The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-03-28

stared ut her sitting there, as they
went down the aisle. Ifit had not
been for the carpet. bag, they would
not have thought there was any
thing singular in her proceeding,
for there was an afternoon service,
and people often staid over, and
ate their lunch they had brought
with them in the church; but they
certainly never brought their
dough-nuts and cheese in a large.
sized carpet-bag.
There were few, from q distance,
who were going to remain till after
noon meeting today. They got to-
gether and covertly eyed Aunt
Rhoda, after the rest had lett the
church. She cody opened her car.
pet.bag aud took out some crackers
and cheese, and began to eat. They
whispered and queried while they
ate their own lunch, and finally
some OF them went over aud inter-
viewed Aunt Rhoda, but they found
out nothing their hints aud iudi.
rectquestions were alike unavaillng,
aud not one Of them dared ask her
directly what she had brought her
carpet.bag for. To tell the truth,
they began TO suspect that Aunt
Rhoda's troubles had affected her
mind, and they had, naturally, u
little delicacy about asking her II
she were crazy.
When sue sat composcdly down
again beside her carpet.bag, after
afternoon service, there was a com.
motion. People collected around
the curch doors and talked the
matter over. Something ought to
be done, they agreed. So they
stopped the minister and consulted
him, and finally he went back to
speak to Aunt Rhoda.
"Well, Mrs. Carpenter he said,
when he approached the pew where
she sat, her white straw with its
purple roses tipped back at an
angle ofdefiance, show do you do y
Aunt Rhoda cautiously reached
out her hand in it's wrinkly glove
to meet his proffered one "Nicely,
thanky,n replied she.
awe been meaning to come to
see you all last week." the minis.
ter went on, "and l thought to
myself, when l looked around and
saw you still seated here, that l
would come back and speak to you
and that we could walk home to-
gether."
81 amt going home,n said Aunt
Rhoda. She set her thin lips, and
her spectacles glared defautly.
"Not going home," repeated the
minister In helpless amazement,
"No, amt goin' home. amt
got any home to go to. As for my
livi1 any longer IN q home that
ain't mine, an usin' things that
amt mine, l won't do it; but this
pew is mine, an my husband bought
and paid Tor it, and here | am 60
in to set.'
"But, dear Mrs. Carpenter, how
can youi How long
"Fm u goin' TO set hero till my
crackers an cheese give out this
carpet-bag is pretty near full of
'em, an by that time | think the
Lord will send us deliverauce. Pm
goiu' to set right here III this house
and pray for it. | think he'll send
Annie Carpenter Mather."
'sBut you can't stay here all
alone; why, you'll be atraid!' cried
Wilson, desperately. lie was a
young, inexperienced minister, all
unprepared for such q contingency
as this. lie was utterly bewildered.
AT one time he would think Aunt
Rboda crazy, and at another time
not; 10 fact, he did not know what
to think, but he did want to do his
duty as clergyman.
"Afraid in the Lords house u
replied Aunt Rhoda; "why, I'll feel
safer here than even l did in my
own. No, it amt no use talking;
Pm going to sit right here in my
own pow.
She drew the carpet.bag closer to
her side, and sat up sitter than
ever. Poor Mr.. Wilson was entire
ly at loss. He wanted to do his
duty, but what was his duty I
Words were clearly OF no avail,
and he could not drag this &C.
centric old lady out of her pew aud
home by main force. He finally
left her temporarily mistress of the
situation, and hurried to the house
OF Deacon Harris, one of the pillars
of the church, and bis right-band
man.
When the deacon had the facts
of the case stated to him he laugh
esl inmoderately. Mr.. Wilson
smiled q little, too. Before this
only the perplcxities of the situa-
tion had presented themselves to
him.
"Well, III tell you what | think, .
said the deacon, when he could get
his breath /; ~ think ii the old lady
wants to set there we'd better Let
her, till she gets sick of it. She'll
be glad enough to get out of it III
q few days. She'll be as safe there
as alone in her own house, and
safer; and it's hot weather, sc
there won't be any trouble about
her gettin' cold. I'll speak to my
wife, an ther1l be some hot vic
tuals carried in III warrant. Sh,
can't come to any harm that see