Mower County transcript., 1889-10-23

Brierly's round eyes snapped whom
he heard this. "What sort of look.
ing man is hep" he asked.
"What's upp Have you seen hima'
"Pr'aps. we've got a parson at Poke
Island that halls from Barnbury or
somewhere near Bly," A silence oI
smoke. Then the editor drew from
Briefly NIL he knew OF Rev. Phineas
Dustin. He decided that Briefly should
work up the matter at home for the
next weeks issue, and in to-morrow's
paper he would hint at "startling de.
velopments in q near by town on the
Shore"
Friday evening there was the usual
company of mon and boys at the gro
cory when the mail arrived; and Brierly
took advantage of the opportunity to
read aloud the Ensign's news concern.
Ing the Barnbury scandal and also the
editorial blast about ministers with
damaged regulations and without
proper credentials, forcing themselves
on the people of the shore-towns. Loud
and varied wore the comments made
on the affair by the by-standers.
Briefly expressed no opinion publicly,
but the chairman of the standing COM
mittee, who had listened intently to
the reading. went home with his blood
tingling at the insinuation the shrewd
reporter quietly dropped as to where
that minister might be now. In the
Ensign there was no favorable notice
OF the presence and work of Rev.
Phineas Dustin, an omission which
helped confirm the suspicion which
now with rapid wings flew from house
to house.
Late Saturday afternoon Rev. Phin.
eas Duston had finished his prepara-
tion for the next day. He was resolved
to do his utmost best for his Master.
and strive not only to please, but to
help the people who should assemble
at the house of God. His meditations
were interrupted by the entrance oi
the chairman, who bluntly announced
his errand. There was = divinity
student stopping at a hotel on Brant's
shore, and the committee would like tc
have him occupy the pulpit tomorrow.
1t gave the parson quite strong ner'
vous shock, but be readily consented
to stand aside and let the young man
take his place.
Sunday saw a greatly diminished
congregation in the church, and a cor.
tain restlessness in the people. which
the young man. with all his eloquence,
could not overcome. The older mau
81: In tho pulpit, and at the request Of
the young man offered the long prayer
at tho morning service; with that OK.
ception he had nothing to do during
the entire Sabbath. At the close ol
tho service only two or three came for
ward to shake his hand, and they did
80 In constrained. un wiling manne,
that puzzled and burt him. The Squire
was not out for tho day. What il
could all mean she parson could moi
imagine. He Won't to rest that night
crushed. 50 great was the revulsion o.
feeling from that OF last Sunday and
all the week. But he laid the burden
on the Lord. and laid himself down il
sleep. hoping things would be ex'
planned on the morrow. if. indeed, il
were not all a mater of his imagiua
tion. aroused by the fact that anothe,
man had been put in his place. He
chided himself for such an unchristiar
spirit
The morning did not bring relief
nor did the days that followed. HI
found that wherever he went the
women were shy of him and the mer
did not welcome him. So sharp wa.
the contrast to last week that he wa:
overwhelmed with agony. He asked
himself many times: Shall leave and
go homep What reason can ! give fol
doing SOP Yet how can l stay?
BY the middle of the week he found
himself isolated practically by all OK
cept Deacon Purkis and wife. With
them there was no change at all. Wed
nesday afternoon he returned from 8
lonely walk on the shore and sat dow9
to supper with a heavy heart, though
he tried hard to conceal it.
During the meal neighbours boy
brought in the mail. which had jusI
arrived. There were two letters 70,
the parson. One was from his dea,
little wife; he knew the writing and
put the missive in his pocket to enjo,
when alone. The other letter he opened
and read at once. He frowned, ht
smiled. and q tear started to flow dowr
his cheek. but was quickly whiskec
away. He passed the letter withou
comment to the deacon. who read i
aloud. as follows:
"Rru. Sir: Your game is up. You aro known
Poke Island 10 sEsll, but not small enough 10
you 10 nido n II you remain In town forty
eight hours longer you will be publicly expos,
/ and denounced. A "ord TO the wise. etc.,
There was no signature.
Deacon Purkis and his wife we're YER.
indignant that such u letter should b,
sent their guest; but they begged him
to excuse them from ,uaking such lit
tia explanation as they might mako