The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-01-26

to the door; but the deacon looked
sour enough as he drove around to the
barn.
tered Mrs. Cummings.
''But you must go, mother ]" said
Clara, with the bow of ribbon twisted
around her finger.
'I hain't nothip' to take"
"There's that loaf of plumcake that
you baked for Sundays tea. Nothing
in the world could be nicer"
'I've got a piece O. blue gingham-
three yards-that / hain't made up
into aprons yet. Would that do?"
wistfully questioned the poor woman.
cit would be just lovely!" pro-
tested Clara.
And then she confided to her mother
the secret of the n-dollar gold piece.
"You see," said she, 'I feel some
how az if were paying debt to
these dear old people, who have
worked 80 hard all these years fer so
pitiful a salary. And I've put the
money in the little, flat shopping bag
just like the one gave you, dear
and shall slip it into Mrs. Potter's
hand. Won't she be surprised when
she comes to open it?"
Clara Cummings, however, had an
auditor to their sweet filial condolences
of whom she little knew.
The deacon, hanging up his old
harness, back of the kitchen door, had
cts sinful" said the deacon to
f-"absolutely a-temptin' o.
Providence! Ten-dollar gold pieces
Ginghams! Loaves q cake, not to say
nothin' of the dried apples L was cal
culatin' to fetch! I-don't-see-"
Suddenly the deacon's dull eyes
frightened. He came to dead stand
still 81 tiI,c stsirs. The deacon had
an idea.
'The very thing!" he muttered to
himself.
Going softly to his wife's bureau, he
distracted the little leather reticule
which Clara had given her on her fifty
second birthday, n brief while ago, and
quietly substituted it for Clara's, lying
on the pillow of her bed, first, how
ever, placing in its outside pocket q
squarely folded one-dollar bill.
"That'll be deal more suitable" >"
thought he. ''The bags is just alike
and Clara won't know the difference.
And I'll keep this ere gold pice, to.
wards, the shinglin' of the barn ruff.
Goodness knows, l need money great
deal more than Parson Potter does,
and Clara amt no business to be so
wasteful and cXtravagsnt."
And he went down stairs, chuckling
softly to h;::;.,;s
"Ain't supper ready?" said he.
"What cold corned beef and parsnips? !?
And biscuit There want no need of
anything but bread and cheese, seein'
we're goin' to hev slap-up supper to
the parsonage But women hain't no
judgment. Here, Clara, put this meat
on the shelf for breakfast tomorrow
mornin'. An set them preserves back
in the closet. Humph we'd all fetch
up in the poorhouse if we went ahead
this fashion"
Mrs. Cummings would have enjoyed
her evening at the parsonage, il her
husband had not glared so severely at
her new bonnet.
"Glovcs. eh p said he, as she climbed
out of the wagon. esquire Silleck's
wife don't wear no gloves. I'll go bail
them cost fifty cents! Humph!"
''But they're mended, father--and
I've had 'em year."
''Humph !" was all the reply he
vouchsafed
The parson, a withered little man in
n threadbare black suit, received his
guests in II truly Christian spirit of
resignation.
81 hope there'll be enough for them
to eat, whispered he to his better
half, II tall, pale woman.
sponded. "NIost Of 'em has brought
victuals-and very little else. I do
wonder how they knew it was our we'd
ding anniversary! tried all 1 could
do to keep it secret"
Everything was there. Plates and
dishes, which matched nothing; brass
warding pans, of no use except for
senseless decorations; tissue paper
flowers, and gruesome worsted work !;
painted banners. and embroidered
"splashers )" crochet lace, and dam
aged tides and as they kept arriv-
! ing, Mrs. Potter's heart sank CORE
spondingly.
Presently, however, she came to
Clara with tears in her faded eyes.
ooh, Clara - she faltercd, chow
can thank you enough for your kind.
ness-you noble generosity? Mr. Pot
ter is rs grateful rs | am, but his voice
issimply gone. He can't speak"
The deacon huggcd himself.
81 knowed that dollar bill would he
n plenty" snid he "Bless me there's
that young Lawyer Harrison, the par
sons nephew, goin' off to the study
with Clara. lie once had quite no.
tion TO tho gal Wonder if they're
goin' to company kecpin' again? Kind
o singular he should be here tonight.
Folks says it was him who brought the
!! handsome black walnut desk in par.
sons study. Strange how extravagant
folks will be- Specially young folks.
Eth what's that they're sayin?' a
tire-and in our direction Now,
wonder if Clara didn't leave tho taller
candle burnin' in her room, an the