"Thus armed with only a heavy elephant rifle, the property of the
foreign missionary society, and clad only in grace, Flora Martin began
her lonely vigil on the roof of the mission-house, which is used both
as a dwelling and Sunday-school by those who are carrying light to the
heathen in Ballerraderad, which, we must remember, is one of the most
populous provinces in all Injy. This combined dwelling and church
edifice stands at the far end of the little village, and as the lonely
Indian moon was just rising above the horizon, Sister Flora heard a
series of catlike footsteps along the veranda beneath her--for we must
remember that in this part of our globe the nights are strangely still
and the sounds therefore carry for a great distance. Breathlessly
Flora Martin, mindful of the slumbering innocent charges sleeping below
her, and over whom she was watching, leaned out over the roof, rifle in
hand. The footsteps came nearer and nearer and----"
There was a gentle rat-tat-tat on the door. It was so gentle that
Luther thought his ears were deceiving him, for while he stopped
reading, he made no motion to rise, but sat listening. Again they
came, three polite taps, seeming to say, "I should like to get in, but
pray don't disturb yourself."
"Come in," shouted the old preacher, not even looking around, for he
still seemed to doubt his sense of hearing.
The door opened quietly and Mr. Robert Weston appeared before us. Mary
had slipped from her place to meet him, and in Weston's greeting to her
I had my first lesson in what the world calls manner. How clumsy
seemed my own excuses for coming at all, compared to his pleasure at
finding her at home! He had been looking forward all afternoon to
seeing her again. As he shook hands with Luther, he was so hearty that
the old man took his guest by the shoulders and declared fervidly that
he was rejoiced that he had come. Weston did not glare at Perry
Thomas, nor at me either. We but added to his pleasure. Truly his cup
of joy was overflowing! And the famine in India--indeed--indeed! The
subject was one which interested him deeply, and if Mr. Warden cared
for it, he would send him several books on the far East which he had in
his library at home. He hoped that in return he might some time have
the pleasure of reading carefully, cover to cover, the fat volume that
Luther had spread across his knees. Meantime, he would insist on not
interrupting. But Mary must be comfortably seated before he could take
the place on the settee that Luther had arranged for him, and he must
hear all over again the story of the book, of Brother Matthias Pennel
and Sister Flora Martin. How I envied him! What must Perry and I seem
beside this lanky man with his kindly, easy ways! Perry, of course,
did not see it. He was smiling, for Weston was telling him that he had
stood at the Thomas gate for a half hour the very evening before,
listening to the strains of a violin. He hoped to hear that melody
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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