The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-07

laid in ambush until Brother Bradley took
his departure, which he did in a few min
utes thereafter. Now, while l would not
willingly charge our pastor with conduct
unbecoming a Christian minister. l must
confess that l was deeply Rrieved to see
him imprint a kiss upon the cheek of the
fair one ere he returned to the parsonage"
Did he return alone?' asked Lovewell.
eyes, SIR"
"And what direction did the woman
take?"
Il don't know, as I Immediately started
in pursuit of the missing cow
"Have you mentioned this affair to any
person except myself, since the occurrence
took place."
Ives. l think I have mentioned it to Mrs.
Nevertattle. Mrs. Runwella and Mrs. Speak
fast"
Then you must have believed that our
pastor has been guilty of some crime, or
else you would not give publicity to the
matter"
II would have it otherwise; but to tell
the truth, | have felt ever since that mem
orable afternoon that our pastor is not
what he ought to be-"
Brother Bradley will now take the
stand, and give us his statement in regard
to the matter under consideration, said
Deacon Lovewell.
years ago the Master called me to labor
among you, since which time 1 have tried
hard to do my duty as a Christian minister.
L have married nearly all of you who are
now sitting in judgment upon me: 1 have
followed your loved ones to the cold and
silent grave; / have wept with those who
wept, and rejoiced with those who rejoiced;
and, in return, you have solaced myself and
my aged companion in the hour of bereave-
1nent and sorrow. Is it any wonde then,
that as | stand here before you this evening
my heart goes out toward you in love and
gratitude, But, my friends. When | think
that now, in M old age, l should be sus-
pected of immortality, | feel that my life's
work is nearly done. And if those who are
anxious to get rid of me will have a little
patience, they need not get up another
scandal to accomplish their nefarious de-
signs. And now let me explain the mys-
terry in Green's pasture, 80 that you may be
enabled to Judge me impartially.
Ten weeks ago, when my wife WAS con-
yalescent. after a long and tedious sickness,
she expressed a wish for some Strawberries;
but as | was too poor to buy Thorn. nv
daughter, Hattie, went out to gather some
IN the pasture, and after a few MINUTES [
reioined her, and when | had enough to
make u mess | returned to the parsonage,
while Hattie remained to gather more.
Brother Squlnteye speaks truly when he
said that | kissed the fair one, Tor when |
thought of the loved ones slumbering on
the hillside, and of her who remained to
comfort me in my declining years, a fathers
love took possession of my heart, and |
kissed my child and breathed a prayer for
her temporal and spiritual welfare while
travelling through this vale of tears. Man
may question my right to do this, but tho
great Searcher of hearts will not condemn
the act. My friends, / am done. Words
fail to convey the emotion of a troubled
soul. My heart is crush"
The sentence was not finished. Ere the
audience reached the platform, the spirit
of poor old Paraon Bradley had taken the
flight from earth to heaven; and amid the
tears and lamentations of his parishioners,
his corpse was carried back to the parson-
age. and the little church on the hill was
without q pastOr. j. B. s.