Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-04

But all this was spoken with ring
which the good man understood, and
which said only too plainly: "Get that
dollar or bust!" and that's about the
resolution which passed through the
clergyman's heart rs he kissed his
spouse good-by, and made his way to
the barn.
The mountain road from Beverly is
bad enough for horse, but when that
horse has to pull o two-wheeled gig,
in which there is a goodly proportioned
reverend carrying the weight of dis
trict dignity and the history of hun
dreds besides, the way seems difficult
indeed. The youth piloted the man
of the cloth over the rocky sleeps and
through the terrible ravines without so
much rs backward glance, and the
dominic was too much absorbed in the
fulness of the big round dollar to give
heed to the youngster. They arrived
at last at the mountaineer's domicile,
which was partially a dug-out and
somewhat of a commodious hut, whose
sloping roof met the mountain against
which it backed up for shelter, and
more to save the trouble and expense
of north wall to the habitation.
The guests were assembled, and q
motley crew it was. There were two
men to every woman, and the whole
party gave unmistakable evidence of
having been indulging in ''moonshine"
stock, for the ease with which whisky
tlickles everywhere from inaccessible
fountains, in answer to the magic rod,
is something that is miraculous, even
to such men of God as the dominic and
to the Government revenue officers as
well.
Every evidence of the indulgence
was gone, however, except, perhaps,
the redolence of the nectar through
the two-roomed shanty, which was
lined with guests in all degrees Of un-
couth and unliempt neglige. Sup
pressed merriment of rather an uncivil-
lied kind was rife. 1t seemed rs if
they were about ready to Jump in for
tolls aud knives, from arsenals OF cow
hide bootlegs, and of the two amuse-
ments, preferred the latter. They had
evidently seen the dominic coming up
the mountain road, had taken the sig
nal of his pilot, and had secreted any
thing that might tend to bring down
They wanted the ceremony over with,
opd the man officiating to get right out
after the event as soon as possible, SO
rs not to disturb the harmony of their
playful gala day.
With that practised ease Of the man
who is ever at home in the cloth, the
reverend advanced into their midstanl
shook hands with the bride, the groom
the parents, ahd one or two others who
were anxious to show their homage o
the shiny black broadcloth. ss'Wil
YOU bring me the family Bible, please:'
? said the good man.
Alas, every one looked at his OF he
neielbor in CONSERVATION. If he ha'
, said "Where is the family still?" h
might have received reply OF som
kinda curse or bullet, at least
e but to this innocent query there wa
!. no answering word. Then, diving IL
|, TO one of his own pockets, he Dire
Il forth q little testament which had don
If service over many q grave, but WI
d rarely called out where the tamlI
n Bible was more fitting, and made I'll
unsteady groom and the rather sheel
d ish bride stand up before him, lolnln
hands. The service was very sho
and the answers to his official que
re tions abrupt and thick. The compar
y maintained respectful silence, ar
when prayer followed the blessll
n there were one or Two "Amens"-:
j. assumption of godliness that was t
evidently everywhere lacking. Th
" came congratulations and some rath
heavy banter, and one or two OF t
diplomatic ones engaged the clerg
III man in conversation which led
ru horses and a desire to get the worth;
opinion on dappled mare tethered
he the thicket hard by. 1t was clearly
" put-up Job to get the clergyman out
he the house, so that the feast might
mi prepared and the iollification renew
ion but the dominic did not bulge.
ba knew that if he went from the ho'
mo he would never be able to re-enter
ce, make his claims, so he stayed III
there till things grew very embarl
lalf sing.
;nn At last. when the diplomatist sh
, to his head at the groom as much rs
announce that it was "no go,
ine Benedict of the hour appealed
others, and one and all took turn
she irving to get the dominic out OF
ed house. He was anecessity before;
new now that his work was done and
,rce mission performed, he was dlstin
we'd in the way, and it did not requll
ma. very wise mar to discover it. But
bor Methodist reverend had not tlav
race all that way without insurins ms
nail wards. if rewards there were, and
Iiorv thought of returning to Beverly
his wife without that dollar made
from cold chills creep over him. He tho
oar- of that silk dress which the poor
the man had saved up and gone wit
r the many necessity to attain, and
,rist- it Law in the express office for lack
itua- paltry silverpiece. No, he would
,ould to the last. A..
folk Soon the groom perceived Una
right less the shiny, black broadcloth d:
bury- was hustled away the weuolne
minie cation would be q iiasco. lie hes:
he between throwing the dominic
!, That bodily and compromising a
per conference with the bride ioilowe
+ the evidently her better sense ruled
to the reverend the fellow swaG
NO and said: "Mister, what S the Ga
only fer this yere splice?
know The reverend would have take
beath- man 10 task humcronsly Tor III
,huay, pancy aud ireverence had II oe'
ven other place and time, h't II
ono merely smiled sua7e'y and sad: