Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-05-06
Preachers Sweetheart.

close TO the path that led to the door
Beyond the pawpaw was an irregular
mass that moved restlessly in the dark
ness. Observed closely it would have
resolved itself into a number of
horses tied to saplings, and stepping
about noiselessly as they stretched
their heads toward the tempting leaves
beyond their reach.
Divine service was going on in the
log building, and the tones of the min
lister Eoated out into the darkness in
solemn cadence. Often they were in
terruptcd by a deep-grunted "A-a-a-
men!" or "Um-m-ah? Vas, Lordl" the
manner in which many worshipers en-
pressed their appreciation Of The
preachers utterances. A mounted fig
ure came close to the shaft of light and
dismounted. AS he did so the stamping
of the restless horses reached his ears
Noiselessly he made his horse fast to 0
redbud stem, and crept through the
bushes TO where the uneasy equines
were tied.
He passed from horse to horse, feel
ing swiftly over each, rs if in the dark
ness his hands were doing duty for
eyes In revealing the merits or dement's
of each animal.
The voice of the preacher came clear
and strong to the ears of the man
among the horses. He listened q
moment as the voice told him, in sim
pie words, the sweet truths of the Bible
Somehow the words of the good Book
seemed to the man in the darkness to be
addressed directly to himself, and pres
emily, as he listened, he removed his
old SLOUGH hat as reverently rs if he had
been within the sanctuary.
Then, as the words of invitation and
consolation rang out clear and sweet
the man by the horses removed his
hand from the neck of little marc
and muttered: preacher is sumner
shore. Reckon I'll leave the FLY
Might belong to the preacher, an bein
preacher, o course it's the only boss
he's got"
As he returned to his own animal, he
paused again to listen. Presently he
dropped the hand that was untying the
bride and strobe into the bar of light
that shone from the open door.
III try it," he muttered. Ben n
long time sence I've set In church"
His slouching entrance was hardly
noticed by the congregation of shock
headed menand sallowfaced women, so
attentive were they to the preacher
utterances.
The preacher was q small, palc-faced
man, plainly, almost shabbily dressed,
and as he stepped awkwardly back and
forth behind the rude pulpit, the last
conner saw that he was lame.
Presently he rose and slouched out
and, mounting his horse, dashed away
down bride path, whittier he knew
nor cared. Presently some small ami
nal sprang from the path, and the horse
swerved to one side, and the next mo-
ment there came blow on the riders
head as if the great blackberry tree
stretched far above had fallen upon
him. Then, as he fell from the horse, the
animal kicked the unconscious man be-
fore he had touched the earth.
An hour after, the pale-faced preach
er, limping along the path, almost
stumbled over the PROSTATE figure be-
meath the great blackberry. The old
SLOUGH hat had fallen from his head,
and the blood from long wound across
his forehead had soaked his matted hair
The preachers slight form staggered
under the task, but by series OF heroic
efforts he managed to convey the uncon'
scious man to the little log nut where
he lived alone. 1t was many days be-
fore the sufferer could do more than sit
like a helpless child in the old spiint'
Eottoned rocker and watch the preach
err as he limped back and forth attend,
ing to the wants Of his unexpected
guest. The stranger he'd been badly
hurt. The blow On his head, IS be came
m contact with the low-harging Enb,
had very nearly fractured his skull, and
the kick of the horse had broken sew
cral ribs.
One day there came letter addressed
In dainty feminine hand, and the
preacher had almost completed his an
swer when the hour arrived for him to
start for the little log church. After
he had gone, the invalid saw that the
letter and it's unfinished answer lay on
the homemade table, and without any
scruples he proceeded to read both
"Frum his sweetheart" the invalid
said aloud, as lie finished. Pore leetle
gal! kin almost seem to see her as
read them lines. Thar she is, way back
east, waitin' for the day when hc&
lover kin send the money to bring her
out we're 10 him. The time has ben
mighty long already, she says but
she'll wait for him if it takes half her
life. Brave leetlc girl! Bids him keep
up his courage, for she is shore he'll
soon git the money, for everybody
so generous in the west, and will pay
Kim we'll for his work, she is certain
The invalid paused, and shook one
hard fist at an imaginary auditor.
"Yas, hang we! Pay him we'll wen
yer souls sit bigger. If you was white
you'd pay more money an do less
eruntin' in church. Look at i'll he
went on, with rising wrath. "Yerc's
a man an a Christian a-worlein the life
outen his crippled body to save yel
souls, an in return ye give him jest
enough to keep him from plum starvin
All the whole kit of ye air good for is
to raise horses for me to run off with
Again he shook his fist at the imag
mary auditor.
That's for ye! Look at It'll Yere
fer worl1in' himself to death for ye1
souls, We pay him so leetle that the time
when he can bring his leetle waitin
sweetheart west seems years off! Yes
an ycre I an. a-doin' We no good, an
stcalin' every one O. yer horses l liir
git my hands on. In my case "
club together an offer a reward w
5000 jist to git me, Give him starva