s holding the floor against the church official,
whose brow was now running with the sweat of his embarrassment--his
voice had become fainter and his words fewer and less well chosen.
Augusta's voice, on the contrary, rang clearly through the room, a
prepared speech upon the aptitude of women and their field of labor. Her
husband was watching her intently--and thought how beautiful she looked
as the blood mantled to her white forehead, descending and rising as her
thoughts took turn after turn. The unfortunate deacon was mumbling forth
a few ill-connected sentences. At last with a groan he sank to his seat
and placed a handkerchief to his fevered brow. Presently Augusta sat
down and there was again an awful silence. No one advanced another
petition and Dominie Graves pronounced a halting benediction.

The congregation rose hastily and hurried toward the doors, with no
desire for further discussion.

Bill Hopkins leaned back against the outer door and as Mrs. Hall passed
him he grasped her hand.

"You had nerve," said he, "I'm not saying it's the right kind ... but
it's nerve just the same, and, well, I do believe that you women have
gained the day in this church."

Augusta, leaning on her husband's arm, looked down meekly from a pair of
wicked twinkling eyes--she could be a sweet clinging creature if she
wished, and this was her special charm to Deacon Hall.

Suddenly she raised her gaze and looked winningly into Bill Hopkin's
face.

"I suppose you won't give me the money I asked you for, to aid Skinner,"
she said slowly.

"I'll send you the check to-morrow morning," and Bill Hopkins' big
shoulders disappeared through the open door.

* * * * *

"It frightened me at first," exclaimed Deacon Hall to his wife
afterward, "but, as your voice went up and up, I knew my little woman
would win, God bless her."

"And we'll win about poor Skinner too," rejoined Augusta. "Every man and
woman so far has agreed to help a little, and I don't want you to try to
drive the squatters from our lake property."

Here her words were checked by a sudden thought which darkened her
eyes--she burst forth with a rich low laugh:

"That'll make two triumphs over my haughty parson."

CHAPTER XX

A sense of embarrassment accompanied Dominie Graves to the breakfast
table the next morning after the triumphant victory of Augusta Hall. He
made no remark upon the disagreeable episode of the previous