St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-02-22

In this town for anyone to say Q worll
about it. 1t would make good deal
more talk if you sent the man away,
simply because he was a man. I'll tell
folks that ii was a mistake, and know
that there won't be q word said about
it."
So Miss Dill, comforted, but still per-
tarbed in spirit. went back to her dele
gate and guest, whom she found seated
in the big. comfortable rocking-chair
L her chcery sitting-room looking at
her photograph album.
Rev. James Hitler was portly, good
looking man of 50, with kindly blue
eyes and courteous, gentle manner. He
was quick enough in his perceptions to
know that his coming had given his lit
tie spinster hostess something of sur
prise, although she had said that she
had been expecting a delegate.
She was cal.ler in her mind and man.
ner when she returned from Mrs.
Draper's. A minister was to her hui
man being set apart from the rest of the
world and worthy Of the most profound
respect.
Her heart began to futter little
again when she found herself sitting
opposite her guest at her daiEtily-al-
pointed tea table, on which was Sc.
tielicacies such as the departed wife OF
Rev. Mr.. Hitler had not been skilled in
making.
"You live entirely alone all the time,
do you, Sister Dip" he asked, as she
handed him his third cup of the mos.
fragrant and delicious tea he had ever
tasted in his life.
Il have quite a good deal of COM
pany,' replied Miss Dill, "but stay
alone most Of the time"
"Do you find it !onesome?"
mo, 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 Centrally manage to find
some other lonesome person to invite
in with me. 1 was wondering to-day
who 1 could invite in this year. had
Widow Jay ard her poor old mother
in, but the old lady died last summe:
and her daughters gone away. dare
say I'll find some one.''
Mr.. Hitler became very commune
cative after tea when he and Miss Dill
were again seated in her sitting-roonl
before an open CRATE fire. He told her
how he had been widowcr 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 l was to stay
over after the association closes and
preach in your church next Sunday?"
"No. hadn't heard that. but I'm glad
of it. We need a regular minister very
much. The town has begun to grow
fast since the cotton mills and the shoe
factory came here, and good man
could build the church right up"
ut looks like a promising field to
me. and l don't mind saying that I'D
be open to a call if the people feel that
I'm the man they want after they hear
me preach"
Rev. James Killers preaching Great
ed a great deal of enthusiasm.
Everybody says he's just tho man
we want, said Mrs. Draper to Miss Dill
on Monday. He did preach two splen-
did, good sermons, and he's SO kind and
sociable. Deacon White knows all
about him. and he says there isn't q
single out about him. How did you like
him.
''very much," replied Miss Dill, with,
q blush.
"He's a real nice person to entertain,
isn't hep"
"Yes, he is. Hes the best kind Of
company"
'If VIC call him he'll want boarding
place, and why don't you get a good
girl and fix up that big east room OF
yours for study for him and take him
to board? There's no place in town
where he could be SO quiet and COM
Portable. The deacons and trustees are
going to have meeting tonight and
it's almost certain they'll call him. He
went back home to-day. didn't he?"
mo, he went over to Hebron to visit
. day or two with a cousin Of his, and
he's coming back here for Thanksgiv.
ing"
III. is? Well. that's nice. Whosc
guest is he going to be?"
''Mine."
''Oh!"
"Yes. and I've been thinking that it'd
be real nice If the deacons and trustees
and their wives could come in in the
c~J ,,,on% v,:,X~ encsol1~yU
''That would be real nice. We'd be
glad to come"
'Then I'll invite the others" Every
invitation was accepted and Miss Dill's
house was aglow with light and cheer.
The little hostess looked ten years
younger than usual. Her eyes and her
cheeks were aglow. and her frequent
laugh was sweet and joyous.
At about nine in the evening Deacon
Smith called the company to order and
said:
II guess it won't be much Of 'sprise
to anyone here, unless it is Brother
Hitler, to know that we have voted
unanimously to give Brother Hitler a
call to our church, and we'd all be glad
to hear q word from him about the
probability of his coming"
His acceptance of the call was brief
and TO the point. Then he hesitateti.
cleared his throat and said:
"Perhaps there could be no more ap-
propriate time for me to announce
something I feel that my parishionera
have q right to know. and for which
have cause for heartfelt Thanksgiving,
as every man ought to rejoice and be
glad when the Lord directs him to a
good and true woman who is willing to
be his WIFE,"
He crossed the room and took Miss
Dill by tho hand.
"Allow me to present to you the dear
woman who has promised to be your
new pastors wife. Ihope that this may
not appear unseemly to You because OF
our brief acquaintance II. or such tn-
A. H.,