The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-28

Fairweathers pastorate, his people hac
very gradually undergone great
change. There was little OF their NIL
used strength put into use many soclr
ties were started which were destined t'
prove of great good and yet so qulctl y
had all the work been done, that eacl
particular enterprise was attributed t.
some particular person, and the minister
obtained very little credit for it.
To Mr.. Fairweatller's satisfaction, he
had learned so far to partakc of Meri.
tons favorite dish, that very Sunday
morning he ate his plateful of beans.
TO celebrate the anniversary OF his
coming to Merton, Deacon Tibbs called
over in the afternoon, with Paul lar-
messed into the cArryall. Mrs. Ilbbs
and Melinda were on the back scat. The
deacon held the r,ns, with broad smile
on his genial face, and pointed to the
seat beside him with warm invitation
to the minister to occupyit during ride
into the country.
1t was the first time he had ridden
after Paul since lie came mp that Satur-
day night from the station. Deacon
Tibbs usually drove the old horse Pansy,
and always seemed Il little reluctant to
have the minister see too many of the
colts fine qualities. They had not
driven far before Fuirweather saw there
had been n great change in Paul; there
was the same easiness of gate, but MIL
gled with it slight reluctance, an oc-
casional quick start and toss of the head,
which seemed to come from nervousness.
He felt that in some way his spirit had
been stamped down, though by no means
unsubdued, and he had been frettel and
his will 80 constantly crossed, 50 tcased,
that his amiable disposition seemed
entirely gone.
81 can't imagine said the deacon,
"what on earth's the matter with Paul ;
he has hardly raid the time I've spent
on him, for he's getting kind o'cross and
restive, ands as set us set can be-.
He had scarcely finished the words
before Paul reared and came to Il dead
stop. The deacon chirruped. The
horse laid his ears back close to his head,
planted his feet firmly, and seemed to
stifftn into stoue Deacon Tibbs seized
the whip and laid it squarely and fairly
on his back. For n second he trembled,
and then gave one dash forward and
broke into fearful run.
For the first time the deacon realized
Paul's wonderful strength. The power
which had so long lain untriel came into
full play. The ground was passed over
with o rapiditv incredible, even for a
runaway. Deacon Tibb's face grew
white the pulling and jerking into
which he put his whole strength had
not the slightest effect on the horse
His mouth seemed of the same material
as the bit.
There was one hope-a high railway
just before them, and surely the horse
would draw up and become manageable
then
But with a lightncss and ease scarcely
credible, he carried them up the hill.
1t seemed certain death there. For ut
the foot of the hill the bridge was up
for repairs, and the not over-stOut rope
stretched across the road would surely
break like thread before his fury.
Mr.. Fairweather, as they nearrd the
top of the hill, took the reins from the
Deacon's fingers, and spoke rs quietly
as possible to the exertcd horse. But
his voice and his quiet, steady pull
seemed to have no effect on Paul. He
! dashed down the hill Mt IL rapid rate.
! No, not quite He was certainly slack.
ening little. Again, Mr.. Fairweathcr
spoke in tones of authority, but calmly
. L. ,,,ll,.1 l,,r,Iar fln r.ipc
/ Paul drew up; before he quite reach
ed the rope he came to dead stop.
Fairweathcr sprang from the carriage
and went TO his head. He was almost
startled at the calmness he met in the
horses eye, but there was a look Of de-
libcrate anger, which gradually wore
away as he cnressed him.
The carriage did not prove to be
broken ut all, hut Deacon Tibbs, as well
as his wife and daughter, decidedly re-
fused to ride home, and, as walking
seemed to De ont of the question for
Mrs. Tibbs-wh0 knows what Miss Me-
linda might have done Pit was deemed
best that Fairwrather should ride bnck
on PAM, and drive my horse and car
riagc ont for the three.
/ He knotted the harness into stirrups,
sprang on his back and turned toward
the town. Paul had by no means lost
his nervous defiance, but this gradually
wore away. Fairweathers firm tones
seemed much more, or rather pleasantly
! less effective than the dracon's whip.
And while l WAS helping him to hitch
1 1,o ,l,,1, ~ OF {ir4 4a,1
; of the animal he had always so highly
admired.
The accident ended agrccably after all.
Mrs. Tibbs refused to take back
sent on the homewar,l route, for she
wanted to be, so she said, where she
could Jump Sin case the crittcr run. ,"
And SO the minister and Melinda were
scat.mates on the homcward Journey.
She had but little to sny, but her sweet
young face gazed from the carriage win
dow with IL really thoughtful look.
Mr.. Fairweather watched her with
curiosity. "I do believe the girls
thinkin"," he said to himself. "There's
something to her after all.
Although my acquaintance with our
new minister dated only year back, we
had been thrown SO intimately together
that l had already found in him my most
valued friend. 1t was long after this ride
that I began to see that the interest
awakened some time before in Melinda
Tibbs was gradually deepening. One
nigh iokingly said to him:
. "Oh, by the way, Fairweather, it
seems TO me it is about time for yOu to
settle down in a home Of your own"
cit will be n long time before then,
johnson" "
"Needi it be-" answered. Couldn't
Won persuade Miss Melinda"
Fairweather's face flushed. 81 don't
know what you are thinking about,
Johnson. do feel that Mclindl--I can't
express it to you. and I see you know
how it is. The first time saw her |
wished she could be placed i'll circum-
stances to bring out what there was in
her
"Likc Paul." suggested.
of, indeed, she really had any depth
of character. Since then she has orca-
5ioually given me some glimpses which
encouraged me to think that IL wider
sphere and larger knowledgc-in short,
development in every direction would
make of her as noble woman rs ever
lived"
Fairwcather arose abruptly and
walked to the window, mechanically
crossed back and forth from one end Of
the room to the Dther for sometime, and
+Lon +Lrou himself in q chair nv my