The Huron Signal, 1887-7-29, Page 2i
•
THE ElURON SWNAL. ?RILt&Y, JULY 29, 19o,
—‘,..4isler Tol)Illiilltr's Keary.
&'roman Maimsse for JuIJ.
There was uausuaf excitenn.wt tm
Sweetwater. The new preacher, a yosstg
man of Baa. parte, aocumpanted by his
wife had arrived • few days before, de-
livered • most effective sermc°, and had
been called upon with the pruuptpess
common to country communities where
isolation readers local curiosity unbear-
able atter twenty-four hours. The lady
of the parsonage, whose hosbaod was
but Islely a theological student and now
engaged for the tint time upon regular
pastoral labors, came from the city, sod sag manner as she drooped herself.
'tressed in a manner that was bound to
win her the admiration or the hatred of
halt the village. Already that praod,
to please weary body, mid hero wee taloa- altogether e.o►rietiau like and salesmen -
Me at tare sues. tag. Aad worse ; whoa *begets ore of
"Ne, toy door, said lira OsfOsppar. bar spells Mee bis, *be wake me with
promptly ; "it was I who mark the tats- seythiag aaawat at hand. rely this
take." Bet poor Mn Riley ogled the montage I ressived ..,...1 'Mess ham
ire s.uw look spun the (aces el several bar beorse sites have agar* Pleased tae.
and the Meuse. they a aeheaged. Pao,n,"—fM7 had reasketeihs frisedly
"1 am scop, tie said e.ra.sUy, "1 seeker Melee bare ti* Mk time. sed the
wo.W have been glad to bees had Biller coulees& drs.iwhteoed up s li1He, while
Tudhunter if 1 had know% is time. bis eyes actually glittered,—'11 am tit -
Dees she live iu tb. village 1" ed of this doses We, and I grant your air
'No dear,' said Mn Culotte! Whet. .inoses. 1 tkiok if Mei t'odbunter is
tet ; 'she . disagreeable old thing lob formally reported to the church, sad
lives out u° her (arm about a nosh from humiliated, it will bring about a ehanee."
here. Yuu baveu't hat any thing by sat Ponos Kiley's foes showed his surprise,
knowing her.' Mrs. Ledbstter was a and the edema added at once,'I have
power in the laps, and her true -gray had this in mind • long time, and ones
owls shook iu. • dangerous and threaten- I brought the matter to the mind of
Parson Thompson, who preceded you,—
a worthy man, but timed. He would
not trove is the matter. Now will
yeti 1" Payson inky was young Oed coma
bathe.
interchangeable j•_'v COWWUD to all nom; a man of edpntlos sod standing, she ''I will," be said promptly.
munitie. was sitting upon her ata -' ones bit Gentled.'' "What r The deaf nun place! hie
term is used in a 6 uratire sense fur nub.. i
g "I think," said tile polo faded little and to be ear.
the inquest was conducted from yard to Mr* Brown tueekly, 'that Sinter Tod- "I will," .hosted the parson. "Sister
yard, window to window and even scoop. Tudbuster shall be disci lined," Tile
the one street along which Sweetwater hooter has a good heart, and I'm sure .'4u -s looked
P
eke always trmsed me kindly." I ease member myself once,"
waswere
eoogragsted \\'hertvar two or three "Arad who wouldn't l'' interposed Mrs. " 5t
together and two of
Vire.ghappeod to be of the crdle rs� Culpepper, laughing. "You see tome he said softly, "bet this eternal quarrel
i ig order of society, Parson Riley's site good in everybody, Sallie, and every• drove me out. I could cut break bread
was the theme. body tees some in you. But as fur feeling as I do towards Mrs. Todhuoter.
The climax was reached in the ase Sister Todhuntur, she a ni
better at lung His as trembled. He filled hi. cheeks
r;Mg
With wise and blew it out under the
when Parton Riley's wife sent out mod- Presently there was a movement Pressure of hie emotion. •'Yuu merest
est ;little notes inviting about twenty among the ladies, sod boon Panne imagine to wbat extent this persecution
matrons to take tea with her next day. i:iley's wife, the recipient of twenty kiss- by
has gone. W, sir, there have been
Theo the jury let the main question pass ea and as many warm handshakes, was times when I oemedered my life in dan-
ger. I am not a dissipated man," he
eontineed, resting kis blurt -veined hand
upon the parson's *hostage and turnieg
the blue eyes earnestly upon him, "but
of cour'e 1 take a julep now and then,
you understand ; habits of an old-time
Georgia gentleman,—and sometimes I
hare taken too much. I admit that Mn.
Todhunter has had some provocation in
that direction, but not enough, Parlor,
to justify her in regarding ma as a dog.'
His breast heaved convulsively
"A woman," said the young mao firm-
ly, toocbed by tits pathos and emotion
of his d.guibed a'mp•nien, "hat no
right to strike her husband except in de-
fense of her life."
"Hey ?" Colinel Todhunter cupped
his left ear deftly with the transparent
hand.
"I say a woman has uo right to strike
her husband—"
'Why, bleat your sou:, Parson, that's
a small matter, • very *mall matter io.
deed ! A tad smile fitted across the lips
of the speaker. "A eery smaii matter."
He fixed his eyes upon his eompanicn
with'. sudden resolution "Why, do
you know, Mrs Todhunter case near
smothering me, only last week i''
"Smothering 1"
"Hey 1'
"Came near *mothering you 1"
"Yea sir. To tell the truth, Parson, 1
was a little mixed,—hal taken a little
toG much, you understand. Had been
camping out • week down at Blcomley's
mill with Colonel Lebetter and others,
fishing, and drank • little to much,
l.'nfortunat'ly I ase home a little under
the influence of stimulants, and found
Mrs Tcdhunter on fire about the cotton
being in the erase A. I was preparing
to lie down, being also i11, Mrs Todhun-
ter. with her superior strength and
weight, forced me between the mattress-
es and eat down on tne. And there she
tat, Parson, three hundred pounds, and
it a July day. and knitted all the after-
noon. "1'll sweat that whiskey out er
you," she says ; and she did. The per-
spiration that exuded from my pores
soaked through the mattress and dripped
on the floor. I do not know how I lived
through it." He drew out his handker-
chief and wiped itis forbead, to which
the memory of his sufferings had actaai-
iy brought the moisture. "When will
you move in the matter?" he asked more
cheerfully.
"At ones "
"Hey 1"
"At once.
day --
Parson Riley pawed. The vast pres-
ence of Sister Todhunter had paewd
around the corner of the barn. There
was a painful silence of about two sec-
onds, and thea bee voice arose.
"So," the said lordly, with her eye on
the colonel, who started as though *hot;
"so 1 This is your game is it / penin•
lit os your wife to every stranger that
comes along. I'll teeth you better mon
sirs, it I hare to break every bone in
year .oft, cowardly body.' Bile made
e neat M ber offending lord, which he
easily and promptly avoided by stepping
briskly away, leaving his late companion
to bold its field as beet he might.
"Madam," said Parson Riley, raising
his band as if about to ask • bendie
tier,—it was his moat Impressive std.
tad.,—"i beseech yon to remember teat
this g.btleetan is year beeb•ad and that
you me a member of my cliereli—'
"Ines have yes gat to d.. with hit,
you little cI ieneestln' thing you 1" She
had turned epos him with war in her
e ye and war in her whol. sakosp gen-
mally. 'A pretty sort es- parson roe
art, sint yet, boogie' roan' dorsi
womsa's bean lid'ate' tee /jss en'
elsedera ()b I kanw what he wants ;
he wank en git tiro ep fore Moan 7.ine
shareb. He tried bit oe .l. Thompson,
'She is sometimes pleasant, to be sure,
but if it wasn't for her husbaoi, pour
man, who married her out ..f pity, al-
though she was only a 'cracker' aid be
bet he Unseat move or ped. I teas lower keened fiaee-front honest, stood Maly ; "that wettmau ought Net be dosis
'Ought she, maga Jt'
bunter. eatcbu.g tee
per better git Juba
His gr.t'M was d
rerkoe he 11 ku•,w keels N •Loss
This terriber dig drew all eyes upon
R I jeriy, sad be tented as red es• tur-
key...mb.
