her service when David made
the address to which Pepeeta had listened with such astonishment and
rapture. The entire community of Friends was there, for even Quakers
cannot entirely repress their curiosity. There was evidence of deep
feeling and even of suppressed excitement. The men in their
broad-brimmed hats, the women in their poke bonnets, moved with an
almost unseemly rapidity through the evening shadows. The pairs and
groups conversed in rapid, eager whispers. They did not linger outside
the door, but entered hastily and took their places as if some great
event were about to happen.

There was a preliminary service of worship, and according to custom,
opportunity was given for prayer or exhortation. But all minds were too
intent upon what was to follow to enable them to take part with spirit.
The silences were frequent and tedious. The young people moved
restlessly on their seats, and their elders rebuked them with silent
glances of disapproval. All were in haste, but nothing can really upset
the gravity of these calm and tranquil people, and it was not until
after a suitable time had elapsed that the leader of the meeting arose
and said: "The time has arrived when David and Pepeeta are at liberty to
proceed with their marriage, unless there be some one who can show just
cause why this rite should not be solemnized."

A flutter ran through the assembly, and a moment of waiting ensued; then
David rose, while every eye was fixed on him.

"My friends," he said, in a voice whose gentleness and sweetness stirred
their hearts; "you have refrained from inquiring into the story of my
life during the three years of my absence. I would be glad if I could
withhold it from your knowledge; but I feel that I must make a
confession of my sins."

In the death-like stillness he began. The narrative was in itself
dramatic, but the deep feeling of him who told it, his natural oratory
and the hearers' intent interest, lent to it a fascination that at
times became almost unendurable. Sighs were often heard, tears were
furtively wiped away, criticism was disarmed, and the tenderness of this
illicit but passionate and determined love, blinded even those calm and
righteous listeners to its darker and more desperate phases. By an
almost infallible instinct we discover true love amid fictitious,
unworthy and evil elements; and when seen there is something so
sublimely beautiful that we prostrate ourselves before it and believe
agains