St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-05-08
oPELoUsAs LOUISIANA, SATURDAY NAY s, 1897.

4
term and gigglin and gain that ever
went on at one time in this worla, it
was right over there en- Pstsalagy ridge
that Sunday mornin.
Tarectly the preacher sung out and
said, with loud voice:
Let the congregation come to or
der. Be seated and behave yourselves.
It's nobody but that rattlen, harum-
scarum Rufe Sanders and Susy Ann
Stringer."
Then there was a spell of screamin
amongst the women folks, and when old
Misses Stringer found out that it was no
body but me and her own dear Susy Ann,
she throwed up her hands and keeled
| over and went off in u dead faint. So
iEstid of breakin up the performance
the preacher only made it worse and
still more of it. Things went on at that
lick till Misses Stringer come to, and
then the leaders of the flock come to
the conclusion that it InoHght be best to
take out for twelve and feed But the
people couldn't eat any dinner to speak
of for lookin at me and Miss Susy Ann
and the fneries we had on us. After
dinner the elders blowed the horn and
the preachers tried to go on with the
meetin. But it was all pluperfect vanity
and vexation. The proceedins wouldn't t
proceed worth hardly. A few Of the
amen corner members went back to the
big arbor, but the mainest part of the
crowd was busy followin around after
me and Miss Susy Ann like passle of
school boys at Punch and Judy show.
Late that evenin the preachers and
the deacons and the elders got together
and helt little private confabulation.
Then they sent committee to see if ]
want willin to take Miss Susy Ann and
go on home, and let the meetin proceed.
Now Uncle Eph Simpkins was thers
accordin to our private understandin,
and he had already laughed and
laughed till raley don't think there
was a button left on his breeehes. He
saw what was goin on, and callin me OF
to one side, he went on to say:
Don't you do it, Rufe. This is free
country, and If you and Miss Susy Ann
want to wear good clothes, it is no
body's business. Bunk Weatherford
and Miss Rosebud couldn't stand the
shine you all put on. They lit out from
here and left the grounds before dinner.
It will never do for you to run up the
white feather now. Never retreat I'M
der fire, my boy-never retreat under
fire."
So I made the committee own up that
me and Miss Susy Ann hadn't done
blessed thing but went to the meetin
with our own clothes on, behavin our
selves as best we could. and then give
it out that we would holt OUT ground
and remain over and see the show out.
Well, Tdidn think aboutdoi nything
that was wrong and wicked, and
knowed that Miss Susy Ann didn't mean
it that way, but bless gracious the next
news we got seem like we had busted
the camp meetin higher than a kite.
That night the preacher prayed to the
good Lord to "have mercy upon that
wild and wayward Rufe Sanders and the
giddy young thing with him." And
then the meetin adjourned for good and
ALL
Uncle Eph lowed to me afterwards
that he wouldn't take three hundred
dollars for the sights he saw and the
fun he had that day.
You can keep your horse, bride and
saddle, and also your new clothes.
Rufe," says he. ST have lost that durn
waverly note anyhow, and will give
you a hundred years to settle in."
Uncle Eph simpkins he died and was
gathered up to his fathers in the usual
run of time, and somehow me and Miss
Susy Ann never did git married. But
by gatlins, we weaned Bunk Weather.
ford and Miss Rosebud Castleberry, and
we weaned 'em good.
RUFUS SANDERS.