'Madam" mid Culus.l Ledbetter, ad-
yaneing to a l.comiweet position in all
the dignity sod eeefidsap of hie high
♦tendi:ig in $eeetwatar, "I trust you.
will let lour aid lrjend sateen Tow"
•When did you come ter be my
friend 1 she replied with terrible No-
oses.. "Was hit when year charged me
twelve per cent. for the loan of K hun-
dred dollars, or was it when due made
se pay tor er buudrd bweb.e of owe
became my mule et five r Taking his
hat sed mpg, tbe colonel walked voted.
and mat dnwu ..n a stomp.
"3estleseen," said Parson Riley sud-
falliog
denly,
"theae only thineg hie g hires du
re to o ca
rry
her out sod sem: bee home If you will
all take hold es can carry bet out quick-
ly." The men were rea•fy fur soy may
from the merciless Iashieg tee women
tram girtrg thee. With • rob they
seised bet, chair sad all. sb. 6gbtiag
desperately, and bore her mikado. After
a urivf reel, dudes elvish the as.aultiag
party repaired damage', they lifted her
•g•iu and made fur the waggon. Teao
roil fence furnished bey ♦ hoist. when
they tried to lift her over, ard it beams,
necessary to take it down, teen on.
other nerve :trueele eOesd at th. wag-
on. Fiudin' herself °r.rmatched, Su-
ter Tudbouter gave vent to a shrill
scream that bevegat C..lueel Todhunter
to her side in repentance and alarm. He
attempted to Boothe her. but she was m.,
wiener lifted into the wagon that the
kicked the duh board otaad seined bin
by the ear. It took the • nits of the
etuwd again to release bis. Elder Ham-
lin, sho had recovered his send and
rallied, "embed into the wagon
with the others to help held her while.
the rest hitched ep her mules. Then,
led by (Lilly. her ten year -..Id ser, who
had watched the proceedings in melee
silence. the strange load snowed off, a
delegation •ccumpsnyiog it to keep
things straight. As they crowd the
Reek, Sister Todhunter by a sudden
movement massaged to throw Elder
Hamlin overboard. He stood up in the
water and swore • great round moth that
horrified everybody. But Sister Tod -
hunter laughed hysterically.
"Put him net, put him oat er Moon'
Zion too ! 113 -,met yet bear him er eossin'
back then 1" Elder Hamlin had re-
tired to the bank, and was d.neuncing
ibe whole race of obstreperous women,
but not meaner. His one oath was
eonfemal lit :'ren teestiog afterward,
and willingly furgiveu.
This, however, was hider Tudbwnter's
last alert. She was seised with s col
(apse on teething home, and begged to
be placed oo the grams. There sitting,
she declared that death was near, and
begged them to leave her. 'Her baobaud
come up and mitistered to her, gid she
was heard weak Billy to lead boy to the
well, as she wanted to jemp in sad end
her misery ; and Billy told ber he wisk-
hien1 he bet h A' f b oat t every
-
you, tell d tbey .e Vise lop axe am, s t y a ass
'furs Mount Liuw, hit'll be sr bad day body kik. .h. erw there, auJ orrery
for Muuot Zeta." like shook bee clrnek- head save one wee turned toward her.
ed list at him. Bete passed lung sourish to surrey the'.
Palms Riley was half Irish, • bitls crowd euutentpteoedy, thea with a
Welek, and the rest Autarkies. Beside., great waddle ole march..l up the aide,
be was yam sed imeepsrieseed. took a chair .out from uud.r little Major
"Yell? rage wIB be ep seat tleaday Brown almost hobo* he amid vacate it,
placed the back agaivat the pulpit, said
sat down.
"Now," she said looking at Psrs•,u
Riley while eke aJjeated the folds .•f ber
dress, "go oa with yep It.. ; I'm rea•ly."
