The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-02
WOULDN'T MARRY A PREACHER
BY ZILMA ZERLE.

Elcne Adair was a wild, reckless
cir! Of sixteen, caring for nothlns ne
nobody. She had no mother to. .givt
her kind and loving advice, and tho
her father was lovin; good man
he did not understand the way.,o
T.. .E..:::~.,S.ins into tjcction the wild
young !adyhood; so Elcno grew W
an uncuIti7ated and untraineI Dover
Her cid aunt sometimes demonstrated
but the more she said the worse
Elenc seemed to be, SO the old lady
did as Elder Adair did, "kcpt hcl
peace" thinking surely there comes
81 time when the ware of youthful
iancies Of their own accord break on
contend!ng rocks, and expose tho
deep feeling soul within. - .e,~., .
E!enc had, her sports; she hunted
with her dogs and hergan, tishcd and
raced her horse when the mood seized
her, which was very often. She had
no companion when in school, for her
nature was not like other children :.
Studied well, but eormcnted both
teachers and scholars to her hearts
content.
One day in June she had roamed
and rambled all day long, and coming
sayIy tripping to the house, passed
on INTO the parIor, her dogs, Festus
aad Paul, closely following behind :
ircr hat in hand hair falling loosely
back. held 10y comb, and turning
itself into curls ut the end, teverish
glow on her checks, all combined TO
make her look like a gypsy spritc of
the woods. On the threshoid she
suIdcu Y halted, for II handsome
young stranger convcrscd with her
father, who arose and introduced him
as MIR. Lester. ExcuSing himself to
attend 20 his farm duties. he left
Elenc to entertain him, without one
word as to who he Was.
She ~as pleasant in conversation,
and I good listener, which is better
1han good talllcr; SO they convrrscd
agrecably for some time, when the
church was spoken about, and Mr.
Lester asked her something concern-
ing their rchurch in Stanton. -
Indeed, sir, I know nothing at al
:ahout the church here; it is Il place |
never go to-" And Sic raised her
dark. restless eyes to his, and her
lips curved to show The dislike she
felt. ~ : :;
He4 looked at her with surprisefor
q few moments, then said:
Excuse the question, but your
fatAer is an clder,' is be not?'
Yes, he is; dtpapa is not Z, you
must know.'S ::
Surprise gave away to pity in his
eyes, 10. sec one Of her age and sur
roundings speak with such careless
hess on such a subject. ....
"Ann may l ask. Miss Adair, why
You DO not attend church ?"s = ~
"Oh, / can Easily explain that she
answered, a little amused by his
inqnisitiveness.; Gust because l never
could sit still long enough to hear 4
sermon, for what stirring creature
could sit whole hour and listen to
~ preacher jumhling together words
to tell the fate Of mankind? and after
he is through, poor old Webster feels
q terrific. loss all his ovcrgrown
words are gone, and these have been
tied together by Latin, Greek and
Hebrew. And oh, spch q conglom.
Grafton Of wisdom who could sit and
drink it into his being could your
she asked, looking at him roguishiy.
Darwin bcster was sure thcn.that
Eene FAdair dil not know that he
was the new minister called to Stan,
tor, and he answered firmly aud em;
phatiraIly- -. - '.-s .. -. = >.
"Yes, [ can listen to a ser;aon."
"Can you? Do you go for your
own edifcation and improvement, OF
because others go? or do you like
to note the last fashion out?
IL 90 to preaeh-the- gospel to men,
answered Darwin with emphatic
pride. 80. = -. :.
For moment only was Elcne dis
concerted she gave him one hur'led
glance. apd the solemn hfmness o;
bis face restored her to herself and
she burst into merry laugh. Dar'
win Lester not expect such turn,
because he did not yet know her.
After laughing, she .nonvhalantly
said: =
'.HadI only looked atyou I might
hayo known YOU were q preacher
because your nose is so long
This speech opened his eyes com
pletely to her nature, and the lecture
he was framing for her hc never gave
her.
Il suppose you are tho preach
err? Fheard papa saying something
about some one coming.
II am, Miss Adair; and hop
among my old people there are no
many Ike yourselE" u. e.
II an the only one; papa says 80