Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-02-23
LIE NEW WOMAN AID THE sUlIMER BOARDING. HOUSE.


would never have let such an upstart
as Ed Parkhurst get the better OF him.
Say, Joe. my subscription has al
ways been SO; I'll make it S25 for next
year" announced the Squire. Some
OF us old reprobates have just as hard
a name with the church folk as you
young renegades have. But when it
comes to lettin' the elder be driven out
O. town by a parcel of dudes, why,
thatll never do"
q" Mother $25 here" rumbled Cady.
Excuse me a minute, geElemen;
I've got an idea, said Joe, rising and
going over to Truman's desk.
In few minutes he came back with
a Sheet of paper in his hand.
Here's my idea" he said, and he
held up the paper and read aloud
The REV. PETER BUXTON
Dear Friend-For upward of twenty
years you have always bsen ready TO
share our troubles; we think 1t hlgn
time now that we should begin to share
yours. We believe that your salary
has heretofore, been $500 a year. We
will see that it is 500 for next year.
You must not think Of leaving Rodney.
We will stand by you now and here
after. BY the way, old friend, could
YOU not be a littla less dOctTinal in your
preaching without trying very hard|
That's bullyw exclaimed the Squire,
and the others expressed their salts
faction in similar terms.
.sQ,r ~, or-O,r NIGHT I'll have this
document. with a lot of names on it in
the elders hands, and l won't call upon
any Of the Parkhurst set, either, said
Joe, when they had all signed the pa
per, and, saying good night to his com
panions. he left ths grocery.
The Squire and his cronies fingered
together for some time.
You'll see Parkhurst gOin' round
with his tail feathers down after he's
heard O. that letter." chuckled Cady,
as they were at last fling out of the
door
But. say, boys, wouldn't like to see
the elders face when he reads that last
sentence. BY the way, couldn't you
be little less doctrinal without tryin'
very hard?' " said the Squire, and they
all reared their pleasure at the imagin-
ed bewilderment Of the good, simple
hearted old preacher.
And so. with a keen sense Of the
joke in it all these village testers set
out on their several ways homeward.
As Squire Hastings was rounding a
corncr a few minutes later he saw
light in Mrs. Huddleston's parlor. There
Joe had already assembled several Of
his young friends and was eloquently
reciting 10 them the facts in the elders
case.
On the morning of the following Sab
bath the service in the Rodney COngre-
gational Church progressed to the sing
ing of tia second hymn, which the
preacher had just read. Some fifty or
sixty persons-rather more than the
customary attendance-were scattered
about in the pews, but the congr5 cation
remained seated, as was its custom in
this part of the service. The singers
rendered. with nasal energy, the first
two stanEas and were singing the third.
There was a slight noise at the door.
which opened from the vestibule into
the audience room, then up the middle
aisle marched more than dozen we'll
dressed intelligent locking young men,
headed by Joe Huddleston. They found
seats in pews wsll mp toward the pulpit
A little flutter of excitement went
through the room, but the choir sang
bravely on to the end o. the stanZa.
The rumbling old organ sounded brief
intCrlude, and the choir began on the
fourth and last stanza. There was
another noise. somewhat louder than
the first. at the entrance.
Another futter of excitement spread
through the room Thsn up the middle
aisle started a second column of men,
,e middle aged and grizzled, some
h the whitened locks of age. Some
O. them glanced shcepishly about as
they moved up the aisle. They were a
motley looking company. AT their
head, dignified and erect, with his shiny
black Prince Albert buttoned tightly
about his tall, spare form marched the
white haired. bnrdless Squire. Next
to him shambled Cady, uhe blacksmith
Further down the line waddled the
bulky figure o. Josh AXtell, rolling
heavily like q bo2C in rough waters.
Little Rlinky Brown, dressed in his
army blue. brought up the rear and for
got to remove his hat till he was half
way up the aisle. At the proper mo-
ment the Squire faced about, and in
obedience to a ceremonious wave of his
hand his follow rs hobbled nOisily into
pews opposite these occupied by the
young men.
AT the conclusion of the singing the
pastor rose. His fine, spiritual old face
was flushed, and there was slight ire
NOR in his voice as h. read the custom
airy announcements for the week. AZ
terward, however, when reading his
sermon, he spoke in his usual calm
manner and with his wonted precision
Of uttcr3nCe.
Joe and the Squire happened to meet
on the lawn in front of the church after
the service was over.
Say, ice" said the old man, that
was the all-fradest best sermon I've
heard in five years
It's about the only one, isn't it,
Squire?" Joe laughed. But, say, are
YOU coming to church next Sunday
you betr'-Chicago News.
Legends OF Cleopatra.