St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-28
THEDEACON'S MISDEEDS

81 saw something to day l wouldn't "a
believed if l hadn't been obliged to" said
Mrs. Powers, looking up ut the circle Of
faces around the quilt.
"Well, seeing is believing" said Miss
Kibby, lightly; eff you saw it, you had to
believe it.
81 didn't exactly see it" the lady admit
ted, 'but l heard it mighty plain, | tell
YOU. | never would have thought it of
the deacon, either; but then body can
tell nowadays whether a mans what he
seems or not. I'd always kind of looked
up to Deacon Young, he seemed so up
right and honest, and such good Chris.
tian But, as l say, you can't tell nova
days who to trust
Mrs. Avery bit off needleful of thread
rather emphatically, and said very quietly,
though her eyes snapped:
81 never knew Deacon Young to be any
thing but honest and upright, and I've
known him good many years"
Mrs Powers looked over her way with
a nod. Eyes, no doubt. never had sus-
pected that there was anything wrong, but
| have strong proof of what say"
You haven't told US yet what the dea-
con did," said Miss Kibby.
'Well, am possessed of as good proof
as l want that Deacon Young whipped his
wife yesterday
ooh, now !'' said pretty Mrs. Fletcher,
Esdon't say that Deacon Young is surely
too good man for that
Mrs. Avery looked up, with her eyes
positively flashing now, though her voice
was still quiet.
"You say you have positive proof, Mrs.
Powers3"
Gas good proof as anybody could want, "
she answered. II heard the sound of the
blows and her cries as passed the house
yesterday"
"Dear me can't think it of the dea-
CON-" said Mrs. Duncan.
'sMv ears never deceive me-" Mrs. Pow
ers answered, grimly. 81 distinctly heard
the blows, and at every one heard her
voice crying out. He had her out behind
the board fence in the garden. If hadn't
been in such a hurry, I'D have gone up
there to see about it. But you know the
house stands SO far back from the road it's
quite bit of walk to get to it."
~ wonder why the deacon's wife AIM
out to missionary society to-day" said Miss
Kibby, lneditatively.
"Maybe that's the reason" said Mrs.
Duncan 81 never would have thought
Deacon Young would do such thing"
81 always thought Mrs. Young had a
kind of pitiful look" Mrs. Powers went
on, "but I never suspected that he abused
her-and deacon in our church, toop'
81 can't help but wish you had gone
into the deacon's when you heard it, for l
can't understand it," said Mrs. Fletcher,
with troubled shake of her head.
eft was Mrs. Young's voice. could
swear tc.tt. l couldn't be mistaken in the
voice. I'd know it if heard it in A ,rica.
1 wouldn't say anything against the dea-
con and his wife for anything, but / am
sure-I am positive that this is the
truth
CHOW, ladies" Mrs Avery sat with her
needle poised in air, and looked around at
the circle of disturbed faces). ''let me tell
you. 1t seems to mel don't know how
you feel about it, but it seems to me-we
oughtn't to mention this to anyone else till
we know more about it; though, even If
the report is true, it surely can do no good
to carry it further"
That's Just what say" said Mrs.
Fletcher.
EYES," added Mrs. Duncan, 1--WE can say
an evil word easier than we can bring it
back"
s'Well, say" Mrs Powers went on, in
defense of her position, 81 am sure 1t was
her voice 1 heard. I'd know it if / heard
it at the end of the earth"
''Let me suggest" said Mrs. Avery.
smilingly, ''let me suggest, as president OF
this society, that we make up our minds
not to speak of it to anyone outside of our
number"
''Mrs. Young's not being here goes to
show that something's wrong" said Mrs.
Powers.
"WeH, we'll all wait few days." said
Mrs Duncan, "and see if anything new
happens" . NJ. powars
said, with contradictory shake of her
head, t'but, as said before, don't want
any further proof of that voice. You
know the deacon's wife has very pecu-
liar voice, anyhow"
The people of Millville were~a little
afraid of Mrs. Powers, and not without
cause.
'It's queer, too" Bessie Avery had said
once, when the lady in question had been
circulating the report that Bessie was to
be married s'it's queer that she should be
a gossip, because she's married. The
gossips in stories used to be all old maids.
But one of 'em seems to have got married,
and still wanders up and down the earth,
seeking whose good name she can devour. "
Before the afternoon YVES half over, the
deaeon's wife herself opened the door and
walked in, bright and smiling, though to
Mrs. Powers keen eyes she looked trias
nervous.
"Better late than not at all, "sshe said.
cheerily, settling right down to work. 81
am sorry 1 couldn't get in earlier, but I've
been SO busy that it wasn't till just this
minute could get away. Hoy fast the
quilt is getting on p
EYES," Mrs Fletcher answered, with an
indignant glance at Mrs. Powers we've
been hard at work this afternoon.
81 was telling the deacon to-day, con-
tinued Mrs. Young, blissfully unconscious,
''that the women were bound to get ahead
of the men in our church, and they'd have
to look to their laurels.'
well be apt to get the quilt out next
time don't you think SO, Mrs. Averyf'
Miss Kibby asked.
81 finished the very last bit of my
house cleaning to-day" said Mrs. Young,