Abram's Daughters 02 The Betrayal (23 page)

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Then, as quickly as she'd come, Aunt Lizzie turned opened the door, and hurried down the hall to the stairs.

Downright edgy, Mamma brushed Dat's black felt haf ;in Leah and the twins gathered in the kitchen. Mary Rulh insisted on making a fuss over Leah's freshly ironed while organdy Halsduch a triangular piece of cloth, also called :i cape and the long white apron over her long black dress, Mamma kept looking at Leah, an odd glint in her eyes. Ami all the more when Lizzie went and stood right next to Leah.

It wasn't long, though, and they heard Dat calling to them to "come now, and let's be goin' to the house of worship."

They heeded the call and hurried out the back door.

Leah stooped to pet her dog quickly, wondering how awk ward things might be for Smithy Gid this day. Undoubtedly, he'd be watching and praying, too when Leah filed inin the service with the other girls who were to be baptized.

She spied Dat standing near the horse, talking low ami soft to the animal, the way he often did, while the family stepped into the spring wagon for the short ride.

"Be alight to the world. . . ." Aunt Lizzie had said upstnii.s.

"Mustn't keep the ministers waitin'," Dat was heard to s;iy as Leah climbed into the backseat with Aunt Lizzie.

She prayed silently as they rode along a bit faster than wus a typical Sunday go-to-meeting pace. Dat must be eager to )n(ei her into the Fold, she thought, lest something should surliuv to keep that from happening. No doubt he was terribly upsel over Sadie's wrongdoings probably hoping Leah would

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B|tinlh pure before the Lord God.

I I coking out at the pre-autumn landscape tobacco fields iliu'ed to green stubble and cornstalks rising to new B^irlifg she thought of the personal matters she and Jonas .I I . lincussed well into the night on Friday. For one, he was

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hiuling to approach her father this very afternoon about Hii I'DHdihility of purchasing a corner of his land to build a Bm .1 , possibly in the spring of next year. As newly weds they

.ill.lin't need a place to call their own just yet. Jonas wanted < i 'How the Old Way of doing things. They would simply I) < amongst their many relatives, staying with different ones Bf I lie first six months after marriage. During this time they H ukI be given free lodging, as well as an assortment of wedHlU! gifts at each house, as was the People's custom. Just yesHfiluy Mamma had hinted she hoped they might spend their

0 dtllng night in the spare bedroom downstairs.

Naturally the biggest hurdle of all would be whether or

il |onas and Dat saw eye to eye.on the matter of land. The

Mime she thought on it, the more she felt embarrassed Dat

I Mil not initiated such a plan, offering to give his son-in-law

iiiul daughter a bit of land as a dowry ... a blessing on their

H| l'i'I age. But she had an irksome hunch Dat was still holding

H|t lor something to go wrong between Jonas and herself . . .

Ben at this late date.

B Sometime this afternoon they would know one way or the Bhcr what Dat's reaction to Jonas's request might be. She B)|H'd her years of working closely alongside Dat might soraeBw make a difference.

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In contrast to last year's baptism Sunday, which was overcast and gray when Sadie had been one of six girls bap tized this Lord's Day the sky was a spotless blue with mi indication of a single cloud. A good sign.

And now here were this year's applicants, eight girls and six boys Jonas being the only one who had not grown up in the Gobbler's Knob church district. Leah was grateful in Bishop Bontrager for making it possible for Jonas to be baptized along with her. She hoped to have the opportunity to tell the bishop so at some point, when the time was right ami with Dat by her side.

The massive barn doors gaped wide, propped open for rhi* Preaching service to allow for additional ventilation. The People poured into the meeting place, some with additional family members and friends from other church districts for fluspecial ordinance. Latecomers were assigned to sit on the bail benches, near stacked bales of hay, which often poked the spine a sure incentive not to be tardy.

With head bowed, Leah sat on the middle bench with flic other girls, up front near the ministers. Across from them on a wooden, backless bench, the boys sat, their spines straight as ladders, while the next hymn was sung in unison by tlitPeople.

