The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-01

ueu luC IiulC alIlfcu, NllhluS
asked the girl if he might accompany
her. She laughed uproariously.
You arc the first person that ever
wanted to so with me anywhere" she
said.
ut does not, however, give you cause
to refuse"
sob, I'm not going to refuse. The
girls-and l hate nearly all Of them
think it is awful smart to catch q new
preacher"
81 hope that this alone docs not in
tlucncc you to accompany me-"
"No."
"You have q nobler motive
"Yes, | want to see how foolish it will
make father look"
You ought not talk that way"
"Why, don't You like to hear the
TRUTH"
ooh, yes. but no one should entertain
such truths. They are pernicious. A
truth can be quite as bad as a lie"
"Well, l have another reason
II am glad to hear it,"
cit is a better reason than the other
one"
"What is it,"
81 want to sec how curious it will make
mother look"
",Miss Eillingsly, you arc provo
king"
80 arc you. They arc ready. Como
on"
Mr.. Billingsly and his wife were sur
prised to sec the preacher walking with
their daughter, for, having listened to
ncighbors who are never complimentary,
they thought that Hattie was the worst
child in the world.
The young preacher was q success NJ
first he was embarrassed, but receiving,
from the kindly faces around him, an in.
spiration of confidence, he threw of all
restraint and thrilled the congregation.
GLOW did you like my scrmonG" he
asked of Hottie as they were walking
along the road.
1t did first rate for a beginner"
The preacher was disappointed. OF
all the people in the house, he desired
m ost to impress the girl. pcrcciving his
disappointment, and suffering q slight
sting of rcmorse, she added:
1T was the best sermon | ever heard.
The heather was touched"
lie looked earnestly at her. She
laughed so loud that Billingsly and his
wife, who were walking some distance
in advance, looked back at her.
"You do not call yourself a heather
do you?"
"Ycs."
"You have no cause to call yourself a
heather. Are not your parents good
Christians2"
Eyes, but I am q heather. Wonder
what would become of me if | were to
die. Oh, l know. would he buried
"Miss Blllingsly, YOU should not talk
So"
"Do you know why l am so bad!'
81 do not know that you are so bad
lam though"
"Tben, why are you2"
because. ever since l can remember,
everybody has told me how bad am. ]
must have been q repulsivc child, for l
cannot remember that Il visitor to our
house ever took me up and carressed
me. Nothing could make me bitter, so
| lust became bad. l have made many
attempts TO behave myself, but the first
thing knew, something would come
up to turn me back. | know th:t | am
almost a woman-but we have talked
enough about it. | have already talked
more freely to you than | have ever
talked to anyone else"
Wilkins boarded with Blllingsly. The
preacher tried in vain to engage the girl
in another serious conversation. She did
not avoid him, but when he attempted
t. draw from her a serious expression,
she would make perplexing replies.
A great revival was organized ut tic
little church. Ilettic would not walk with
the preacher, and, in fact, she would
not have attended the meeting had not
ker father compelled her to do so. One
evening, just before church time, the
old gentleman called Hettic. He re.
ccived no answer. The old fellow
ravcd. lie searched the premises, but
could not find her. The preacher was
gricved and Mrs. Billingsly was humili-
ated. Thay went to church without
the girl. When they had gone, Hottie
came out from her hiding place. Her
eyes were red, and her cheeks were tear
stained. She attempted to read, but
threw down the book. She tried to
laughbut burstintotears The clock struck
nine. Brushing back her hair, she stood
for a moment as though she were deeply
thinking, then, throwing a light shawl
around her shoulders, she rushed from
the house.
The preacher had begun to call for
mourners; the brothers and sisters had
begun to sing an old hymn, when Hcttic
entered the church. Without looking up
she walked quickly to the mourncrs'
bench and knelt down. The people were
astonished. When the services were
closed. the preacher locked for Hcttlc.
but she had disappeared. He did not
see her at the breakfast table tine next
morning. In apology, Mrs. Billingsly
said that her daughter was not we'll. She
did not come down to dinner, neither
did she make her appearance at the sup
per table. The old man was much
softened toward the girl, and before
going to church he went up and kissed
her. 1t was such a surprise, it moved
her so deeply that she sobbcd aloud.
That night when the preacher called
for mourncrs, IIettie suddenly appeared
She looked at no one but witha low cry,
she sank upon the bench. People who
had never had q kind word to say of the
girl, gathered around her and whispered
consoling words in her ears. Everyone
seemed to be glad that Mean Hct was
unable 10 longer fight against the spirit.
The girl was so earnest that the meet
ing was prolonged. Just as an old eX-
horter arose to say that the services
would be brought to a close, Hottie
sprang to her feet, uttered q cry OF joy
and seized her mother. 1t vas now
useless to attempt a dismissal of the
meeting. The little church had never
known q season of such shouting. Old
man Billingsly lifted his lusty voice and
his wife in q transport of happiness,
singing in a voice of trcmulous JOY, time
and again declared that the Lord had is
sued a special decree in her favor.
The preacher was happy. lie had
been the means of accomplishing a work
which every one had thought to be i'm.
possible. He was ardcntly sincere; he
believed that 4 soul had been saved.
Hottie no longer avoided him. Her
face had undergone an entire change.
Her smile was radiant. One evening,
shortly after her conversion, she and the
preacher sat on a large rock.
"IIettic, you do not know how bright
your face has grown"
"And you, Mr.. Wilkins, do not know
how light my heart has grown. I look
with pity upon my former self. can
now realize the truth of wha: you have
told me-"
"Iiettie, you have been more to me
than l have to you, yes, much more.
taught you duty; you taught me love.
Oh, girl, | love you, / love vou.'
She did not reply, but she put her arms
around his neck.
This occurred several years ago. Mrs.
llcttic Welkins. wife of the presiding