The Delta independent., 1891-05-21
DEACON PERKINS TRIAL.

OHfo Meacnlm. Tell the truth, the
hui truth. an nothin' but the truth.
So spoke Mrs. Martha judkins-
called Aunt Martha fer miles around
as she sat- busy at knitting, in her
kitchen door The shining needles
were not brighter than her sharp black
eyes, in spite OF her sixty years.
a young man, with merry blue eyes,
wEo stood carelessly leaning against
the porch, replied: That's gospel
truth, Aunt Martha, ev'ry word NV it.
Ic see. III been down to the barn for
halter he'd borrowed, an I see it all
from the stable door. Thar the dea-
con stood on his back piazza, bold as Il
lion, a huggin' an kissin' gal.
'Twant his wife, nuthern
The shameful, brazen hypercrite, 81
gasped Aunt Martha, 'I'll hev him up
in meetin' this very evenin'; and he
the father OF family, one on 'em a
babe in arms, an his poor wife jest
off'n sick bed. A pritty cretur he,
to be a leadin' in prayer like saint
But he does pray beautiful. Did you
know the gal, Ozro?h
Don't know her name, Aunt Mar
tina; pears as if I'd seen her, too, but
my hosses are waitin'."
''Be to pray'r meetin' this evenin,
Ozro?" called Aunt Martha after him.
''Sure to be thar" he replied, strid-
ing down the front walk between the
tall lilacs and roses, There was an
unusual twinkle in his bright blue eyes
which would have BODIED mischief to
those who knew him best.
Ozro Meachim held the important
position of stage driver and mail car
rier between the little village of TUT
ferton and the nearest railroad town,
some five miles away. He was gen.
eral favorite on account of his unfail-
ing good nature and he was sure to be
the bearer of the latest neighborhood
gossip. He was cordially welcomed
by all the women folks of the village.
fullerton was one of those moral
villages where marriages, births and
deaths form the most exciting topic of
conversation and where u murder or
an elopement has not happened within
the memory of the Oldest inhabitant.
Yet here was scandal at their very
door.
Aunt Martha fairly trembled with
excitement as she snatched up her sun
bonnet and hurried down the garden
walk. She would run over to Mrs.
Arthur's. who was her nearest neigh
Dor, quiet woman, not given to gos-
sip SO not generally the recipient OF
Aunt Martha's confidence. But this
was something she could not keep till
she went to her bosom friend, Lucindy
Allen. for Lucindy lived full half
mile away.
Mrs. Arthur sat quietly sewing in
her cool sitting-room, the door opened
wide to admit the breeze and the sweet
smell of the lilacs. She looked sur
prised as Aunt Martha unlatched the
gate and hurrying up the path sank on
the steps and famed herself vigorous
ly with her apron.
why, what is the matter?n said
Mrs. Arthur, Come right in here
where it is cool.''
Matter enough, Mrs. Arthur" re-
piled the old lady. "I've he'd shock
thet won't git over till my dyin' day."
Have you had any bad news, Aunt
MarthaP'
bad news? The wust kind OF
news, when a deacon an u pillar OF
the church falls from grace, an he
maxim such beautiful pray'rs."
'.But you have not told me who it is
that has fallen from grace, Aunt
Martha"
You don't mean to say you hain't
herd on it9 Then you'd never guess,
Ma t,,.I L.; L..
stopped to give me paper an 1 sez
to him: 'Ozro, what's the news?' an
sez he TO me: i dunno eZ / orter tell
ye, but l see somethin' this mornin'
down to Deacon Perkins 'at beats me
all holler. Thar he stood on his back
piazzy a huggin' an lsissin' Il gal
II want his wife, nuther.' Thcm's
his very words. Then l sez: Who
wuz the gal?' but it pears he didn't
know"
Mrs Arthur looked puzzled, for
Deacon Perkins was one OF the first
men in the village and much respected.
She was certain there was a mistake
somewhere and said TO Aunt Martha:
II think it would not be well TO repeat
this story. OZro has mistaken some
other person for the deacon. / am
sure there isn't word OF truth in it."
But Aunt Martha was determined TO
sift the matter to the bottom ana an
nounced her intention to put the facts
into the hands OF Deacon Ransome and
TO have the "hypercrite" exposed with
out delay. Intent on this. she resumed
her sunbonnet and hastened down the
street TO the village store kept by Dea-
con Ransome.
The deacon, pompous little man,
and Aunt Martha were sooI in deep
conversation. There had always been
u settled conviction IN the deacon's
mind ut least, that the legal profession
would have gained shining light had
he chosen it, rather than a mercantile
one. at the beginning OF his career. 1t
was with inward satisfaction, though
with much outward unwillingness, that
he consented TO conduct the investiga-
tior that evening. Perhaps certain
rumor that Deacon Perkins had accused
him OF little irregularities added
slightly 70 that satisfaction, but II