Seven ministers entered the area set up amidst the loim granary and alfalfa bales, including Bishop Bontrager, Preacher Yoder, Preacher Lapp, Deacon Stoltzfus, and thivr other visiting ministers and deacons. They removed ihcii large black hats and shook hands with different folk nearby, on their way to the ministers' bench.

After two sermons were given, each an hour long, Bishop

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l U ruger stood and offered personal remarks directed to the

Tlif bishop continued. "You are to be reminded that your '"ItMW vow is being made to the Most High God . . . not ly to I be ministers here and this church membership."

Fully aware of the meaning of the covenant what it iillred of her all the days of her life Leah was eager to go her knees when the bishop said, "If it is still your intention be baptized and become a member of the body of Christ,

11 kneel before Almighty God and His church to obtain <\t sulvation."

An she knelt, Leah prayed silently for the strength to take i.i* holy step.

The bishop asked the first question. "With the help and u e of our Lord God heavenly Father, are you each willing ignounce the world, your own flesh, and the devil and to i >bcdient only to God and His church?"

The repeated jah was heard as each of them answered.

"Now, can you promise to walk with Christ and His luirch and remain faithful through life and until your death?"

Again the answer came in a stream of jahs.

"Do you confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?"

When it came Leah's turn, she said, "I confess that Jesus

I ii'isl: is the Son of God."

The membership and children in the congregation stood i prayer after the last vow was audibly sealed. Leah and the

I1 icrs had been instructed to remain in a kneeling position, . m attitude of humility. The deacon's wife untied the rib. .us of Leah's prayer cap; then the bishop laid hands on her

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bare head as Deacon Stoltzfus poured water into Bishop Bontrager's cupped hands. She felt the water dripping onin her hair and running down her face and neck, and at rliiil moment she wept.

"May the Lord God in heaven complete the good work He has begun in each of you and strengthen and comfort yon to a blessed end," prayed the bishop. He reached out a h:uul to Leah. "In the name of the Lord God and the church, vvi extend to you the hand of fellowship. Rise up, Leah Ebersol,"

She rose, struck by the solemn responsibility she now li:ul to the People under God Almighty. The deacon's wife greeted her, then offered the Holy Kiss. Leah and the other newly baptized church members took their seats, and each girl ret in I her prayer veiling once again.

Leah sat motionless, mindful of the lifetime commitnuiii she had just made. Understood within the vow was the prom ise she would help to uphold the Ordnung rules and order and forsake not the exceptionally strict church of her baptism, |

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'- I my Ruth felt more at ease today than she had the last

i she'd stumbled upon Elias Stoltzfus after Preaching.

Ifly the People had gathered at Uncle Jesse EbersoPs farm-

imc. Though older than her father, Uncle Jesse was on hand

iff tin.1 meeting to pump well water to quench the thirst of

|i)tkl many folk while a half-dozen women headed for the

IH idle u> help with the common meal. Mary Ruth and Han-

I nth hi'lped Leah and some of their girl cousins set out the

I1 'Oil bread and butter, two kinds of jam, sweet and dill pickI'

> 11 ln and resetting the table three or four times, and the , H inmost children would eat last.

'I ill, encountering Elias had occurred quite unexpectedly out in the barnyard, once again on her way to the outiinti.( . Not so embarrassed this time, she had been the first to .Mtty, "I lullo!" And he had returned the smile and greeting in

She was more than pleased when he said he'd seen her bulking on the Georgetown Road several different times in

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the past weeks. "Wouldja ever let me take you to where you're goin'?" he asked.

She was markedly aware of other people milling about the backyard. "I ... well, do you think that's a wise thing?"

"Why, I'm thinkin' it's a mighty gut idea. It'll save your feet, for one thing."

She had to cover her mouth quickly to halt the laughki that managed to break loose anyway. They stood there, boi 11 of them laughing.

"I s'pose I can take your smile as a jah?" he asked, still grinning, his black hat off and resting fiat in his hands. I

Goodness' sake, this is abrupt, she thought. What wouliB Dat say if he knew she was agreeing to let Elias take her In the Nolts' house in a pony cart?

"When will ya be out and 'bout again?" he asked, not 011^ bit shy. fl

"In a couple-a days." V

He returned his hat to his head and gave it a pat. "Well, then, I'll just plan to be happenin' by of an afternoon."

