Abram's Daughters: The Betrayal Part 17

"Just so I'm home in time for a few winks before milkin'," she reminded him, though she wished she didn't have to say 221betrayal H(Viil'il about what tomorrow's duties required of her, includ- H the final meeting with Preacher Yoder prior to baptism.

Hll 11 her whole heart, she would much rather ride off with Hii'i, never to come down to earth again, so to speak.

H .he thought of her husband-to-be's name in front of her H i> Jonas's Leah and it brought such gladness. She whis- Hi' I it right then and there.

H "I 'idja just say what I think?" he asked, reaching for her Hi, I H She nodded, unable to repeat it.

H "Remember, that's who you'll be for always ... my Leah."

H They rode slowly all the way to Strasburg, where he ^Bli^hi ice-cream cones for them. They sat high in the car- H^e, enjoying the treat in an out-of-the-way spot in the Hfldng lot, away from cars.

H When her ice cream was half eaten, Leah brought up the Hbject of her sister. "How's Sadie doin' in Ohio, would you fm1"

"1 guess she's all right. She does seem awful dreary, though. IiimI be she's joining for your family."

His comment startled her. "Jah, that could be... ."

"Then, she's not there for her health?"

She felt the awkward hesitancy of his words. Surely he . hdn't suspect Sadie might be in the family way? Yet there was 11 nit unspoken concern in his eyes. She mustn't let on that iiher sister had indeed experienced such dreadful heartache ready, in both her soul and her body. She refused to expand HI the scant information.

H "Sadie needs a little time away, is all." She considered 222lO e ui e r I y ^-o e im> i s what she might say further. Then she knew. "My sister needs a friend, I daresay."

"I've had only a little contact with her, which is the w;iy I prefer it, Sadie bein' single and all."

She felt he was being overly serious. "Aw, Jonas, you'iv not timid around my sister, are you?"

His face broke into a warm smile. "You mustn't worry on my account. I'm going to marry you." a His words hung in the air, a promise for a lifetime. Sh could rest in such a pledge, and this made her think about rhfl vow they would be taking on Sunday. "It's awful nice of yotP to be baptized with me." : "We'll mark the day," he said, blue eyes s.h.i.+ning.

"Jah, for sure and for certain."

He nodded, holding his now dripping ice-cream cone in his right hand. "Just as we'll commemorate our weddin' dny for always."

Silently she finished her own melting ice cream, her heari racing as fast as when she'd first spied him tonight, coming up the road in his handsome courting buggy.

"What wouldja think, Leah, for us to marry on the lasl Tuesday in November, the twenty-fifth? Would that suit you and your family?"

The combination of ice cream and the lump of happiness in her throat kept her from answering promptly. At last shr managed to speak. "Jah, that will be a wonderful-gut day of days. With all of my heart, I'm lookin' forward to bein' your wife."

He must have sensed the anxiety of a young bride-to-be.

223Id el r a y a I i< you="" also="" a="" little="" bit="" nervous?"="" he="" asked="" softly,="" drawing="" t="" i="">

"More relieved than anythin', really." And she confided him how eager she was to discuss the date with Mamma.

11 icy talked of this and that, Jonas sharing something of l'i v >rk with David Mellinger. "I'm tryin' to complete a year's i '1111 of apprentices.h.i.+p in six months or thereabouts so I can l to help my father in the orchard at harvest time. That h< ihe="" case,="" cousin="" david="" expects="" me="" to="" be="" in="" the="" wood="" ii'l'="" .in="" early="" as="" if="" i="" were="" milkin'="" cows="" of="" a="" morning,="">

JiMi'.ide him. David's mighty helpful, but let me tell you, he lil '-. me earn my keep."

I She felt it was all right to bring up something else, the y ihcy were sharing so openly and all. "How is it you ended I Ifiirnin' the carpentry trade clear out in Ohio?"

I "Nothing less than providence is how I look at it," Jonas IIII "The Lord G.o.d heavenly Father works all things JimIht for our gut. Believe me, it was downright perfect "I las your mother's cousin always known of your keen i' icst in carpentry? Is that why he contacted you in the first .U r!"

Jonas shook his head. "I can't say it was, really. I scarcely Afi?w of David and Vera Mellinger."

H Then, how was it Jonas had been invited to do an appren^tthip with a distant relative? Unless, could it be David had ^Bgrd of Jonas's lifelong dream to be a carpenter through the ^nish grapevine? If so, how had it gotten all the way to Hflio, and right around the precise moment the two of them Hire betrothed last spring? She had always wondered about 224.

