Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-03-11

AsocAo uohotiouSS pdyIuS CuSu uOWu al
ways in clean new greenbacks. He
could always be distinguished from
the rest of the congregation by two
circumstances: He never took his ulster
and his queer-shaped skull-cap off dur
ing service; and he never took his eyes
Oft Mr.. Beecher while that divine was
preaching orpraying. Indeed, he paid
such close and fattering attention,
that Mr.. Beecher got into the habit of
directing his remarks, directly to the
new parishioner, and it came to be q
saying in the congregation that the
Plymouth pastor no longer preached to
Plymouth Church, but exclusively to
pew 40.
At last Henry Ward Beecher and
Brother Shearman put their heads to-
gether to determine some means of u.s.
certaining who this singular brother
was and why he chose to sit under Ply
mouth preaching. "It..may be a-trick
of Frank Moulton's," suggested the
wary lawyer.
{" 1t may be. ;.:it may be, said Beech
er. " I feel that I am on the brink of
a moral Passaic Falls. We must cap
ture the secret of his attendance; eh,
Shearman
So one Friday evening the sly at
torney brought q gimlet, a screw driver,
and few inch screws with him to
prayer meeting. He seated himself
Immediately behind the mysterious par
ishioner and, while the congregation
was employed at devotions, craftily
screwed the hem of the strangers ul-
ster at the back of the bench on which
he sat. A couple of points in geometry
fix parallel. A couple of screws in
Plymouth lecture room fixed the mys-
terious parisioner. He was thus fairly
caught in the tolls, and while he was
endeavoring to extricate himself at the
close Of the meeting, Mr.. Beecher came
down and confronted him, while
the agile Shearman locked the doors
after the retreating congregation. The
stranger was prisoner in the hands of
the pastor and the Weeper.
Alas The conspirators, like Renault
in Venice Preserved" had conspired
too much. They had planned trap
and caught Tarter.
Mr.. Beecher advanced with friend
ly smile on his face and an extended
hand, "We ought to know each other
better, sir" said he.
I" We shall said the stranger, taking
Mr.. Beecher's hand and giving it grip
that left five red spots where the ends
of his fingers and thumb had been" :"
".We shall know each other better, Mr..
Beecher."
"I have remarked your regularity Of
meeting and commendable attention to
my sermons, continued Mr.. Beecher.
=" 1t is pleasant, in these days, to SEQ
such true piety."
Thanks" said the stranger, =" don't
mention it.
This is Brother Shearman," said
Mr.. Beecher, indicating the Centennial
Weeper Nh , graceful sweep OF his
arm.
" Happy to know him happy to know
him" said the mysterious parishioner,
with great politeness. "Col. Jim Fisk
Jr., has often spoken to me of Mr..
Shearinan.
CT beg your pardon, sir, insinuated
Beecher, but how shall I address you
do notremember hearing you mention
your name"
What noble neck and fine head r.
said the stranger, not to Mr.. Beecher,
but as if in soliloquy.
"Do you reside in Brooklyn, sir?"
persisted the pastor. ~ .'.-..,
How beautifully is the intellectual
balanced by the animal !" went on the
stranger, still in soliloquy.
II should be pleased to call upon
you, Mr.-?" said Beecher.
"And I should be happy to serve
you with legal advice at time. Terms
reasonable and conducted with dispatch
and almost invariable success, Mr..
---- 2" said Shearman, handing his pro-
fessional card to the new parshioner.
"And the massive, leoine features, "
continued the stranger, rubbing his
hands with glee. Sand the true piety
of the lines about the lips aud under
the eyes. o, this is manly fellow;
this is rare game"
"Who the devil is hep" thought
Shearman, also.
Precisely, gentlemen, precisely p
exclaimed the stranger, answering the
thought that had not been expressed in
words. ,u
Then the stranger slowly unbuttoned
his ulster and stood up, leaving the
overcoat fastened to the bench by the
willy Shearman's two screws. Then he
tapped the floor trinmphantly with his
cloven foot and whisked about o tail
merry as long as Mr.. Everet's speech.
Then he took off his queer shaped skull.
cap and revealed two horns as appall.
| ing to Mr.. Beecher as the horns Of his
own dilemma. Then he smiled serene,
| " upon the astonished pastor and CON
founded Weeper. Gentlemen" be
gan the no longer nameless parishicner
cit is q long time since I have been I
regular attendant before at church ant
4 .----~~-.f r @~nokJ,