Evening Star Newspaper, February 22, 1925, Page 62

The Vamp Capper BY LAWRENCE PERRY. Cards and Love and the Home-Town Librarian ID-AFTERNOON A high blue sky with just enough clouds to give ft character. The ocean serene, whispering where it broke into fragile foam romance and beautiful mystery and elusive inspira- tion. A long, chastely elegant hotel veranda, exclusively for guests; huge steamer chairs, tea tables sedately oc- cupled; lawn and formal garden dis- creetly shielded from passers-by on the Boardwalk. In all her vivid dreams Letty Larendon had never plctured a setting s=o delectable for tnue which was now beginning to in August stery over the situation was comple mazingly so, unbelievably so. When first she caught the man's eyes she had looked away hastily, her face cast in a vacancy designed to suggest that her glance had been inadvertent, or at least casual. She heard approaching footfalls. They paused. By the shadow lying at her feet she knew he was con- fronting her. Her breath came quick- 1y. Why should she be panic-stricken now? Absurd! Thus gearing herself to the issue, she looked up, flushing, but smiling calmly. “I don’t wish to anno: you,” he sald, rather awkwardly. “I'm lonely as the deuce. Just got here this morning. I'm wondering,” he went on hastily, “if you'd go out to the golf club later for tea—that is” he concluded lamely, “if there’s no reason why vou shouldn't.” Letty smiled easily. “Does any reason occur FHave we met?’ “Why—why, Miss—" *Larendon,” Rdvisedly. ‘Well then—my name is Noakes. So now you see, Miss Larendon,”—he smiled infectiously—"we have met, haven't we?” “Why, so we have!" or offend to’ you? I don't think so, she supplied, not in- She studied discomfort. He bowed. 80 then, may 1 pick here, at 4:307" “Why—I think so.” “Thank you very much.” ‘The girl watched until his figure &wung around a corner. o that,” she said, “is that.” “Well, Miss Larendon, very neatly done.” Mrs. you up, say Delancey Canby was cool, serene, majestic in her white lace frock, her uplifted chin, florid face and broad, rakish hat; very much, Letty had already decided, in the vogue of Sir Joshua Reynolds' great dowagers. In the brief time Letty had been at the hotel Mrs. Canby had been very agreeable to her. The woman had im- pressed her as knowing every one worth knowing and in this way the girl had placed her definitely. “What must you think of me, Mrs. Canby? But really it-—it wasn't as bad as it looked.” e e €YT)O vyou know"—the older woman sank into a chair at Letty's side, surveying the girl critically, “you're like something out of a Greuze canvas.” “That's awfully nice of you! t to explain about—" ot nice, merely; I'll confess a quotation—although, of course, I sub- scribe to it. Halsey Hartshorne said it—the man with whom, perhaps, you saw me at luncheon.” “Really!” The girl sat bolt upright, her cheeks flaming. “Now you may explain about Mr. Noakes.” “Oh, you know him, then?” “No. I know of him. At least I think I do. Isn't he one of the Noakeses of Connecticut? Cotton mills?” “Yes, Padenarum. You—you see, I'm living in Padenarum, too. “Oh, of course. Yes, ves. you But 1 Then 'm—I'm Padenarum.” Letty surveyed the widening eves “Really!” The girl's lips were part- ed. irs. Noakes—Jerry Noakes' mother—comes into the library a lot. She loves romantic fiction, and so do I Really, she's not an old woman— and awfully young in spirit.” “Good enough. And now, Noakes?" “He was a foot ball player at Yale until he graduated two years ago. You—vyou could see him going through the village In his roadster, sometimes with friends, visiting him, you know, wnd sometimes alone.” “And he would come into the libra- ¥y, too?” “Oh, yes, quite a lot. But he never came to the desk. He'd dash in and sit at the table awhile where the magazines are, then dash out. He never saw me. And I never looked at Bim.” “Why not, pray?” the village librarfan at woman with Jerry | | | | | { him amusedly, thereby increasing his | PUMan |into his love-haunted eyes, that when usually— ty he: no intention of conf: romantic dreams often in his arms tated. She had ing that in her she had been so so often gazing up he actually \appeared in the library she hadn't the face even so much as furtively in his direction. here and he came a curious coinci- aughed, her eves burning. Mrs, Canby, 1 must have I had a week's vacation coming to me, I—i took my savings, bought two or three pretty dresses and hats in New York, and then came here—because 