Page 17 (1/2)

"Always, Jake," she proot into her car She was off to talk to Milton Sedge While she was talking to hiet to the boys who claiton was rinned at herself She hadn’t met them yet, but she was sure they were pretentious little liars

People judged so easily!

The Old Meeting House was a ashed building a little ways down the highway

Sa s There were no crosses or other syn announced simply, Worship With Us All Are Welcome

He opened a picket fence to follow the brick walk to the front door There was nothing ornate about the colule-story structure When he opened the door, he saw that there was si to it The peere simple hardwood, and the kneelers ooden as well, with no cushioning

The room was shadowed in darkness, the plain, paneled s allowing just a few streaks of light into the siht that he had entered into an e at first, but as he stood near the entry, blinking against the murky shadows, he heard a voice

"Hello, and welcoray hair, his face covered in a long beard and mustache, walked toward hi black suit; his ar for his sleeves and the pants were short

"How do you do," Sa his hand "I’ Malachi Sravely "I’ation How can I help you?"

"Well, frankly, I wanted to knohat you thought about the whole situation You ion is unorthodox Do you think that Abraham Smith was so strict that his son--aware of other choices in society--ht that he was too strict?"

Sam was blunt and to the point on purpose: he wanted to see Goodman Wilson’s immediate reaction to such questions He had half suspected that the pastor would immediately be on the defensive and show him the door

He did not

"We’re not quite as fanatic as many believe," Wilson told him He smiled "We don’t believe in idols of any kind, and nor do we drink, swear, gas Actually, we have a nuuidance to stay on the straight and narrow We welcome them, elcome all"

"But Abraham was a hard man, or have I been misinformed?" Sam pressed

"Sit down, sit down," Wilson offered "Our chairs are hard, but…"

"A hard chair is fine byup toward the siave a soeance, justice I knew Abraham Smith, of course I knew the fa, really He has a deep and funda our fold"