The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-10
The Fighting Parson.
ONE OF TIE CHURCH MILITANT.

/ most capacity. and the large audience
I sat as still as death itself. listening
] with sort ot M,d,hlcss attention to
the words which the old Whitr-hairrd
/ bishop was speaking from the platform.
/ Directly 100 front nt him. indeed the en-
tire lower floor WIS filed with men
men with certain sdmCucss iu their
dress and actions. % similarity which
one common pursuit usually impHTts to
. its followers. men who all together bent
/ forward with 70 strange ,dgcrncss to
. catch the tcW Wurdsui the brief address.
. In the galleries were ranged other men.
/ not So iutpuily eager and without that
/ professional badge which seemed tO
mark the watchers below and scattered
among them were brighter hu,d gar
mrnts tn mark where some one of the
/ other sex leaned back to gaze with "a
/ Kind ut laugud interest NO the proceed
/ ings ON the platform. II is conference
/ of Methodist ministers. and for the last
/ five days they have been thus IN session.
] and this the fifth and last has brought
! with II the appointments for the COM
/ ing year No wonder they looked ou SO
/ earnestly. with % little shade of anxiety
/ dlikcnlug each iucc as the long list OF
/ names were slowly called: no wonder
/ one smiled at bis wish being gmt.ird
| ami another sighed at receiving a new
| and harder field of labor slowly and
/ In the trembling voice OF age the white
| haired Bishop read down the list:
John Tracy Berwick Centre.
Philip Carhoy -NcchauicsylIlr.
| ThoWs Rugglr- loour street
| Church
Amos Hart North Burton.
| Frederick Gordon Thucr Forks.
| And then % little breath of relief ran
| through the house. and hard-fcaturcd
| man back 10y the door leaned over to-
| ward his ucighhor and whispered softly.
| you'll want all Of Your nerve now,
Gordon, and as the man addressed
| nodded silently In reply dozen Ut the
! delegates sitting near turned to look at
| him who had received the appointment
/ to hc most dreaded of all. The survey
| Was evidently "A satisfactory one, for af-
| ter single glance at the firm chin. thin
| lips. and rather daring eyes they turned
/ away to resume their listening express
| ing the general verdict in the muttrrcd
| words, "llc'll do Meanwhile Gordon
| sat there, silently gazing straight ahead
| of him, In evident strict attention to
| the reading. but in reality husily review
| ing everything he could recall regard
| ing the disadvantages Of Three Forks.
| II was twenty miles from any railroad
and at least halfway mp the barren
sides of Bald Mountain. 1t had already
| driven away two miuistcrsut his church
/ In succession. II had the reputation of
/ being the headquarters of some very
| hard citizens and WAS surrounded 10y u
| district principally inhabited hy moon
| sinners. who Wrr" IN uu ALMOST con
| slant warfare with the revenue officers.
| and rs cudod th.scatulogucu of its vices
| the Rev. Frederick Gordon shut ms
| white teeth closely together and vowed
| stcruly To win his way there or not
come back
Then as the mouotonous tone of the
| readers voice ceased he arose with the
others and followed quietly the stream
| of humanity out into the summer sun
| light. In Tn" outer entry. where the
two streams from the lower floor and
| upper gallery came mlnglug together,
| and, with ChukCd current. flowed he
| tween the wide doors. he felt hand
| fall upon his arm rs If to attract attcn-
| ton, and. partly turning. he looked
| down surprised into u pair of upturncd
! eyes, bright rs sturs half believing the
! touch upon his arm mistake. The
eyes dropped llttl' before his own and
a flush sprang instantly into the girls
! clear check. as she asked a little doubt
fully:
Are you not the Rev. Nh Gordon?'
Yes he answered, "such is my
| name. Did Won wish. then. To see me-
you 20 t0 Three Forks" she con-
| tinupd. speaking low enough. 81 that
| the others passing would not hear at
| least that was Your appointment. am
! Belle Chrswick. the urganist Of the
church there and-aud wouldn't 20
! If were YOU.
But the reverend gentleman had
! crashed one of her hands and was shak-
! ing il warmly regardless of the curious
chances of lunkcrS-ou.
eff YOU are from Three Forks" he
exclaimed gallamly. at cannot he AS
bad us painted. and shall most ccrtaiu-
! " 20. DO YOU really think there will
! be- trulIhlry' he asked more calmly. as
| they walked slowly down the street
keeping step with the others.
Yes, de-" she answered soberly.
| "Thpre must be. The last man the CON
ference sent there WAS a sneak" and
the girls eyes flashed rs she emphasized
| the word. "Ilc gave information To the
revenue men that caused considerable
| loss, and the men swear To prevent the
next one from having the chance. |
don't blame them" she added hercely.
I'm little of an outlaw myself"
mo more do | -" ne answered calmly.
looking with considerable admiration at
the girls kinding checks. They
would never find me IA sneak. | think.
yet must suffer for the wrong-doiug of
0C''n h.s H i,' n,aa , ,,v' IIn. ANY mus
We'll. really. Miss Chcswick I don't bar.
t;c,I,rlv 90 a. tn tIe d,,,',,,',,,, ,,or, AZ