“Serene’s never what you might call sprightly,” observed Aunt Mari in confidence to Uncle Dan’el, “but this time, seems if—well, I s’pose it’s the weather. Wonder if I’ll ever see any weather on this earth to make me stop talkin’?” It was a relief all around when the day came for her departure.
“I’ll do better next time, Aunt Mari,” said Serene as she stepped aboard the train; but she did not greatly care that she had not done well this time.
When the short journey was half over, the train made a longer stop than usual at one of the way stations. Then, after some talking, the passengers gradually left the car. Serene noticed these things vaguely, but paid no attention to their meaning. Presently a friendly brakeman approached and touched her on the shoulder.
“Didn’t you hear ’em say, Miss, there was a freight wreck ahead, and we can’t go on till the track is clear?”
“How long will it be?” asked Serene, slowly finding the way out of her reverie.
“Mebbe two hours now, and mebbe longer. I’ll carry your bag into the depot, if you like,” and he possessed himself of the shiny black valise seamed with grayish cracks, and led the way out of the car.
The station at Arkswheel is a small and grimy structure set down on a cinder bank. Across the street on one corner is a foundry, and opposite that a stave-factory with a lumber-yard about it. In the shadow of the piled-up staves, like a lily among thorns, stands a Gothic chapel, small, but architecturally good. Serene, looking out of the dusty window, saw it, and wondered that a church should be planted in such a place. When, presently, although it was a week-day, the bell began to ring, she turned to a woman sitting next to her for an explanation.
“That’s the church Mr. Bellington built. He owns the foundry here. They have meeting there ’most any time. ’Piscopal, it is.”
“I don’t know much about that denomination,” observed Serene, sedately.
“My husband’s sister-in-law that I visit here goes there. She says her minister just does take the cake. They think the world an’ all of him.”