform she put her hand on his snowy arm appealingly.
"Oh, David, won't you get up to-night? I do feel so dreadful
bad--folks are talking so--I just feel humiliated."
David Bell hung his head like a shamed schoolboy.
"I can't, Mary," he said huskily. "'Tain't no use to pester me."
"You don't care for my feelings," said his wife bitterly. "And
Mollie won't come out because you're acting so. You're keeping
her back from salvation. And you're hindering the success of the
revival--Mr. Bentley says so."
David Bell groaned. This sign of suffering wrung his wife's
heart. With quick contrition she whispered,
"There, never mind, David. I oughtn't to have spoken to you so.
You know your duty best. Let's go in."
"Wait." His voice was imploring.
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