St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-10-10
Was His Name written rhereq

Was His Name Written There2
well, could see at oncst from the
lay of the land that Andy Lucas had
enlisted for the meetin. You will recoI-
lect, Rufus, that j have knowed the Luz
cas- stock of people from old Hiram
down to Andy. / know the pastors
which they grazed on, the sort of mate
rails they was made out of, and it stood
to reason with me that Andy was in that
game to stay. Jest SO Iorg as they had
three sermonts asday and dinner on the
grounds, and plenty of swappin stock
hitched around the horse rack, jest SO
long man by the name of Lucas was
right there.
''That was on Sunday evenin you un-
derstand, and it was after supper time
the next night when old Parson
Raynor rid by to tell me the news con
cernin the meetin. That good old man
was so happy, Rufus, till for little
more and he would of shouted right
there in the big road. They didn't
have any new members as yet, he went
on to tell me, but from general ap-
rearments they had high hopes of
mighty outpouring before long. Andy
Lucas-a full-blood grandson of old Hi.
ram Lucas--had went up to the mourn
ers' bench three times that day and
was now bowed down under his great
load of guilt and fears and sorrow. And
with that the old parson rid on towards
home singin and rejoicin.
NATURALLY, of course, it was none of
my business, Rufus, as my name is
writ on the books of another church,
and / didn't want to let my mouth go
off too quick and hurt that good
Old mans feelins. But / could see the
rale facts in the case as plain as plank
fence and hit painted, and it was all
could do to keep from teliin the parson
that if Andy Lucas was the only hope
for new recruits they mought as well
to take out and quit. But heltoack
and Andy he helt on. The meetin
didn't wind up till the next Thursday,
and when it broke and they closed the
church books onct more the name of
Andy Lucas was not written there.
candy then rid by and spent ono
night at our house. After that he lii
out for0ld Macedonia church over there
in the hill country, where the Free Will
Baptist had big meetin goin on at
that time. went over there myself on
Sunday, and, jest as lowed, Andy he
was there with every foot up and coat
tails fyin, and next to the preachers
he was the mainest man in the meetin.
The next folloain Tuesday evenin old
Sister asseltine-which you under.
stand she is the onlyst member of that
church from our side of the creek-she
rid by to tell me what felonious good
time they were havin with their meetin
over at Macedonia.
"sAnd who would of thought it, Ben
Chris 2'-says the old lady as she
clapped her hands and brung long
breath-'Andy Lucas, full blood grand
son of old Hiram Lucas-which they
tell me he died drunk and cussins-
has mellowed down powerful in dur TE
of our meetin. The young man, from
all can hear, is a chip often the OLD
block, but nobody would think It to
see him so meek and so humble-bowed
down so low in spirits-and kneelir
around the mourners bench so reglar
and SO constant. No cross, no crown,
Ben Chris, and sssthe Lord that wild
and wayward young man will soon be
bearing the cross in hopes ofwearin the
crown =
And by this time that good old soul
warmed up and wa1ed so happy till
blamed if she didn't break out with the
holy laugh right then and there. At
the same time I was achin and itchin all
over to tell her that SO long as they
had three sermonts a day and dinner
ON the grounds that wayward and
wicked grandson of old Hiram Lucas
would lead the procession to the mourn
ers' bench, and if they didn't watch him
when the meetin closed he would hold
four aces or a straight flush, whilst the
good people of Macedonia wouldn't
have nothin better than two pair, if
that. But she was so joyful like and
happy till didn't have the heart to
throw cold water on her hopes
so things rocked on two or three
days longer, and when we got the, news
that the big meetin over at Macedonia
was closed we likewise also learnt that
the hayward feet. of Andy Lucas still
wandered down the broad and easy
road which leads to death and ruination.
About supper time thatnight Andy
he rid up in a swingin fox strot and
turned his horse in the lot After sup
per he went on to tell me what tre-
lnendius big time he had been. havin
over at Macedonia. But from the gen.
eral run of his conversation / soon
found out what was the mainest think
with Andy. He had swapped horses
with the brethren four times, got back
the same horse started with, and had
SIS hid away in his fanls, not to speak
of the three sermonts day and dinner
on the grounds.
RUFUS SANDERS
Connecticut's Criminal Law.
Under the habitual criminal law OF
Connecticut a man who has been con
yicted of a crime three times shall,