Person Riley turned pile and then r.J.
Some of the thoughtless ))ung people
snickered, and then was • general stir
of expectatawt. Colonel Ledbetter, with
out beadiuz • particle .d his euur.u•.us
and ever -blooming dignity, looked at
Major Brown and winked with both
eyes Brown put his hand over his
mouth and coughed violently. Bit the
parson scan rallied, and turning to the
000gregtwn said firmly :
"Brothers and sisters, for such you
:re in the holy union of the church, and
1 trust soon to say in the affectiod torn
of joint and self sacrificing labors, I
have • painful flute to perform this
moruiag rue that I fan would avoid, but
"moi ...ogee,.; whet ;4.)° sre
mu=nine
while it resolved itself into committees
of one, Nub of which be¢aa with almost
frantic anxiety to look into the question
of dress. Adaptation became the order
.of the day, for no time remained for new
garment., even if Sweetwater could have
furnished them. Twenty ladies drew
out from their hiding -places twenty boo-
n,l. of varied shades, ages, and designs;
twenty ladies shook to the breeze tbe
e umphored folds of twenty bombazines,
alpacas, and venerable silks ; and twenty
pain of bands went to work with
needles, thread, hot irons, stain-eradica-
t .re, and all the household help that
could be mustered, to turn the water of
ancient respectability into the wine of
modern style as outlined in stray maga-
gives and described by the occasional
town visitor.
8o it was, them, that when Sweetwa-
ter, as very properly represented by its
leading !aides, assembled in Parson Ri-
ley's modest little parlor and gazed upon
itself in all its glory, a somewhat satis-
fied air settled over it. Poor faded little
Mrs Brown in her diary alpaca, which
everybody knew she bought nine years
before with money awarded her at the
country fair for preserves and pickles,
and had turned and returned until it was
equally worn alt over, smiled placidly
upon Mn Bailey's watered silk she wore
when she was a ',ride, and upon the
bombazine gown that Mrs Buckner in-
herited from her mother, and felt thor-
oughly comfortable. And Mn Buck-
ner's little straw bonnet, that had been
to fashion twice in the fifteen years of
its service, rested easy upon her own
artificial knot of hair when she beheld
Mrs Cuipeppen's Leghorn Aare -front
headgear, and noted the corkscrew iroo-
gray curls pinned around the severe
brow of Colonel Ledbetter's wife just as
they had been un state occasions for
twenty years.
This feeling of comfort was greatly
strengthened by the fact that Parson
Riley's wife wore a plain dark olose-fit.
a
ting gown of sons flexible material with -
nut ormentation, and that her hair was
brushed back without any attempt at the
fashionable arrangements they feared
crushwould cru.them. Then the little lady
moved shout among them with her
sweetest smiler, and the nicest tea, amd
• little notice for each of her guest..
She bid observed what an "elegant
young woman'' was Mrs Bucknees Sa-
manthy, just back from Wesleyan Col-
lage in Macon ; std Mrs Brown's son
Tom Towas "handsome enough to be goy
erase." As for Mn Culpepper's baby,
weir, it was "just too lovely for any-
thing." She captured • very large -heart
ed woman entirely when she whispered
to Mrs Bailey that her husband was the
finest looking man she had seen is
Sweetwater, -"excepting my Phil, you
know," she added. And tbw loyalty
Daly sank the con.pliment deeper. Theo
left alone with her empty cups and the
memory of Sister Tudhunter. •
11.
When Parson Riley h Bard the descrip-
tion of his wife's tea party from her own
hp., told with many a smile and an occa-
sional sigh, his first resolution was to all
upon Colonel Tudhunter and his wife.
8u it was that early next morning he sad-
dkd his patient mare and ambled out to
the Todhueter farm.
As Parson Riley approached the little
cottage, he saw sitting on the steps a
mao with his chin in his hand., The
first thing that impressed him was the
aired extreme dejection about the in-
dividual, an air that had become mom
marked after he had dismounted and ad-
vanced toward the hoose. Rousing him -
telt from his reverie., the individual
ru.e .lowly and fixed a pair of tired,
watery blue eyes upon the parson. The
clothes he wore were broadcloth, but
they were faded now, and stained down
the front with tobacco juice ; and they
shone with a pulub evidently acquired,n
like gond manna' through long wear.
