The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-01-21

her. There they were all three of 'cm,
watching the comet and studying the
heavens"
GA proper study for a clergyman, "
said DR.. Slow.
And he was pointing out all the
con%sternations, and it seemed to me they
was looking at him instead of the stars, u
pursued Miss Rich.
at would be a complication" sug-
gested Mrs Phelps. ''if, while he's court
ing Lucretia, Susan should get in love
with him"
ut wouldn't be no uSe," said Mrs.
Grimm. "Lucrctia's that smart she'd
make him believe it was her he was dy-
ing for
The Shaws had enough to keep the
wolf from the door, but nothing to spare
they owned their house, but kept no
servant. "IIclp would be dreadtully in
their way" Miss Rich declared. 81
wonder they don't feel glad they can't
afford any"
Susan always wore the simplest gar
ments, which she designed and executed
herself, while Lucretia-"Wcll, if there's
ANYTHING that units Lucrctia for her
future position at the head of the par
ish," confessed Mr., Phelps, "it's her
love of tiuery."
Lucrctia always blossomed out in a
pretty spring bonnet-whilc Susan made
her last years one anSwcr-and a smart
! new SUIT made in the latest wrinkle.
II was about this time that the parish
picnic occuIred-an institution which
everybody believed in. Hadn't there
been more matches made at the last than
during all the year besides? And wasn't
it a fine chance to test Mrs. Phelps re-
cipcs, Miss Rich'S cream-pies and Mrs.
DR.. Slows tarts! OF course Lucretla
went, and Mr.. Lindsay with her. Susan
happened to be making preserves and
| pickles that day, and the berries wouldn't
keep, and so she staid at home. At about
the middle of the afternoon, when they
had had dinner and cleared away, and
things were Il little slow, and they
wanted somebody to start some music,
Mr.. Lindsay was nowhere to be found.
"Oh. he's gone off with Lucrctia
somewhere" said Miss Rich, who felt it
her duty to account for him.
NO; there's Lucretia now, talking
about free-will with DR.. Slow"
"P'r'aps he's gene home to write his
sermon" suggested somebody else. the
picnic grove being only half mile from
town.
"Or he's finding tongues in trees and
scrmonS in stones out here"
But at sunset Mr.. Lindsay strollcd
back, with Susan on his arm. in time to
Join them at tea, and he and Susan made
the coffee, and pitched the tunes they
sang before the day ended.
Nov wasn't that real Thoughtful in
Mr.. Lindsay to 60 after Susan? That's
what | call real Christian, and a brother
in-law worth having" commented one
old lady.
But when Mrs. Bishop, who had
staid ut home with a teething
baby, reported that Mr.. Lindsay
had not gone home to write his sermon,
but had walked straight into Susan's
kitchen, and had helped her seal up the
preserve jars and set them away, and had
sat in the front porch an hour or two af-
terward with her when he might have
been with Lucretia - reading secular
poetry, and not DR.. Watts or Charles
Wesley, either, the parish rose in its
wrath to a woman. This would never
do; Lucretia must not be trifled with.
Mr.. Lindsay had inspired hope in her
rort1a hoorf. hn p,,tsf marry 1prat1a nr
leave the parish
You see," explained Mr.. Phelps,
eve want to settle you, Mr.. Lindsay.
You suit us to a T, but it kinder seems
as if you ought to propose to Lucretia
Shaw, you've been SO attentive"
"Propose to Lucretia Shaw. repeated
the young man, with q startled air.
"What has that to do with. settling me-?
IS every clergyman who comes to Lennox
obliged to propose to Lucrctia Shaw as
a preliminary preparations"
"Well, no. not exactly, laughed Mr..
Phelps, mot unless he's give the parish
reason to expect it. You know we don't
want the credit Of settling a philander-
ing parson who makes love right and
left. I'd no idee the thought would be
new to you, but the parish has set its
heart on the match, YOU see, and we
wouldn't like to see a man, if he was
eloquent in prayer, who'd trifc with the
affections of one of the flock, you know"
''But. my dear SIR" SAID Mr.. Lindsay,
I'm not in love with Lucrctia Shaw.
You wouldn't have me perjure MYSELF"
"Not in love with Lucretia? The par
ish won't believe its own eyes agin, |
reckon"
swell, said MIR. Grimm, severely, 1--WE
couldn't think of settling q preacher
that hadn't 10 more principle than to
throw over Lucretla Shaw after TAX
ing teaaso much to her house, and rails
ing her hopes, as 1t WERE
"Pcrhaps," said Mr.. Lindsay, after a
pause-"perhaps pou will be able to for
give me for not proposing to Lucretia
when l tell you that | have already pro-
posed to Susan. You see, it would CON-
plicate matters q little if were to accedc
to your wishes. However, | have lately
received a call from a Western parish,
and should feel obliged to decline the
Lennon parish, even il you had thought
me worthy of it, as this other furnishes
q wider field of uscfulness-'
"And larger salary, suppose" added
Mr. Grimm.
"And larger salary" allowed Mr..
Lindsay. double, in fact"
II suppose" persisted Miss Rich, af-
ter the w~edding-'I suppose Lucretia
must have refused him t.'-Hoper's
Basar.