The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-02-20

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Portable little cottage that the young
minister made his home. Ole day
while this Sister was busily engaged
giving his apartment good cleaning
against the return of the occupant, Sis
ter Jones chanced to drop in, and find:
ing what her friend was about, ventured
to say:
"Y You will not have that trouble very
much longer, sister Hawke, l eeckon'"
.d'd like to know why not ? replied
sister Hawke.
"Oh, no offence to you. I'm certain
sure that Brother Allworth is nightly
pleased with his home, but-well, you
know it would be only natural tor him
to make his home with his wite's rela-
lions-"
"Oh, yes now I know what you
mean. Sister Smith was in here mln-
ute ago and she said as much herself:
Well, Patience is nice gal, but l should
think she was little too old for our
brother-but that's a good fault
"Sister Smith Patience Marry
Brother Allworth !' gasRed sister Jones'
scarcely able to speak for her astonlsh'
ment.
"Why, what an awful and here
she stopped short, either from prudential
motives, or want of breath. Possibly it
flashed through her mind that sister
Hawke was not safe person to express
her opinion to, concerning the truthful
ness of another sister, and she did not
care to be called up before the church
for accusing one of the members OF direct
falsehood. So, gaining a little compo-
sure, she proceeded:
"Sister Smith may think what she
pleases. but | know that brother ALL
worth only goes there as his duy calls
him, and he comes to my house on a
different business. Every body can see
If they choose to use their eyes-that
it's my Sally he's looking after | hope
Won won't speak of this to any body"
Sister Hawke, of course, promised to
be very quiet, and gained from her sister
the same with regard to what she had
told her about Patience Smith, and as a
testimony thereof, before night all East
Vile were busy considering this lmpor-
tant question.
The delegates returned. 'Is brother
Allwseth coming back2" was the uni.
versal inquiry.
"Yes," and then the worthy brothers
eyes grew sad. faces long, and shaking
their heads in very omlnous manner,
said:
"They feared that they had all made
very grave mistake; brother Allworth
was not what he should be-
"But he is all he need be for as, and
good enough for u.s. said sister Hawke.
"Ah, so We all thought. But now
oh dear, dear, what wickedness there is
in this world! Who can be true = Lis
ten, while l whisper what l kmou, what
my own eyes have Witnessed" and Bro
ther Jones whispered in the various Sis
ters' ears the story, but il a voice so
low and deep, that we could not catch
it, my dear reader, and will have to
wait patiently for while to hear the
charge.
A deep groan escaped from the lips
Of the listeners! And then some one
ventured to suggest that there must be
some mistake.
"No, it was too true. Brother Jones
could and aeould prove it."
"Oh!" groaned forth Sister Smith:
"What a deceiving man! How we all
loved him! and only think, sister, he
has cbristened our Children"
"Thank heaven, we can have them
christened over again !" said Sister
Brightthought.
"Buried our dead" resumed Sister
Smith.
| ..That can't be undone," answered
another sister.
.Married our daughters-'
"No, not quite, although you offered
him a good chance and great induce
ments."
"And you ought to thank him for re-
sisting your attempts" said Sister
Hawke, spitefully, and and darting an
angry look toward both Sister Smith and
Brother Jones'. She was very fond of
the young minister, and held slight
hope despite all The seeming truth Of Of
the charge) that he would prove all
things right in the end.
| The minister returned, and very soon
discovered that something was wrong
Every body looked dark and gloomy
The sun even did not seem to shine as
brightly, or the sky so blue as it was
The whole atmosphere was chilled
Merry Sally Jones's ringing laugh wat
hushed; Patience Smith relaxed into
deeper gloom than ever, and his cordial
kind and attentive hostess was quiet
and looked at him SO sad, and wore &
look of such disappointment whenever
H., What co1ld II moan