-/ t that, though she'd never told a soul.

"What is it, love?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm all right." She put a smile on her face. But ilic hard facts were that Jonas was to be the only young m:ni round these parts who chose to earn his living doing sonic thing other than farm related. Practically unheard of for I lie firstborn son of a farmer not to follow in his father's own foul steps. Having hinted at her curiosity in a letter, she was ea^'cr to ask all this of Jonas, but she held her peace. For now, she would cherish their time together, wanting nothing to spoil this night.

225.

i, -ft- -a- -p- # & - - '-

'in1 more day till baptism, Leah thought as she awakened V Sat.u.r.day morning. Her time with Jonas the evening "' lingered fresh and sweet in her mind, yet she worried I < ,ui="" must="" surely="" suspect="" something="" was="" amiss="" with="">

With Naomi counting the hours until she talked to Hi her Yoder today, and with Gid's sister Adah wondering I! In the world Sadie was doing so far away, Leah dreaded ,i might get wind of something. After all, unsuspecting Hi.ill had Itemed the full truth from Sadie's own lips. lii'l it just a matter of time before Sadie's secret leaked I'or sure and for certain, the things Naomi would tell pU'her at the final instructional cla.s.s paled compared to t Leah knew of Sadie's wild side. Naomi doesn't know the oj it, she thought, embarra.s.sed anew. Her heart beat heavlli her chest.

She felt the Lord G.o.d's urging ever so strong and could b lunger resist on the side of honoring her sister's wishes. She 226.

must cast aside her promise, difficult as that would be, In answer a holy call.

Making her way to the barn in the predawn hour, slit' found Dat busy watering the driving horses and the fk-lil mules. " 'Mornin', Leah," her father said, glancing over hlo shoulder at her.

" 'Mornin', Dat." She forced her bare feet to move quickly, lest she lose heart and falter. "I need to talk with you," she blurted.

He looked at her with solemn eyes. "What's on yom mind?"

When she didn't answer immediately, Dat rubbed hU beard. "Your mamma and I feel you may have done the rijjlil thing by Sadie, after all ... if that's weighin' on your mind."

"Then, you aren't so upset?" she asked.

"'Tis not easy, all this happenin' so suddenly. Heaven knows..." He paused for a moment, looking back at iInhouse. "And your mamma's goin' to need some extra an en tion from you all of us, really."

"I 'spect so... ." How easy it would be to'simply go ami wash down the cows' udders and dismiss what she'd set oui in do. "I ... uh ... must speak with you about something else," j she said, stepping forward. "It's about my baptism ... makin'j ready for it in my heart." I Dat removed his black wide-brimmed hat, holding ii in! both hands. "'Tis all right, Leah. If something's causin' a sin I in ya, 'tis best to air it." ; She nodded, aware of a lump in her throat.

"Are you prepared to follow the Lord in holy baptism?" he came right out and asked. "Or is there some resistance mi 227.

1.

^f purl , . . about the ordinance?" < h"i="" nlmply="" want="" to="" ask="" your="" forgiveness,="">

H"Well, now, whatever for?"

^1*1 if paused, the tug-of-war awful strong, then plunged for- H, "1 need to tell you I've known of somethin' ... of a ^Khli.' sin Sadie committed and had me promise not to tell."

^M)hI .stood mighty still just then. "How terrible do you Bur ^pjlhu glimpsed the pain that registered in her beloved ir'i eyes and had to look away. "Sadie had a baby," she ^ipcred, reliving the frightening truth of it. "I was there the nt nIic birthed a baby boy. And if Aunt Lizzie hadn't ^pcd, well, I hate to think what might've happened. Sadie ^B In such an awful bad way." ^Mlull's face grew ever more solemn. "Lizzie was on hand, I.

H' lit! had a part in savin' Sadie's life." She went on to Hbrllie how she'd ridden bareback on one of the horses "to Hi Hi". Schwartz, though I knew ridin' thataway was a sin Hniv own makin' and I'm right sorry 'bout it. There was PP no other choice to make ... unless 'twas to let my sisterli. "

I '.i i stared down at his hat, moving it slowly around in his lt< p="">

t'.nih was afraid of this. Dat seemed miffed, even angry. lie didn't tell Aunt Lizzie till the night the baby came. , don't be upset at Lizzie, Dat. She did only what she had 'And what of the baby? What became of him!" Dat's "And what of the baby? What became of himl" Dat's 228.

