The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-07-30

Soon the reverend reappeared from
ambush, wearing the same official gar
ment that had expostulated from the
pulpit, spread its broad arms over the
dead, and held many q babe at christ
ening, and which seemed SO habitua-
ted to these tasks now that it would
scarcely have surprised the good folk
Of Beverly, if the old coat went right
on marrying and christening and bury
ing people long after the good dominic
had passed away. ''Bashy, dear, he
said automatically, "do you think that
would be justified in refusing 10 per
form that ceremony unless got the
dollar in hand2"
His wife thoughts moment. "No,'
she said at length. "You would only
be encouraging what is bad. You know
those mountain people-they're heath
ems, that's what they are. Joshuay,
90 and do your duty by them, even
even if that silk dress, the first one I
have had in fourteen years, and the
first garment I've had in four, does go
back to New York and stays there. Go
and do your duty as q Christian min
lister, and I'll make up my mind to
stand it.
But all this was spoken with a ring
which the good man understood, and
which said only too plainly: Get that
dollar or bustl' and that's about the
resolution which passed through the
clergyman's heart as he kissed his
spouse good-by, and made his way to
the barn
The mountain road from Beverly is
bad enough for a horse, but when that
horse has to pull a 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 SC
much as a 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 anC
somewhat of a commodious hut, whose
sloping roof met the mountain agains
which it backed up for shelter, anC
| more to save the trouble and expens
of north wall to the habitation.
| The guests were assembled, and
r motley crew it was. There were tw
} men to every woman, and the Who'll
party gave unmistakable evidence @
l having been indulging in "moonshine
g stock, for the ease with which whisk,
e trickles everywhere from Inaccessible
I fountains, in answer to the magic rod
is something that is miraculous, eve
r to such men of God as the dominic an
to the Government revenue officers q
: well.
: Every evidence of the indulgenc
b was gone, however, except, perhaps
e the redolence of the nectar throug
the two-roomed shanty, which wa
l. lined with guests in all degrees Of Ill
h couth and unkempt neglige. SUI
pressed merriment of rather an uncivi
/. lied kind was rife. 1t seemed as
e they were about ready to jump in fl
), Virginia reel or a free fight, with pi
|, tolls and knives, from arsenals of COY
IL hide bootlegs, and of the two anus
Of ments, preferred the latter. They ho
d evidently seen the dominic coming L
n the mountain road, had taken the si
nal of his pilot, and had secreted an
ID thing that might tend to bring dow
the wrath of the good man upon theI
They wanted the ceremony oyet wit
re and the man officiating to get right o
a after the event as soon as possible,
as not to disturb the harmony Of the
a playful gala day.
H. With that practised ease of the IN:
who is ever at home in the cloth, t
:" reverend advanced into their midst al
shook hands with the bride, the grool
the parents, and one or two others W
II were anxious to show their homage
II the shiny black broadcloth. ss''W
you bring me the family Bible, please
he said the good man.
y. Alas, every one looked OF his or h
he neighbor in CONSERVATION, Ii he h
MT said, "Where is the family still?"
on might have received a reply Of sol
"a, kinda curse or a bullet, at least
ng but to this innocent query there "
,e. no answering word. Then, diving
to one of his own pockets, he DIR
alf forth a little testament which had do
ng service over many grave, but v
to rarely called out where the fam
Bible was more fitting, and made /
ne unsteady groom and the rather she,
ish bride stand up before him, joint
he hands. The service was very sh
ID. and the answers to his official gu
ew tions abrupt and thick. The compa
zee maintained respectful silence, Q
ed when prayer followed the blessi
la- there were one or two "Amens'-
Ter assumption of godliness that was
ice evidently everywhere lacking. III
,ail came congratulations and some rat