The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-12-09
"Sometimes IL almost wish

sadly. Sometimes IL almost wish
my profession allowed me to think so,
! too, doctor. But it doesn't"
Hang your profession" jerked out
Jeff. You're not a parson:'
No"
Ever been one?"
NO"
Then, why in the name Of common
sense don't you so and earn some
money? My good fellow, YOU'RE
whats the good of preaching: he
went on, changing his sentence. THE
world went very well for 4 great many
centuries before you were born; it'll go
very well for many more after you're
buried. Let it go.'
The preachers deep eyes flashed.
( III never do that" he said quietly.
They had walked considerable
| way, and jeff looked up with Z we'll
assumed start of surprise.
Hanged if this isn't my place.
Never meant to bring you all this way.
| Come in and rest"
The preacher heSitated, but he did
| not wish TO give Offense and finally
they tramped up the narrow stairs to
Jeff'S sanctum-a little Sitting-room
| with hideOus cheap furniture. fiarinG
paper and a table Uttered with books.
1t was all very cheerleSs. very dingy,
but JEFF waved his guest to chair
| with 4 certain dignity foreign to his
usual manner-a survival, perhaps. OF
other ways Of life and of other viSi-
| tantS than street preachers. After all,
it is the man who makes his surround
ingS. 4 parvenu can be vulgar in
palace; our little doctor. despite his
buster, might have been prince IN
disguise.
So the preacher thought as he sat
down in the arm chair-black horse
hair covered, and deficient in the mat
ter of springs-and glanced round the
room at the well-worn books, at the
oil-stoye, which smelled abominably, at
| the cupboard where the skeleton clat-
tered its empty jaws among dry crusts
and ancient cheese.
| -NOl uuSh Va a piaNS, 10 ~ SsAo
JEFF. We've known better, both of us.
But it does-anything does. Excuse
me, but l want my supper. Do you
mind my getting it, Coin don't run to
many courses. But perhaps you'll help
me? Hate solitary meals-always did;
bad for the digestion. Pah. how that
Internal thing does smell, to be sure"
OF course the preacher saw through
the device. and its clumsy, kindly deli
cacy touched him as few things had
done of late. He murmured some COM
monplace reply and proceeded to take
tender interest in the retrimming of
the stove. fancy there were tears in
his tired eyes as he fumbled with the
matches, and that lie blessed Jef's
grumpy hospitality with a ferror
| which would have agreeably astonish-
ed the doctor, who had received so lit
tie gratitude in his time that he had
| outgrown the usual habit Of expect
| ing it.
He did not look at his guest as he
hunted in the cupboard and brought
out such modest provision as it con-
| tained, and presently the preacher rose
and began to set the table ready in
silence. AS he lifted one of the books
| something on its faded cover caught
| his eye. On the brown leather was
| stamped q coat-Of-arms, almost indis-
| tinguishable by reason Of its antiquity.
JEFF saw the glance directed toward
him, took the book from his compan-
ions hand and flung it roughly into 4
corner.
Somebody's aristocratic vulgarity,"
he said, shortly. What do they want
| to scatter their stupid quarterings
about for? / picked it up second
hand"
The preacher went on silently with
| his task. He was quite aware that the
book had not been picked up secondz
hand, but he did not even look as If he
doubted Jeff's statement. Only think
the skeleton sided a little closer to the
| cupboard door. 1t Is thing which ell
| skeletons will do at times.
4 Inc TWO men SAT QOWn 1T the IaDic
and began their supper. They did not
| talk much at first, but presently jeff
pushed back his chair and glanced
across at the preacher.
Il told you a lie just now," he said.
| The preacher looked up, and the two
mems eyes met.
Il Ss10S you did," he answered, sim.
ply.
II thought you didn't know. Rather
pride myself on telling n lie neatly.
Learned 1t ut school-about the only
thing l did learn there. All, now I've
shocked you."
NO." answered the other, sadly. Il
Il am not easily shocked"
"New sort Of saint, eh? Well, we've
had about enough Of the Old
There was silence for q moment and
| then JEFF said:
| How do you know"
"By the way you flung the book"
"Ah. 1 saw you looking at the old
| shield and it hurt. Odd how small
i IL h,r%