"This is Colonel Todhunter, I be-
lieve," said the visitor, holding out 61.
hand. "I am the Rev. Mr. Riley."
The gentleman in the polished suit herd
the proffered hand as he replied, in a
singularly low and sweet voice :
"You're the new parson. I reckon.
You will have to .peak louder ; I am a
little deaf. "
"Yes," said the parson, elevating bis
voice. "How u your family 1 '
"What did you ay 1" inquired the
low, musical voice, while the blue eyes
brightened a little.
"How is your family 1"
"Oh, eery well, i believe. Louse in
and set down." He led the way slowly,
with a alight limp, toward the little
porch. As they ascended the stepsw
Pan Raley caught tight of the figure
of au enormous woman in • calico deka
and a shite apron, that loomed up in
the do••r.ay. She carried in her hand
a broom , and a broad, square, almost
fierce face with black eyes was turned
upon hiss.
"'Mandy,- said the coh•.ncl gently,
"this u the View parson." "The new
parson" stepped forward quickly and
extended hos hand.
"My deer madam, 1 am glad to meet
y .u," he said, a smile kindling on his
handsome face. She l 'eked at him sus-
piciously, gave him her left hand, and
Maid . "
"Howdy. 1
"I hope you are well, madam r
"Tulerble,' .he replied. And then
she turned her hark and moved if with
au elepbantioe amble.
"So dna is Sister Tudhonter," thought
Parson Kiley. "Well, i shall have
trouble hem."
The men satconverse
down, and the conver
a'ie hurried off for • pencil, �,.1 cogged thou began. Cukeel Todhunter proved
Mrs Culurel Ledbetter to give ber kir t . be courtly, almost worn•n!y, in his
rreeipt for making the scuppernong wine sinner,, bat his few opinion were ven-
she had heard en much praised, and she
laid her book in the dear old lady's lap
and wrote it as dictated. in an boar
ea
t ired with a difedesmost painful, sad
tie person waged when the time am.
t . say good day. He was about to
Parson Riley's wife was by unanimous m rant his mare again whoa the colonel,
commit established at the bead d Sweet- who had L:IMu
wed him oat, toebed 11.
water, sod could afford to take the Dame
patty in to see her lace rertains, baby
and baby dresses. and all the little brio-
• bark that had bees *bowed upon her
as a bride, --without •wakening a single
jealous foolish,.
phut a stone was brownie, and its first
mutterings wan heard when Mrs Cul-
pepper th-,egbtlesely se' tioned "Raker
Todhunter. "
"Pieter Tedhenter t' rail Parson Ri-
arm.
"I want to speak to yeti on a private
lather," be said softly ,.Supple. we
walk • little." no arm and arm they
mired off. '1 wast to speak to yoe
about Mrs. Todhenl.r," maid th• gentle
t epee again. "To tell you the truth.
Parson, i am leadisg a life here that is
almost tiebeenbl., and i thick you gen
help me.
"Mrs. Tndbanter is a violas. siren,
1 I's wit.. looking from ran
ors to the other, Paa,-1 use th. tare "waster ; ab.
p
a paroled eatigsieu .hdowrag her 1. • violent woman, sad cakes I esu
prstty face ; "have 1 met Sister Tod -befog •h•.wt a marked (ma.b het etts-
heater 1 Dear me, ria male have ale a meter, 1 de not hens what'T .hall dna
Sim mistake after all 1 Sbed theles bard Rhese
ur tsarists toward, ma that e
morning. You u owns or sot, u
you please." He said this with a some-
what uocleempha-
sis,
bet very natural epha-
sis, and, turning on hos heel., left the
spot. The last words be heave were.
"I ain't 'feared o' you Der sU the Mona.
Zion& in the world."