1 knew Jerry—Mr. Noa vas coming. “I don't know what possessed me. But I wanted Mr. Noakes to like me— that is, 1 wanted to make him see me. And I did” The girl rose, her cheeks flaming now. “I did—that ls, I literally picked him up, and now I'm utterly shocked at myself—not be- wuse of what I did, but because I'm so_brazen about it.” She was turning Canby spoke, “Are you so enamored of your ro- mantic venture that you uldn't care to meet Mr. Hartshorne Mr. Hartsho Letty swung | about quickl buld 1 meet him? Do you suppose——" As she hesitated the woman smiled, nodding. “He would like very much to meet you. In fact, he is giving a little dinner tonight, with bridge—you ¢ bridge, of course—at his cot where he keeps bachelor quar- “I—oh, been ¢ away when Mrs nd, if you progress sufficiently far with Mr. Noakes, bring him, too. We—Mr. Hartshorne needs another man and T'll tell him to expect Mr. oakes.” ATER, when Letty came out of her room she was wondering as to the precise influence of clothes upon psychology. Certainly, just r fragile sea-green hat, her reen frock, her sea-green ckin and her black satin slip- pers, she felt herself another being; just as she had on the veranda when she had faced Jerry Noakes coolly and calmly and made him seem like a schoolboy. But, so far as Noakes was con- cerned, she was worried, or at least she was speculating about an addi- tional thought. Clothing aside, was some lingering impression of Halsey Hartshorne coloring her attitude to- rd the younger man? “Isn’t this rather a new role for vou to play?’ she asked when tea was served on a terrace where they could the players participating n a local tournament coming in to the eighteenth green. “I mean,” she smiled as he looked at her inquir- “that you play golf, don’t She knew he did. ‘Oh, a little, Do you play?” “I used to at college. But not a great deal since—in fact, very littl see.” He studied her a moment, then averted his eyes. “Curlous thing about your name. There's a girl in the library at home, Paden- arum — Connecticut, you know— named Larendon.” “Really?” Letty's voice was indif- ferent. “Miss Larendon.” The man's voice was slightly husky. “I'm not much of a snake, you know. Never was. But—but—you hit me between the eyes. I'd—you see, I'd like to know you.” “That was a beautiful putt.” ty's eyes were upon the green. “Oh, what a dreadful miss! Can you imagine anything more irritat- ing than to dub a two-foot putt?” Noakes rose. “Let’s get out of here,” he growled. She rose obedlently and fell into step at his side, mischievously keep- ing to the subject of golf, which he did not wish to discuss. it was de- liclous fun handling this big boy, sending him as she willed into grouches, then Mfting him to the heights. Reaching the hotel, his mood turned suddenly abysmal when in response to a tentative query as to dinner she said she was dining out. “Well, you're going, t0o.” She was looking up at him impudently. “You know, you're Invited.” Invited! Wher as if bewildered. gleaming. “Why, Mrs. Delancey Canby—that is, Mr. Hartshorne is giving a dinner and bridge at his cottage. Mrs. “anby appears to be arranging it. She asked me, and they needed an extra man. I took the liberty of ac- cepting for you.” “Hartshorno! you know him?" now in k Let- He stared at her But his eyes were oakes started. “Do Noakes was not to have the privi- lego of taking Letty in to dinner, as it happened. Hartshorne claimed this honor. Everything that his ap- pearance had suggested to Letty he seemed to be. His demeanor was per- fect and Letty had never Imagined that savoir faire could be so nicely exemplified in a living person. And he suggested—oh, 8o graphically— brave moments in which he would be the cool, dominating central figure. She could not but regret the note of dissonance struck by Noates. He had taken Mrs, Canby in, and while it would have been unjust to call him gauche—Letty had begun to find it necessary to Interlard her thoughts with just the appropriate Gallic ex- pressions—at least, the girl decided he was a bit awkward and something of a morose rather than an attentive or interested Iistener. After dinner she found herself at cards as partner with a Mr. Arbuth- not, a glossy, rublcund man, playing against & New York banker and his wife. Noakes, Letty noticed, had been claimed as partner by Mrs. Canby and they were opposed to Hartshorne and Mrs. Lorin Drew. After the points were counted the New York banker handed Arbuthnot $300. As the