The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-06-24

lllIdLiNtlic. there ndu Dccn times
when it would have disbanded and the
field would have been deserted, but for
Miss Dill's zeal, and the free use of her
rather limited income.
The little church was now pastorless,
although numerous candidates had
for some time been filling its pulpit.
Two weeks after Mrs. Diapers call,
Miss Dill appeared at that lady's house
in state of manifest perturbation.
"Why, Sister Draperr she said, ex-
citedly, "my delegate has come, and
why, Sister Draper
"Why, what is it, Mirandy?'
"You've sent me a man delegate ~
Miss Dill's look and tone of dismay
were so comical that Mrs. Draper
laughed aloud.
'Why, Mirandy," she said, "it's no
killing matter if a man has been sent
to you, is il? Who is he?''
1.-THE Rev. James Hitler, Of Oldfield."
"Why, he was to have been sent to
Brother Palm,.r's, and Mrs. Drewe
was to have been sent to you. I'll
warrant you they've made a mistake
and sent Mrs. Drewe to Brother Pal
mer's.
"But, what shall / do?y
"Do@' said Mrs. Draper, with an
other laugh. "Simply make the best
Of it. Brother Hitler is lovely man."
81 know but won't folks-won't it
seem a little-well, strange, for me to
he entertaining gentleman delegate?"
Nonsense, Mirandy! You're too
well known and too highly respected
in this town for any one to say word
about it. 1t would make good deal
more talk if you sent the man away,
simply because he was man. I'll tell
folks that it was mistake, and / know
that there won't be word said about
it.u
So Miss Dill, comforted, but still per-
turbed in spirit, went back to her dele
gate and guest, whom she found seat
ed in the big, comfortable rocking chair
in her CHEEKY sitting room, looking at
her photograph album.
The Rev. James Hitler was a portly,
good-looking man of fifty, with kindly
blue eyes and courteous gentle man.
ner
He was quick enough in his percep-
tions to know that his coming had
given his little spinster hostess some
thing of a surprise, although she had
said that she had been expecting a
delegate.
She was calmer in her mind and
manner when she returned from Mrs.
Diapers. A minister was to her a hu-
man being set apart from the rest of the
world and worthy of the most profound
respect.
Her heart began to flutter little
again when she found herself sitting
opposite her guest at her daintily ap-
pointed tea-table, on which were set
delicacies such as the departed wife of
the Rev. Mr.. Hitler had not been skill
ed i'm making.
"You live entirely alone all the time,
do you, Sister Dill?" he asked, as she
handed him his third cup Of the most
fragrant and delicious tea he had ever
tasted in his life.
al have quite a good deal of conf
pany," replied Miss Dill, "but | stay
alone most of the time"
''Do you find it lonesome
"No, not very, excepting at Thanks
giving and Christmas time. when other
people have so many of their friends
around them. do feel lonesome then,
although l generally manage to find
some lonesome person to invite in with
me. / was wondering to-day who |
could invite in this year. had the
Widow Jay and her poor old mother
in, but the old lady died last summer,
and her daughters gone away. / dare
say I'll find some one"
Mr.. Hitler became very communica
tive after tea when he and Miss Dill
were again seated in her sitting-room
before an open gfate fire. He told her
how he had been widower for two
years, and how his son and daughter
had both married and left him to go to
homes of their own. Finally he asked ::
"Did you know that / was to stay
over after the Association closes and
preach in your church next Sunday ?"
"No, | hadn't heard that, but Pm
glad of it. We need n regular minister
very much. The town has begun to
grow very fast since the cotton and the
shoe factory came here, and good
man could build the church right up"
at looks like promising field to
ne, and don't mind saying that I'd
be open to a call if the people feel that
Pm the man they want after they hear
me preach
The Rev. James Killers preaching
created good deal of enthusiasm.
Everybody says he's just the man
we want" said Mrs. Draper to Miss
Dill on Monday "He did preach two
splendid, good sermons, and he's so
kind and sociable. Deacon White
knows all about him and says there
isn't a single out about him. How did
you like him ?''
Every much" !" replied Miss Dill with
a blush.
Hes real nice person to entertain,
isn't he?'
''Yes, he is. He's the best kind OF
company"
'If we call him he'll want a board
ing place, and why don't you get a
good girl and fix up that big east room
of yours for a study for him and take
him to board? There's no place in
town where he could be so quiet and
comfortable. The deacons and the
trustees are going to have a meeting to-
night, and it's almost certain they'll
call him. He went back home to-day,
didn't he?
"No; he went over to Hebron to visit
a day or two with cousin of his, and
he's coming back here for Thanksgiv-
ing"
"He is? Well, that's nice. Who's
guest is he going to be ?''