As Parson Riely mounted his rare,
Colonel Todhuster crawled through the
h edge • few yards off, looked cautiously
around, securing his pipe from the
porch, and went beck silently the way
b. came. A smile forced itself upon the
preacher, and a little
road hi laughed out -
of the young
farther Inc. the
right.
III.
Sunday morning brought an enormous
crowd to Mount Zees church as the oil-
ege edifice was called, This was natural,
as on that day Presiding Elder was to
deliver a sermcn, and a visit from the
['reading Elder of the district always
drew a crowd. Bot the fact noised ab-
out throughout the land, that Sister
Tudhuntsr had been summoned and was
to be tried, also operated powerfully aa
assembling a.mbling factor, and many people
who had long neglected their church en-
tice put in appearance. Farmers fur
miles around came bringing their wives
and daughters in their waggons. Young
men in buggies with their sweethearts
were numerous, and the grove about the
church, was full of vehicles and "tied.
oat stock" when taervioe time snivel.om
About ten o'clock a sudden mveent
at the doorway indicated that preaching
was about to %begin, and the congrega-
tion filed slowly within, the men on the
left, the women to the right. Parson
Riley, sitting in the pulpit with the port-
ly form of Elder Hamiin beside him,
watched with an abiding interest the
faces of the comers. When the last was
in and settled, he heaved a deep sigh d
relief,—Sister Todhunter was not pre-
sent ; .tae was going to remain at home
and let the nisi go by default,
He did not know Sister Todhonter
Elder Hamlin at last arose, hos red
countenance glowing like a beacon above
the sea of faces, and in a voice like a
trumpet's opened the meeting with pray-
er. He asked Divine blessing upon Zion on Sweetwater, and the re-
mainder of the world, invoking a help-
ing hand for "the b-r•a r -e young soldier
of the croft" elm had "Dome among
these people to battle far the right,"
and upon ' the young woman, jtd bud•
din' into matoortty," who had "come to
share his trials and minister with hen,"
His prayer concluded with an appal in
behalf of the erring sitter whom wrong-
doings they wore about to consider.
'May eh, b• led to see the error of her
way," he said, "an" turn her feet Into
IT have her up next Sun-
le say and don't plater .o much." Tills
of course, came from Sister Todhunter.
H. paused • second for the new sense
tion to subside, and without looking at
her be continued :
"It is • duty, and of such there can
be no avoidance without guilt."
"Very pretty. Been all the week er
learnin hit t'
"1 am called on to present you this
morning an erring sister," he continued,
linking hu hands together and bowing
them before him palma downward while
he rocked back upon his heels and
brought bre toes to the ground again,
"who Rot satisfied with violating at
home the proprieties of the domestic cir
ale and the commands and precepts od the
Scriptwrea, bee conte into the house of
the Lord defiant and rebellious, with
sneers upon ber bps and c'uterupt for
his minister and his people in her heart.
The evidence o1 this latter is before you;
of the former, her husband, a gentleman
wham you all know, will speak."
"Cukor' Todhunter was sitting on the
front neat at the elbow of Parana Riley,
his chin upon his shirt front, and deep
dejection written in every line of his
face. Then was also • pallor there,
he can probably the only persona un the
cborcb who bati not seen yr bare kis
wife enter. The parson eas forced to
rouse him with a touch.
"Gat ep Colonel," he said, "and date
your esus.'
"Hey 1' Tue parson motioned to a
spot in front and then to a sea of ex-
pectant faces turned toward hint. He
•understood and aided along with hie
white face to the crowd, his blue yes
searching every bench, until he reached
the place indicated, then he folded hid
poor white hands together and drew •}ed she would Then the committee re -
long breath of relief : Sister Todhenter t d It trans ired afterward that
was not in sight. He opened has mouth P
to speak, when an event occurred that T.dhont.r allied enoughtot
to
threw the crowd preempt into a must in- into tee house, and. in a sudden return
tense excitement. In moving to the ! ,f her psusion, •lammed the dour on the
To
front Colonel Todhunter come within Deck of Colonel n, an ter, who in -
four or five feet of his wife, to whom bas
calooked Inched in, and field ilia, a
back was halt tamed. H• had jet ant- prisoner wa`til a mutual understanding
isfied himself that he was .ecurr, sod was effected' As may be well under -
had .aid "I," when Sister Todhunter .turd, the teras were not liberal for
leaned forward, extended her crooked- Colonel! Tudhunter. handled umbrella its full length, deftly 1.14".