girl stared at him he handed Letty $150. “But—but-—I didn’'t understand we were playing for—" The girl hesi- tated as she saw the banker and his wife exchange amused smiles with her partner. “It has been a wonderful evening, Mr. Hartshorne,” she said to her host, having not the slightest Intentlon now of even intimating that playing auction for money was for her an unusual manner of spending an eve- ning. She turned to Noakes as he came up and handed Hartshorne a check, which the host placed in his pocket with a nod of thanks, not glancing at it. * ok K % JLETTY bad some more philosophy upon the subject of wearing ap- parel upon the beach next day. In evening clothes Halsey Hartshorne had been as dashing and distinguish- ed as imaginable, quite outshining Jerry Noakes. But now in bathing suits it was the other way. Noakes was as beautifully muscled and put together as that Grecian statue standing in the entrance to the 1i- brary at home, whereas all Hart- shorne's polse could not conceal the fact that he was, well, at least not of the ideal physique. Letty shrug- ged. After all, he could criticize a statue, even granting he would not be acceptable as a model for one. And that was the main thing. Brains —wit—culture! People in the last analysis are but racks for clothes. Men don't live in bathing suits. The three plunged into a wave to- gether. Hartshorne, she noticed, had an engaging overhand stroke. Noakes swam sturdily upon his side. She was between the two. Letty had a sense of swimming better than she ever had In her life, more swiftly. Suddenly, as ment to swim, along just the There came Hartshorne. “Noakes, puss!’ “Yes—keep cool. Swim with it.” But with a cry Hartshorne launched sidewise, fighting and clawing at the water like 2 madman. And evidently he was near the edge of that deathly outward sluice that forms 8o suddenly in the sea upon this section of the coast, for with a shout of relief he found himself out of the grip of the swift waters and, began to make headway toward the beach, calling loudly for help. “Jerry!” t's all right, Letty. Can you keep swimming? We'll have to follow it out.” “I could, but I'm frightened- Her voice broke in a half-laugh, half- sob. “That's all right. Put yeur hand, your left hand, upon my shoulder and stroke with your right.” She did so and felt a warming re- lief in the feel of the blg muscle working so evenly beneath the palm of Her hand. “But Jerry, from land!” “I know. But the life-guards are launching their boat. Just hold up and thatll be all that's necessary. But you mustn’t talk. You must save your strength.” * % * % she ceased for a mo- she felt herself going same. an exclamation from we're caught In a sea we're getting so far ON they went in silence, and the feel of that resistless drag upon her body was terrifying in its silent, alousy, eh! Letty smiled. , I don’t know him. know Mrs, Canby. “Of course, if you don't want to go, I'll have to let Mrs. Canby know But I “You see, 1 was awfully busy, FELT A WARMING RELIEF IN ertainly, I want to go." THE PALM OF HER HAND. THE FEEL OF THE BIG MUSCLE ruthless power. Then at length she cried aloud, as she felt a cessation of the drag upon her. “Jerry, we're out.” In another minute the sturdy life- guard had heaved it alongside and he WORKING EVENLY -BENEATH ‘fw‘,‘ / /] and Hartshorne, who had clambored aboard, were puiling her Into the boat while Noakes began to swim toward the distant beach. Hartshorne touched her upon the| shoulder. Letty had just the slight- | est feeling about him. His reactions in the sea puss, most certainly, had been, to say the least, selfish. But the power of his sophisticated dark eves held her, and moved her, as they had from the first. “I saw the boat upon the beach, Miss Larendon. I'm not a very strong swimmer and I was going in to get it when, of course, 1 saw that the ii[—,-gu;u'd was on hand and was com- ng.”’ What could be clearer, fairer or more reasonable than that? In a re- vulsion of feeling, Letty smiled. “At all events,” she said, assuming that poised indifference which &he | found she could so readily assume with him and was so delightful, “we've had the experience.” “Yes,” he said, “and a dinner to- night at my cottage in celebration At least, I'm fain to assume you will permit Mrs. Canby—or perhaps Noakes—to bring you. That is to say, it's assumed Noakes will come, this being a celebration. I'll ask him. Well, here we are.” Letty walted for up on the beach. “Of course you know how I-feel, Mr. Noakes. I can't begin—-=" “It was—it was Jerry out there— Letty. “So It shall be here, Jerry. By the way, Mr. Hartshorne is having an- other dinner in celebration of our de- liverance tonight. You'll come, of course?" “Tell you what I'll do. I'l come tll midnight if you'll come to the dance with me then.” It proved to be & stunning party. At the end Letty found herself the gainer by $50 and she saw Noakes writing another check. Later, when she and Noakes were dancing at the hotel, he turned to Rer in the middle of a waltz. “Letty, do you like Hartshorne?" “I think he is the most fascinating man I ever met. Don't you?” He didn’t reply. “After what happened out there on the beach this morning, I—I have the feeling we ought to know—I mean that we know each other pretty well. I'm not much of a chap to express my feelings. But I've just got to tell you, Letty—" His voice caught. A quick compression filled her. Not an hour before Hartshorne had caught her hand, gazed at her with a meaning, masterful smile. It had all happened and was over In a moment. But in that time she had lived, as it Noakes to come | have | 1augh. seemed, an eon of emotion and ex- perfence, felt as though she had emerged utterly, completely, a wom- an of the world. She laid Wer hand gently upon Noakes' arm. “Let's go in and dance, Jerry. That music s delightful.” * ¥* % ¥ INJEXT morning Mrs. Canby intro- duced the girl to several swag- gering young college men and by evening " she had come to be the reigning belle of the hotel. And in some manner, of which she was not fully sensible, everything trended toward the Hartshorne cottage, where in the next three days there was a luncheon, dinner and, of course, always cards. She never lost and her winnings amounted to over $500. So dazzling was every sequence that when the mext to the last night of her vacation period arrived Letty was startled. Time, space or any of the ordinary impressions of life had not seemed to mean anything to her. But now, when with a start she saw Padenarum looming and the return to drabness and humdrum routine, she shuddered, uncertain whither she had drifted, but aware she had drifted far. Far from Jerry Noakes, certainly, far from everything she had ever known. As for Noakes, he had been distinctly irritating in his attempts to arrange her life here in accordance with his own ideas. There had been virtually a quarrel. She had not seen him in the past 24 hours and he had slipped from her mind. And Hartshorne—what of him? She could not say definitely. In truth she seemed to have lost the power of definite thought in any direction. She knew only that her feelings about him frightened her and yet curiously at the same time exalted her with emotions so thrilling, so tremendous that she could not mentally encom- pass them, and so was living, as it were, in a gorgeous nebula, content just to feel, not desiring to think. It was in this mood that Mrs. Can- by came to the girl. “My dear,” safd the woman, taking the girl by the arm and leading her down the veranda, ‘“tomorrow you are to leave. “Oh, Mrs. Canby,"—Letty gestured dramatically,—"don’t speak of it.” Then why go back now, if at all?” “P've never had such a wonderful time in my life—that's certain.” “Not only thdt, you've made a lot of money and you are certain to | money. make a great deal more, my dear.” “Mrs. Canby,”—Letty stared at the woman,—*I don’t think I quite under- stand.” Mrs. Canby laughed. “Halsey Hartshorne is a very gifted bridge player, my dear, and he has one or two associates here equally gifted. You will always win when] his house. 50 ve to play, an attr you play at you've been bringing men arned And, since nice about you already tive commis- sion. Letty stared; something within her seemed slowly turning into ice. The older woman waited a moment, then went on “Halsey Hartshorne is a man of rare attalnments—who happens to prefer an honest game of auction to any other means of livelihood. You are not wealthy, you know. You are out in the world. He is attracted by you as no other girl ever has attract- ed him." “I see strained. etty's voice was hard, Without really knowing it, 1 have been luring men to play cards against a professional? And you think I might keep on in that business?” “Don’t call it a business—say rather, a pleasant mode of existence. You have given men who love to play | cards an opportunity of playing un- der the most charming aysplces. And don’t fancy for a moment that Harts- horne is a trickster. Nothing of the sort whatever. So you need have no moral_misgivings.” No." Letty frowned thoughtfuily. 