The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-02

ready to Jump at the chance. You'll
be on the lookout for something to
find fault with"
F'I s'pose he never says anything
that's out o the way" said the dea-
! con, angrily. "l'm al'ays the one
that's to blame! You've sided in
with him ever sence we had the
trouble. But 1 amt agoin' to be
coaxed into putin up with any of
his abuse. Let him keep his mouth
shet eff he don't want me to tell him
what think of him; ;" and the dea-
con fairly glared at Mrs. Jones, who
sighed, and concluded that there was
little use in trying to avert a quarrel.
1t was sure to come.
81 do wish we could get letter
from Henry" she said, changing the
subject. Henry was the youngest of
the family. He had gone to Dakota
to try his luck at farming. Crops
had been failure, and the last let
ter from him had been u most down.
hearted and discouraging one. 'I'm
afraid he's sick. If he wa MT, it
seems s if he would write. MIR. Sny-
der's been out there, they say. Bein'
so near, when he was in Minncsoty,
he thought he'd make his sister
Marian visit. | don't jest know
what part she lives in, but mebbc it's
near Henry. ! hope he see him."
Deacon Jones snltfed, us if to en-
| l,n
credit to the boy to have been seen
by man like his enemy.
The Christmas service was over,
and the Williamscs loaded the dca-
con and his wife and Mr.. Snyder
! into their big double sleigh and set
off homeward. Neither of the two
men looked at each other or seemed
to he conscious of the others pres
enCe.
"My! but it makes ne feel craw-
ly," said Mrs. Jones to Mrs. Will
liams, rs she took off her wraps in
the "bcst bedroom" "I'm all Qf u
twittcr, I'm 50 nervous. | sh'll
tremhlc fer fear of what's comm
cv>ry time they open their mouths.
do wish you hadn't ask'd both of
me, Mis- Williams"
81 didn't hardly dare to-" said
Mrs. Williams, "but, John, he said,
'What was the use O lcttin' their
foolishncss keep us from bcin' neigh
borly. He was goin' to ask 'cm, 'cn
take the chance O the consequences. -
"l Hope twill all be pcaccablc," ,"
said Mrs. Jones, ''but--I know
'tw0n't."
They all sat down to dinner, and
the conversation became gchcrnl, cx-
ccpt between Mr. Snyder and Dea-
con Jones. Not Il word did they
address to each other. They simply
i lorcd each otbc's cXistcrcc.
After dinner, the men we 1T out tc
, the barn with Mr.. Williams, to look
, at the stock, and Mrs. Jones am,
= Mrs. Williams 'viSitcd' with cacl
G other as they cleared away the re
| mains of the Christmas feast. Mrs
S Jones tried to be at ease, and no
S worry, but "cominy events cast thc
c shadows BEFORE" and she felt tina
her fears were sure to be realized. |
Il was simply question of time
c The men came in from the barr
L and sat down. Conversation naggc,
+ for Il time, as it is quite likely to d.
$ among men who arc not in the habi
of "visiting' women-fashion. Th
; awkward silence that cnsued was il
length broken by Mr.. Williams, VIII,
asked what his guests thought abou
! the new town hall that was to b,
! built.
81 haven't heard anything about
it," said Mr.. Snyder. otis all bee,
talked up scnce | went away
Where's it going to be :"
"On the Dusenbcrry corner" re
piled Mr.. Williams.
"Fhat,s a good place for it, sal,
MIR. Snyder, approvingly. "A rcr!
good place. The best place in town.
Mrs. Jones felt her face gcltin,
pale with dread of what was colu
ing. The Duscnberry corner wd
where Mr.. Snyder had wanted tn,
new church built. She glanced n
the deacon. Ills face was red, anc
she knew by the look of him that h,
was preparing for Il battle royal.
"W hat do YoU think about it, dcl
con ?" asked Mr.. Williams, not awar,
that he was precipitating matters.
The deacon cleared his throat ant
blew his nose with Il blast that wa:
like the sound of a trumpet urging
on to combat.
"All | have to say is, eff anybody's
fool enough to want the town hal
built on that site, they haln't GO
sence enough to last 'cm over night
e | sh'll oppose it, sir! won't con
: sent to have the funds O the towl
4 squandcred in buildin' put up il
|, I