the strait an' narrow path." And he booked in the co14e of her husband's
thanked the Lord for the •seunot coat, and with one jerk landed bis I OfauraeSister 'Patentee was sun,-
backward and head first robe her L So manly expelled from the ehwreh. The
given in those linea which declare that. sudden was the act, sir utterly unexpeet- I affair furnished Sweetwater with • ossa
ed, that every body for an instant pees- l non for sever weeks. bet and b it
ed •aid gazed in "pen -mouthed aston•
isbment. Theo those in the roar tumbled
over each ether Icor better proiticns, and
big Elder Hamlin rushed to the
Colonel's assistance. The angry woman
met the rescuer with such energy that
bit alarmed ueygl,borr were compelled to
lead him outside and pour water oat his
head.
In the etean time Major Brows,
Celwa.l Ledbetter, Eider Buckner, Mr.
Culpeppper, and others were struggling
to release Colonel Todhunter, wb os- enn-
vulsirs play of legs mud awful express -
for ,f face indicated •pproaohine dis-
solution. The united strength of six
MOO was sufficient at last to effeet this,
and the colonel, brathles, arose.
"Are you hurt much, Colonel r'
shouted good Mrs. Buckner, who hod
crowded to the front. With one hand on
his head sad the other alruegling for
his handkerchief, which was in the
wrong coat-tail pocket, and with team
rolling down his cheeks, he replied soft-
ly :
"I had only a little hair left, grey
hair, madam ; 1 fear the has pulled that
out too."
The hubbub was indescribable, and
everybody was crowding to the frost.
Parton Riley waved thew back.
"Sit down," hs shouted. "We era's
do anything so long es you stand up !"
All dropped back into their state, exceed
about a deem of the most trustworthy
and dienified chnrehmen around the re-
fectory ester, who with a strong grip oa
the edge of her chair was holding her
position, while the talked to the men
nearest to her.
"You think rested mighty smart,
don't yet ? ' she mid, catching Peretti
Riley's eye. "An" yet wife my ! ain't
she stuck up. with her lace curtains aa"
tea -ponies ! Too period ter bents me,
let not too proud ter invite old Jane
( campy, wh o i boy stole a mala"
There was a shriek in the sae:once, and
Mr Grumpy, standing neer, hurried to
his wife.
"An" there's Tons Cslpepesr. Hr's
e* pretty mos ane to be settee' bin/ up
furs? eh°rah-else°era i saw him pees
my hones so drunk lea' weak he didn't
knew if he was gain' home or retain'
bark ' Arrais the thoughtless gentled.
Tom Culpepper's hahits were certainly
ur.furtaat,.
' An"there. Brother Rp'kes. He.
et bee hate ter wood out sr (Meech, siert
he An' hos entten is the grass en bed
that yer asset see bit front the road.'
Agin • sebdued *pelages from the
ga= asa
'Thi.ssadi.•imply owtrug0.. aid
&other Spik. to Mr. Joke ZdRw;y
Mater Tod-
' Tsai
* tar help you
Lathe.', en 1
-Willie the lamp hold• out to burn
The riles sinner mar return.'
Elder Hamlin ceased, and amid the
shuffling of feet that followed the deep
"Amen" which palled from the prompt
"Amen corner" back into the dilatory
recess beyond the last post, the congre-
Metion resumed their Deets. Then Per-
son Riley stepped forward, and in the
clear d.batiog society tones his wife
toyed so well, red the opening hymn :
"From eressla.ds icy mountains.
Prom lad'e's .oral strand."