0, I suppose not.” She hesitated a moment. “And then, of course, all these men have money. I—I don’t suppose, for instance, that Jerry Noakes has lost more than he can afford.” Her volce hroke into a low “I'm wondering Jjust how much he has lost?’ *Oh,"—Mrs. Canby shrugged—"a thousand dollars at the most. In fact, Halsey told me tonight it was just that “Yes." The girl paced thoughtfully to and fro for a moment. “Mrs. Can- by,” she said, at length, confronting the woman, “you've been very kind to me, and I appreciate it. I can’t think what I shall decide about staying on. Before I do anything, I'm going to talk to Mr. Hartshorne.” * ok % X ARTSHORNE himself came to the door. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Do come in, Miss Larendon. Mr. Hartshorne,” she said, coolly, ‘Mrs. Canby and I have been having a talk. She suggested that it would be good for me if I didn't go home tomorrow. She would hardly have said all she did say without your per- mission, would she?” “All. she did say?’ Hartshorne raised his brows. “Just what did she pray 'Why, about bringing men here to play cards and getting a commission on your winnings.” “Why—" He gestured toward a lounge. “Sit down, won't you *No, thank you; I mustn't stay. You realize, of course, I hadn't the slight- est idea what I was doing?” “By Jove!" He came close to her. “T don't think you did. Letty, you're captivating, do you know it?" He caught her hand; she made no effort to withdraw it. “It—it—was so surprising T haven't had time to think about it, reall She smiled bravely at the man. “But —but Mrs, Canby told me I had made a lot of money for you. “Well, you have, my dear.” fingers tightened upon her hand. “Have my commissions amounted to five hundred dollars, do you think? “Let's not talk specific terms to- night” “I want to be specific, Mr. Harts- horne.” She laughed in a strained maner. “To be frank, I need five hun- dred dollars very badly, right away.” “What do you want it for?” “I owe it. Oh, please don't ques- tion me.” She stamped her foot nerv- ously. “You say I've earned that Well, I want it now. It awfully important.” “Here you are. You see” he said, holding them out to her, “how easily money may be earned, if one knows how." “I do_see.” her pocket. “It's fascinating. you.” “But you're not going just vet, Letty." “Please, T must: Before she knew it Hartshorne had her ‘In his arms, his kisses showering upon her Iips and cheek. So powerful was his grip upon her that she could not move, could hardly breathe. It was not, in fact, until he himself paused, looking down into her wide, staring eves, that she found herself able to break from his arms. “Mr. Harthorne—" “Don't be silly, Letty. T'm human, you know, and you're net a fool. You've got tangied up here to the tune of 500 and T've helped you out. You knew I would. You came here with your eyes open. Let's abandon pretense, you little devil. Youre the moot fascinating——" He moved toward her and she thrust forth her hands with a little cry. “Mr. Hartshorne, don't. Not mow.” “Nonsense.” His dark eyes were gleaming. “You and I are going to be the best pals, and you'll have more money than you ever dreamed. * k¥ X HE was drawing her to him when a thought occurred to her. Des- perately she seized upon it as she broke from his grasp. “If you don’t let me go I shall call Mr. Noakes. He came with me, you know. He's waiting outside.” “Eh!” He regarded her a through narrowed eyes. “Is that His She placed the bills in Thank moment Teally | Brockett and Alfred G. Uhler, ‘The s0! Well, well, that was thoughttul of you.” He laughed. “It would have been more courteous for you to have brought him in with you. Il remedy the omis- sion—always provided he hasn't got tired waiting and gone away. Somehow the suspicion comes to me that he has. We'll see.” He moved toward the hall and Letty with him. But he kept her behind him. Opening the door, blocking the exit, he peered out. “No one here” He glanced amusedly at the girl. “Perhaps a call might bring him. Oh, I say, Noakes—Noakes!"” *“Hello, what do you want?” “Jerry 1" Letty darted out of the door, which slammed behind her. Seizing Noakessby the arm with both hands she let him lead her in silence down the steps and thence to the side- walk. There she stopped. A convulsive sob shook her. She stood crying like a child. Noakes regarded her for a