-ly J2e words hung in the air for a moment before she could answci "The poor little thing gave up the ghost ... and dk-il " Fighting back tears, she pressed on. "Oh, Dat, with all of my heart, I had to tell you these things. I've waited much tun long, I fear."

His eyes, wide and moist, were fixed on her. But he snlil no more.

"When I make my confession of faith and join church, 1 want to present myself a clean and willin' vessel. ..."

He surprised her by reaching for her right hand and hnlil* ing it in both of his.

"May I have your mercy for keepin' this dreadful secrei t" she asked. 1 A single, slow nod came from him, and she knew he wiifll offering his understanding, even forgiveness, at her burning! request. J Hours later Leah met with both Preacher Yoder and 1 Vu 1 con Stoltzfus, along with Jonas and the other baptismal c.mm didates. Upon first entering the Yoders' farmhouse, she c;ui ;li(j a glimpse of Naomi talking quietly with Preacher in the In mil room. As expected, Sadie's former best friend had followpsjj through with her warning. More than likely, Naomi whH reporting Sadie's misconduct and deceit this minute. j Naomi turned to look at her, and the blood insi;uttj drained from her face. Sadie's former best friend had i'iiiIm clean, all right. 1 229Tke l3eirayal H I < ,ili="" waited="" her="" turn="" to="" speak="" with="" preacher="" yoder,="" not="">< io="" call="" attention="" to="" herself.="" it="" was="" true,="" there="" had="" been="" b1"'="" ii!="" lime="" for="" sadie="" to="" repent="" on="" her="" own.="" but="" today,="" hi="" i="" rah="" filed="" into="" the="" preaching="" service="" with="" the="" other="" hi="" iil,h-n="" and="" offered="" her="" life="" as="" a="" "living="" sacrifice"="" to="" the="" h"="" l="" '="" lot="" i="" heavenly="" father,="" she,="" too,="" must="" open="" her="" mouth="" h="" i="" infos.="" she="" and="" sadie="" aunt="" lizzie,="" too="" had="" made="" a="" h="" even="" unwise="" covenant="" last="" year;="" it="" was="" past="" time="" to="" set="" "="" i'l^'ht="" between="" herself="" and="" G.o.d.="" because="" if="" the="" day="" ever="" hi="" ihiii="" sadie="" bowed="" her="" knee="" at="" last,="" she="" would="" realize="">< i="" i-ali="" was="" about="" to="" do="" was="" right="" and="" good="" in="" the="" sight="" of="" h="" l="" i="">iil. When all was said and done, this act of obedience H[ I .ill's part might just turn things around more quickly for Kin H When it was her turn to speak to Preacher Yoder, he ^Bph'J her a handshake that could make a man out of a boy, H . l< rilled,="" careful="" not="" to="" wince.="" she="" began="" to="" acknowledge="" ^m="" mis="" of="" omission.="" "it="" is="" my="" understanding="" certain="">< i"ns="" have="" been="" committed="" by="" my="" baptized="" sister...="" .="" h="" n="" libersol.="" fx="">r some time now, I've known of them," she ^BiHi "Yet I have failed to bring them to light... ." She went HP I" loll all she knew of Sadie's sinning, grievous as it was.

Mere the minister glanced at the deacon and nodded his i-1 'Jowly. "I commend you, Leah," he said. "May you find jmiii lorgiveness in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior."

N<>w, upon Sadie's return from Ohio, there would be a Mi ihi', confrontation with the brethren. She would be given Hiina' to confess or be shunned. Sadie would no longer ^Bi 11 k' consolation of simply biding her time. Her sin had ^Hi

230.

-lu e When the final instructional meeting got under way, the ministers discussed with great sobriety the difficulty of "walk ing the straight and narrow way." Leah soaked up every word, steadfast in her decision. She and the other applicants were given ample opportunity to turn back from the baptismal cov enant, but she sat tall in her chair and said jah with confidence when asked.

Jonas answered with a similar a.s.sent. When the younj; men were asked if they would pledge to accept the duties of ;i minister if the lot should ever fall to them, Leah noticed Inwas emphatic in his affirmative response.

The heaviness she'd carried for nigh unto a year was lifted, and she felt as light as a driving horse without its harness. Only one nagging worry remained: How would her confession affect Sadie?

Ida felt so awkward, there in the cramped phone booth, The fact that Abram was squeezed in with her made it even more confining. Abram was still smarting over the truth of Sadie's iniquity, having shared with Ida Leah's confession in the barn this morning. Both were suffering, truth be known.