Elder Backer stood up in advance of
the congregation and raised the tune its
• strong baritone that at once sprang out
boldly and challenged the whole asasmb
ly. He was instantly perswed and over
taken by Mn Culpepper's soprano, and
Mrs Buckner'• sweet contralto soon -
found an entering place. After her came
the deep ktumble-bee base of Colony
Ledbetter, who adjusted his gold -rimm-
ed glasses as he came in. This was the
ctatomary opening. No one in Sweet-
water would jtaye dreamed of invading
the melody with any sort of a voice until
Elder Buckner, Mrs Culpepper, Mn
Buckner, and Colonel Ledbetter bad ob
tallied a fair start. Any one .o impru-
dent would have drown the attetion of
the whole c.ngretati.a upon himself.
But the quartette well under way, er.ry
person was at liberty to rush in ; and so
on this or asius, soon, born aloft by the
united voices of the satire congregations
the grand old melody soiled out tied
swept far away down the pine aisles into
the peaceful Sebb.th heart:of the wood-
lands.
The last tone died away—as usual it
was the deep hum of Colonel La:better',
boss, which refused to be quieted for •
while. Then the congregation sank into
their lots, and Seder Hamlin stood ep
sad delivered a powerful sermon ape
the wits and her tree position.
Then cense the lone -looker f•,r moue
est.
Parson Ri'.y had deseseded from the
pulpit to .tate the business of the hoer,
withal every one awaited with feverish
impatiene., white a foam filled the door-
way, and Rester Tedb+ster, ie holiday
attire of red silk, blah lass, and a groat
grew to be an old topic, and $idea
hanter could vesture into town epos
her shopping withowt Mteaetimg univer-
sal attention and ouesesemt. able was a
cash customer, a fad that helped weeder -
fully to gain her defenders, and btt.ides,
many people regarded ber as vietorioes
in the church fight. sad enjoyed the
way she laid about her. But them was
no friendship between the h,tmele aide of
Sweetwater and $inter Tedhenter. She
had talked too plainly.
Reader, did you ever see a baby fade
awe- without apposes! cause, baffling
the "...lest ,,bysiciaes and wringing the
very life from its mother, bur by hour,
day by day 1—watch ite poor little lase
grow old and pinched, and Its Moat eyim
grow brighter esti/ they seemed to beta
like candk-flan,. im the empty soskete 1
So faded the little babe that seeded ie
the depths of its .oft neat oboe the Far-
sol's wife showed the •ambled teatrono
of Sweetwater her len sed oertaine is
the shadowed room back of the peeler.
Day by day the mother eat it her low
rocker, her tender ryes epee the wast-
ing form, a fever in ber owe beak aid
a weight upon her heart that had driven
odt every tsar -drop amd left her power -
em to weep By day end by math* abs
at there, bathing the babe in the dry
grief of despair. The little fame la,
bared before her -lege of • thimble•
thicken, with the skin .reaped epos
them. arms that were dm arms of a doff,
and hands that scarce .beaked the light
that fell upne titan when the seetbsr
lifted them again and again in bet meta
despair.
The doctnr bad yielded ep hope ; sad
ave one or two, the •athbote had
withdrawn ; and to-Dey, the day of whisk
i write, the another eat waiting foe the
rustle of the angel's wing".
As theshe eat, .ed
w. ly IM door-
way was darkened, and Sister Todkeater
from the mountain of her awful presence
looked down epos the semi..
'Why hain't yes emit fel me ?" she
said bluffly. Person Riley'. wife Looked
op and then hack seals. $be did not
comprehend that she wee addressed.
Sister Todhunter honked •t the baby.
Then the nn her hands seder it g.et17
end raid it, pillow amd all. Twee bet
a feather's weight. The ember yielded
meekly, and 1 seemed bet eyes .ssiemety
upon the greet mom lobe had .nivel.
"fa then say bops r i asked bomb-
ly.
"lines P' Nest Tedbwst.t sage bee
a kook of .earn. "1 Assail ay se 1 r.•
seen many or sicker kitten 'm this get
well. Ao git ass some mullets.
"Mallets 1"
"Yea, melleia. Don't yet kms seal -
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