She felt her face grow warm. "I'd say if you were to bv around the stretch of road 'tween my house and 'bout a mile west of there round four o'clock or so you might see mr walkin'."

He nodded. "Done!" he said and was on his way. |

"What have I gone and agreed to?" she whispered to herself. .

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"Iiullo, Dawdi!" Leah called to her grandfather where he i' liking im the small, square porch at home. | ' Mwili John's eyes lit up as Leah and Jonas walked toward |i u.'rims the backyard an hour or so after the common meal I ' i .: 1 c Jesse's place.

I Wi'lli now, who's that you got with ya?" he said, grinning. I I onus Mast . . . my beau. And one of the few young relaI ynii've yet to meet."

I I' mus leaned down and extended his hand to Dawdi. "I'm |i Iiiy pleased," he said.

I luhn Brenneman's my name. I hail from Hickory Hollow, i' icRHon I've never laid eyes on you, I daresay." Dawdi i > (I down his rocking. "Welcome to the family."

This is Mamma's father," Leah told Jonas. "Soon to be " iji'imdfather-in-law."

lipping his arm around her, Jonas stood tall, eyes beami is the three of them exchanged comments about the i n liar and, soon after that, the baptism. " 'Twas a right nice "Mi of young folk this year," said Dawdi. "I daresay all of in n ill be hitche4 up by December."

I t'uh smiled at his bluntness. "Now, that's not the only .i .ii to join church, is it?" Even though it might appear iin.h young folk had marriage on their collective mind ! n thinking through their lifelong covenant, they best be i 'Img the promises made for more than just the purpose of u i inge. She felt ever so sure about that.

"Well, it won't be long and the two of you will be man .1 wife.jah?" |i mas smiled down on her. "Not long at all."

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"Where do you young ones plan on livin', come noxi spring?" asked Dawdi.

Leah expected her grandfather to ask this. "Jonas and 1 \\\ plan to talk through that in just a bit."

"Well, I have a notion Abram won't make it any too easy for you, Jonas . . . just a warnin' from your oF Dawdi-to-lx\" With that he winked at them both. "Used to be a Lancaster County bride could expect her father to offer expensive gilts, but anymore "

"Dawdi! Remember, Dat's got to be prudent in the mat. ter," Leah interrupted but quickly covered her mouth, renlix* ing what she'd done.

"Go on, speak your mind, honey-girl." Dawdi lifted hli black hat and scratched his head underneath. "What wen you sayin'?"

"Sadie should be the recipient of such a gift, really Ix'in1 the eldest daughter. And the twins are comin' along clou* behind . . . and someday, Lydiann. If Dat gave each of us girli a parcel of land, wouldn't be long and there'd be none led luf ; him to farm."

Dawdi was nodding his head, pulling on his gray br:u

Leah's hopes fell a bit. Truly, she didn't want her J011.11 feeling the same way. After their visit with Dawdi, I * -. I walked with Jonas out to the bank barn. They headed all iLway around the back, where the second-level door opened up j to the haymow. They stood outside, some distance from I lit'

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ftl!i|j entrance, lest Dat overhear them.

m MHlwdi John makes Dat sound like a hardhearted man.

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I'm < itn bo difficult, to be sure, but he's also compassionate,"

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11 mas nodded, reaching for her hand. "It's not necessary H'i niti to iisk anything of Abram. I'm a frugal sort; we can

me fine without land."

m lie felt ever so glum. "Maybe it's best to wait an' see if B 'Hers on his own." That was unlikely. Dat would want to

'M on to as much land as he possibly could for all the rea< < .he'd given earlier. Maybe it was wise for Jonas to forget H hi talking to Dat at least this afternoon.

We can always rent the house you wrote about," Jonas HL| i < iicd. "Save up our money and buy land later to build

I "|,ili," she said, still wanting her father to treat her as speHhI ,i,'i she'd always felt she was to him. H I i >oking up, she noticed Aunt Lizzie running down the Hill* road, waving and calling to them. "Oh, look who's nun1," she told Jonas. "You remember my aunt Lizzie, don't ^Mi ' Come, let's chat with Mamma's sister."