full | minute. Then he took her by the arm, shaking her gently. “What were you doing in that house? I saw you go in. I was walting for you. What were you doing there?” “Jerry!" Sfe fumbled for the bills Hartshorne had given her. “Jerry, I've been an utter fool! An idiot! I didn't know he—that man was gambling. To- night I learned from Mrs. Canby he had won a thousand dollars from you. So I—I—went right there and made him give me $500 “You did “I did, yes.” She paused to fight down fit of sobbing. “I made him do it be- cause I owed it to you. I mean a thou- sand dollars. Here are five hundred, and I have another five hundred in my room.” She cried aloud as he stepped back, shaking his head. “You've got to take it I'll dle if you don’t.” ““What else happened in there?" ‘Noth—I—I—mean he kissed ma” Is that eo!” Noakes turned abruptly and started toward the cottage, but she caught him by the arm. “Jerry, don't. Listen. I want you to I'm not the girl you thought He came closs to her, his face § “What do you mean by that?” “Why, I'm the librarian at Padenarum and—-" “Oh, so that's it.” He laughed. “Why I knew that all the time." “You—you—knew: Z “Certatnly I knew. That's what T used to come Into the library for—really To see you. And I just had to go every day, because you wero such a corker and I was 50 gone on you. And"—he faced her desperately—"I—I never dared look Suddenly her arms went You great big dariing (Copyright, 1925.) Alexandria Presbyterians Seek Restoration of Old First Church LEXANDRIA, Va., Presbyteri- ans have on foot a proj- ect whereby Presbyterians throughout the United States will unite In the restoration of the “Old First Church” of that city. This old church, which adhered to the Northern Assembly at the time of the Civil War, expired as an active church body in’ 1886, but, with the changed modern view of such mat- ters, members of the existing Pres- byterian Church In Alexandria, which belongs to the Southern Assembly, are waging a vigorous campalgn in Northern and Southern quarters to have the “Old First Church” restored, not alone for its great historie inter- est, but as a symbol of the present accord between the North and the South George Washington’s Masonic brethren had a prominent part in building the “Old First Church,” and it was here, according to records of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge, that the fellow lodge members of George Washington gathered on De- cember 27, 1799, for the Masonic fu- neral honors to their departed broth- er and past master. The report of the “Old First Church” restoration committee deals specifically with these George W ington associations of the historic edifice, crumbling to ruin, as follows: X “Here it was, according to that valuable work of reference by F. L. now Lodge" of Washington,' that the Lodge of Washington held its first religious ceremony after its Institu- tion under the charter of 1783, This Wwas on the occasion of the anniver- sary of St. John the Evangeist in that same year, 1783, when, it is re- cited, ‘on that day the lodge walked in procession to the “Presbyterian Meeting House,” Fairfax street, where he (Parson Kieth) delivered a char- ity sermon, after which a collection was taken up for the benefit of the poor of the town.' And thus it is that the annals of the lodge show that the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist, during many years thereafter, was the oc. casion commemorated in Masonic manner at the Old First Presbyterian Church. ¥ “It seems clear that George Wash- ington was an attendant at various of the Masonic commemorations of the anniversary of St. John the Divine. “It was In the Old First Church that the Masonio funeral honors were solemnly paid to their departed brother and master, George Washington, by Lodge No. 22, the lodge of Washing- ton, and Brooke Lodge, No. 47, on December 27, 1799, and it was here on the foliowing Sunday, December 29, 1799, that the union memorial sermons for the public were preached by the Rev. Thomas Davis in the forenoon, and in the afternoon by Rev. Dr. Muir, both chaplains of the lodge, and on the following Sunday, January 5, 1800, the Rev. Mr. Talli- son delivered a discourse on ‘The Death of Washington. “In the First Presbyterian Church at 10 o'clock on the 224 day of February, 1800, was observed the first Masonic celebration, at least by Alexandria Lodge and perhaps first of all, of the Birthday of Washington. It was at the close of this oration of