To a man of his
training, and cast of thought, no ordeal could be more terrible
than that through which he had just passed. But underneath the
turmoil of his emotion he felt a great calm and peace, threaded
with the exultation of a hard-won spiritual victory.
Over the church was a solemn hush. The evangelist's "amen" was
not spoken with his usual unctuous fervor, but very gently and
reverently. In spite of his coarse fiber, he could appreciate
the nobility behind such a confession as this, and the deeps of
stern suffering it sounded.
Before the last prayer the pastor paused and looked around.
"Is there yet one," he asked gently, "who wishes to be especially
remembered in our concluding prayer?"
For a moment nobody moved. Then Mollie Bell stood up in the
choir seat, and, down by the stove, Eben, his flushed, boyish
face held high, rose sturdily to his feet in the midst of his
companions.
"Thank God," whispered Mary Bell.
"Amen," said her husband huskily.
"Let us pray," said Mr. Bentley.
XIV. ONLY A COMMON FELLOW
On my dearie's wedding morning I wakened early and went to her
room. Long and long ago she had made me promise that I would be
the one to wake her on the morning of her wedding day.
"You were the first to take me in your arms when I came into the
world, Aunt Rachel," she had said, "and I want you to be the
first to greet me on that wonderful day.
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