A wonderful shiny look of startled wonder, and deep joy came into the
eyes of the young man, followed by a stabbing cloud of anguish, and
then the hard controlled face once more, with the exception of a
certain tenderness as he looked toward the minister.
"Mr. Duncannon, will you second my motion?" finished Severn.
The long gaunt dark elder was on his feet instantly: "Sure, Brother Severn, I second that motion. If you hadn't got ahead of
me I'd have firsted it myself. I know Mark. He's all right!" and
he put out a hairy hand and grasped Mark's young strong fingers, that
gripped his warmly.
Harricutt was on his feet, tapping on the table with his pencil: "I think this motion is out of order," he cried excitedly--but no one
listened, and the minister said calmly, "Will the chair put the
question?"
Baffled, angry, bitter, the old stickler went through the hated words:
"It is moved and seconded that we express our confidence--"
"Utmost confidence, Brother Harricutt--" broke in the minister's voice.
"The red came up in the elder's face, but he choked out the words
"utmost confidence," on through the whole motion, and by the time it
was out four elders were on their feet, Duncannon and Joyce first,
thank God, Gibson, more slowly, Fowler pulled up by the strong wiry
hand of Duncannon who sat next him.
"Stop!" suddenly spoke Mark's clear incisive voice, "I cannot let you
do this. I deeply appreciate the confidence of Mr. Severn and Mr.
Duncannon," he paused looking straight into the eyes of the new elder
and added--"and Mr. Joyce, who does not know me. But I am not worthy of
so deep a trust. I ask you to remove my name from your church roll that
in future my actions shall not be your responsibility!" With that he
gave one lingering tender look toward the minister, pressed hard the
hairy hand of the old Scotch elder, and went out of the room before
anyone realized he was going.
Billy, with a gasp, and a look after his beloved idol, hesitated, then
pulled himself together and made a dash into the session room, like a
catapult landing straight in the spot where Mark had stood, but
ignoring all the rest he looked up at the minister and spoke rapidly: "Mr. Severn, please sir. Mark was with me last night from twelve
o'clock on. Me an' him passed the Pleasant View Station in a car going
over to Stark's Mountain, just as the bells was ringing over here fer
midnight, cause I counted 'em, and Mark was over to Stark's Mountain
till most noon to-day, and I come home with him!"