Dr. Elisha C. Dick that in alluding to the fame of Washington he stated: ‘His fair fame, secure in its immor- tality, shall shine through countloss ages with undiminished {luster. It shall be the statesman’s polar star, the hero's destiny, the boast of age, the companion of maturity, and the goal of youth.'" * ok ok % \ A MORE complete general history of the “Old First Church” ap- pears in the Historical work of Rev. E. B. Jackson, one-time pastor of “OLD FIRST CHURCH” OF ALEXANDRIA, A' GAUNT SPECTER OF THE PAST. MANY FAMOUS ME! AND WOMEN OF COLONIAL DAYS ARE BURIED IN THE CHURCHYARD. This present building contained the first steeple in the city, and the mem- bers held their services under a license from the County Court, hav- ing subscribed to the conditions im- posed for worship. It was required that their doors he opened and re- main open. Presbyterianism was founded here before the incorpora- tion of the town, with a charter under the toleration act. Contribu- tions were made to this and other non-conforming buildings by Wash- ington, and he sometimes attended their services. “It must not be forgotten that the Scotch immigrant was a most impor- tant factor in pushing back the boundaries of civilization from the Chesapeake. He established himself all along the foothills of the Alle- ghenies. The Carlyles, the Craiks, the Ramsays came to Alexandria with the tide of immigration. The congregation of Presbyterians in Alexandria were granted no special favors save only to be allowed to hold meetings In the town hall. There was no contest with the authorities, as In England, concerning submission to the ‘orders and constitution of the Church of England and the laws therein established’ It is to be r membered that the Presbyterian Church was the established church in Scotland, whence they had come. They were willing to conform in Alexandri; ““The old graveyard of the ‘meeting house’ is of especial interest. Here lies, -upder the church floor, the body of Dr. James Muir, who officiated at Washington's funeral, as chaplain of the Alexandria ‘Lodge of Masons. the Baptist Church in Alexandria, en- titled “Historic Alexandria.” He states: 3 “This building on South Fairfax street Wi constructed in 1774, though restored in the next century 'after the fire Before that time the erians held their meetings in the ,’ located on the site of the present oclerk's offics. Here lies the body of John Carlyle (Braddock’s quartermaster), and pos-{ sibly his son, who lost his life at Eutaw Springs, S. C, in fighting for the colonles in the Revolution. (Alexandria was little troubled with Tories.) Here reposes the dust of the grand old surgeon-soldier, Dr. James Craik, one of the most {ntimate per- sonal friends of Washingten la Alexandria, who followed his for- tunes from the beginning of the Rev- olution to Yorktown. Among the outstanding names of persons buried here are the Hepburns, Logans, Lindsays, Douglases, Hunters, Ram- says, Allisons, Balfours, Cranstons Kincaids and Kennedys. It is doubt- ful whether any spot in Alexandris contains so many sacred associations. “This church was made necessary by the many Scotch Presbyterians who early settled in Alexandria. It was at first under the jurisdiction of the Northern Presbytery till about 15 years ago, when it was turned over to the Presbyterians of the South. It ought to be preserved as one of the sacred memorials of the heroic days of our country, as well as a monument to the sturdy Cal- vanists who stood agalnst George ITL as their predecessors had stood against Charles I. “It ought never to be forgotten that the Scotch Covenanters had always resisted religious tyranny in England and that Presbyterians were largely In sympathy with the Roundheads. In the contest between Charles I and his Parliament the Presbyterians (or Puritans as they were called) had a parliamentary majority. When Cromwell took charge of Virginia the Scotch form of wor- ship was sanctioned here. These two churches in Alexandria, however, always were in the heartlest accord, Carlyle and others having rented pews In Christ Church. Some promi- nent members of Christ Church at- tended here for a time after the Revolution, though Washington was not among them.” * x % % JFURTHER interesting details of the antebellum days of the ancient Presbyterian edifice are found in the historical sketch of Mrs. Mary G. Powell, an Alexandria lady yet itving: “A child’s memory dating several years before the Civil War supplies (Cent on v