Now here they were in the one-horse town of Georgetown. They felt it of great necessity to speak to Sadie without delay, and to use an English telephone, of all things. Ida found it altogether curious Abram already had David's woodworking shop number in his possession. Leaning around her, he wasted no time in dialing.

231k e fu el r a y a I When David answered, Abram told who he was and that hi' wanted to speak to Sadie "right away, if at all possible."

11 l,i I bought he might've at least chatted some about the Wi'iillicr, not been so quick to get off the phone with the man wlio was making it possible for their Sadie to have a roof over I id head.

"Hullo, daughter? Jah ...'tis your mamma and me callin'," ,AI>i'am said.

There was a short pause; then Abram asked, "How're you jilting along there?"

Abram waited for Sadie's answer.

"We're fine, just fine," he said back to her.

Then Ida heard him get right to the point. "It's sadly come i'ii >ur attention that you were guilty of improper courts.h.i.+p I i utices. Is this true, Sadie?"

Ida held her breath for the longest time. She simply "iildn't bear to listen to only one side of the conversation. nil about the time she felt she could no longer contain her liustration, Abram turned and held out the phone to her. "S.idie's cryin' ... wants to talk to you."

She put the1 black receiver to her ear. "My dear girl..." '"' eager she was to hear her daughter's voice again. Pleasei nine home to us, she thought.

"Oh, Mamma..." was all she heard from Sadie, then a I hi of sniffling.

"We best talk over some things. Can you speak freely?"

More sniffles. Then, "Jah, I can."

"It's come to light since you've been gone that you were ... well, that you birthed a child," she managed to say.

"Did ... Leah tell you ... this?" Sadie sputtered.

232 =i_-e w is "I best not say just yet."

"Well, I won't go before the ministers. I hope you didn'l call to ask me to did you, Mamma?"

"It's the only way, the only thing to do." She inhaled, looking to Abram for moral support. "You wear a stiff upper lip, Sadie, but I've heard you weepin' in the late-night hours, Dat and I ... we both hope you'll return home and make things right."

"I don't see how ... not now."

Ida ignored the comment. "This pain you carry ... let i I lead you to repentance, Sadie."

"I'm a lot like Aunt Lizzie, ain't so, Mamma?"

It was Ida's turn to sputter. "What whatever do you mean?"

"Lizzie sinned in the selfsame way." Sadie was silent for ;i moment, then "It's ever so foolish for me to repent."

" 'Tis foolish not to. If you refuse, then I'm sorry to say, bin j Dat and I oh, it'll be ever so difficult we'll have no choice : but to go along with die Meindung the shunning if il i should come to that." : The shun ... Ida went cold at the thought. Surely such j harsh discipline could be prevented.

"I don't care." Sadie's words echoed in her ear. "Let the People do as they must." ; J Ida began to weep and Abram comforted her as best he 1 could, the two of them nearly nose to nose in the cramped ij s.p.a.ce. J "This is all my sister's doin'," Sadie said. "I'll never spenk to her again!"

233.

^"Oh, Sadie... no." The dreadful words tore at Ida's heart, ^H nIu-iould talk no longer.

^B A ham kindly took the telephone and spoke slowly into ^B urdvcr. "We best be sayin' Da Here sei mit du the Lord ^HuhIi you, Sadie. Good-bye."

^M Then he hung up.

^H ! i.ulU' was distraught as she returned the phone to its cra^M 11 was a good thing David Mellinger had made himself ^Bi<>< while="" she="" spoke="" on="" the="" phone.="" hearing="" dat's="" voice="" on="" ^h="" iilophone="" line="" seemed="" mighty="" peculiar.="" but="" nothing="" could="" ^hii'.iiv="" to="" the="" realization="" leah="" had="" betrayed="" her!="" hmiinuna,="" no="" doubt,="" would="" hope="" to="" s.h.i.+eld="" hannah="" and="" hlv="" ruth="" from="" the="" pitiless="" reality.="" this,="" when="" sadie="" thought="" ^hl,="" i;ave="" her="" the="" slightest="" bit="" of="" comfort,="" except="" she="" won^bt'il="" how="" long="" the="" twins="" could="" be="" kept="" in="" the="" dark.="" hpnik'h="" a="" blight="" she="" was="" on="" her="" family="" name,="" in="" more="" ways="" ill,in="" one.="" even="" so,="" her="" father="" had="" offered="" a="" blessing="" before="" 11-tl="" said="" good-bye.="" this,="" along="" with="" mamma's="" pressing="" h="" murks="" frorr^="" a="" compa.s.sionate="" and="" concerned="" heart="" in="" iprd="" to="" quell="" sadie's="">