The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-02-26
PREACHERS SWEETHEART.

A light shone from the open door Of
the low log structure that answered the
double purpose of church and school
house. The CLEAN fell upon the yellow.
ish leaves of a pawpaw tree that stood
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 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 foated out into the darkness In
solemn cadence. Often they were in
terrupted by deep-grunted "A-asa
men!" or "U-m-m-ah? Vas, Lord!" the
manner in which many worshipers ex
pressed their appreciation of the
preachers utterances. A mounted fig
hire came close to the shaft of light ant
dismounted. AS he did so the stamping
of the restless horses reached his ears
Noiselessly he made his horse fast to c
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, as if in the dark
ness his hands were doing duty fol
eyes in revealing the merits or dement's
Of each animal.
The voice of the preacher came eleal
and strong to the ears Of the maj
among the horses. He listened {
moment as the voice told him, In sim
pie words, the sweet truths of the Bible
Somehow the words of the good Bool
seemed to the man in the darkness to be
addressed directly to himself, and pres
emily, as he listened, he removed hi!
old SLOUGH hat as reverently as If he hat
been within the sanctuary.
Then, as the words of invitation ant
consolation rang out clear and sweet
the man by the horses removed hi!
hand from the neck of little mare
and muttered: preacher is a sumner
shore. Reckon I'll leave the filly
Might belong to the preacher, an bein
a preacher, O. course it's the only hos!
he's got"
AS he returned to his own animal, h,
paused again to listen. Presently hi
dropped the hand that was untying the
bride and strobe into the bar of ligh
that shone from the open door.
I'll try it," he muttered. Ben {
long time sence I've set in church"
His slouching entrance was hardly
noticed by the congregation Of shock
headed men and sallow-faced women, 81
attentive were they to the preacher
utterances.
The preacher was small, pale-facet
man, plainly, almost shabbily dressed
and as he stepped awkwardly back an(
forth behind the rude pulpit, the las
conner saw that he was lame.
Presently he rose and slouched out
and, mounting his horse, dashed ava.
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 rider
head as if the great blackberry tre'
stretched far above had fallen upor
him. Then, as he fell from the horse, tn,
| animal kicked the unconscious man be
| fore he had touched the earth.
An hour after, the pale-faced preach
oil oil
stumbled over the PROSTATE figure be
meath the great blackberry. The oil
SLOUGH hat had fallen from his head
and the blood from long wound acros
his forehead had soaked his matted hair
The preachers slight form staggered
under the task, but by series of heroi
efforts he managed to convey the uncon
scious man to the little log hut wher'
he lived alone. 1t was many days be
| fore the sufferer could do more than 81
like helpless child in the old splint
tottomed rocker and watch the preach
er as he limped back and forth attend
ing to the wants of his unexpected
guest. The stranger had been badl,
hurt. The blow on his head, as he cam
in contact with the low-hanging limb
had very nearly fractured his skull. ant
the kick of the horse had broken sew
eral ribs.
One day there came letter addresse,
in dainty feminine hand, and tn
preacher had almost completed his an
swer when the hour arrived for him t,
! start for the little log church. Afte
he had gone, the invalid saw that tn
letter and it's unfinished answer lay Of
the homemade table, and without an.
scruples he proceeded to read both.
"Frum his sweetheart" the invali'
said aloud, rs he finished. Pore leetl
gal | kin almost seem to see her as
read them lines. Thar she is, way bac
east, wait;n' for the day when be
lover kin send the money to bring he
out yere to him. The time has be-
mighty long already. she says, bu
she'll wait for him il it takes half he