Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-11-10

the summer mOutHhs
"But l don't care for your preach
ing" Betty said and Donald Campbell
flushed to the roots Of his hair, and a
panied look crossed his bonny face.
"I'm sorry" was all he said.
''Now your vicar breaches to per-
fection," Betty added, mischievously,
knowing as everyone well did that nc
other parson could outdo Mr.. Pottle
in long, prosy sermon, at all events
in Surrey.
ado you like his sermons? Thought
you usually went to sleep" he said,
"I2 Never, neverl III ever was in
terested in a sermon in my life, 1t was
when Mr.. Pottle preached-so therel
admire him so thoroughly, and his
views are mine in all thingsl"
"Really well, would you care to
come and hear him preach next Sun
day" Donald Campbell asked her, and
she, dimpling all over her winsome
fac., thanked him as if he had offered
her the richest of rare treats, and as
sured hm she would not forget, and
left him on another partners arm, all
smiles and happiness.
And he, poor hoy, placed his two ell
bows on his knees, and his face be-
tween his hands, and sat there in a
state of abject misery, lie knew that
Parson Pottle was a wealthy man and
not ill-looking-and bachelorl Well,
well, he lovel his Betty 80 dearly that
il she had given her little heart to that
that clumsy old bore-aheml that
very estimable person. his vicar, he
would do his best to make her happy,
and be the means of bringing his SUI
perior and the girl he loved together
So 1t was with half-hearted happi-
ness that Parson Campbell decked his
little room the following Sunday
morn, in honor of the guests who were
to lunch with him.
But Betty would be there, Betty
would adorn his dingy room with the
sunshine of her smiles for couple OF
hours at least-even if her affections
had been bestowed elsewhere; and. at
all events, he was certain to have the
pleasure of walking home with her
from the church, and so he smiled
again, and donning his new clerical at
tire, sailed forth with, as he put it
himself, "his best foot foremost"
Now the day was very warm and
close, and everyone declared that
there was thunder in the air, and the
insects were more tiresome than ever
that morning In the church, and kept
, buz-buz-buzzing round poor Betty's
bonnet and then knocked against her
face, or crawled down her neck; and
through the open door there came
> the faint "ga-ga" from the goose who
lived on the green; the heat was tell
ing on the poor old bird, who, as the
villagers would tell you, had seen close
on a hundred years of life, and It
gave vent to a mournful noise, Cx.
pressive of entire disapproyal when
the sun shone unusually bright on heI
! poor old back.
And surely dear mamma had more
than her proper share of room In The
square pewwithits hard, straight back
and rough red cushionsl Betty hac
! never been so near the wall before
why she could rest her head against It
quite easily too, without inclining hel
! little person to the right at all, and
| surely there were more steps to the
|, pulpit than there used to be. Mr.
Pottle was an endless while mounting
! to the top-ah, there he was, his littl,
/ round face beaming in a benevolen
smile over the heads of his devoted
= flock.
: And the text xt?-buz-buz
: Betty had to watch the progress o
that wasp--it was crawling along tn,
9 pew in front and had nearly reached
Miss Janet's neck, the little bit tina
showed between her bonnet and tn
!. frill round the top of her low-cu
v gown. Why even the wasp seeme'
o stupefed by the heat, it tried to fly
}. and then, fell to the ground. "Ga-ga,
laughed the goose, as if she'd seen ant
h thoroughly enjoyed the defeated plal
S of attack on poor Miss Janet, and Bet
n ty smiled. Suddenly she started up
q right, Mr., Pottle was just commenc
= ing the "frstly"-what had the tex
n been?
Yes, she could see the preacher de
3 cidedly better if her little bonnet jus
r touched the cool stone wall, but h
s looked so queer that day, so muc
e bigger and all in a sort of mist-bu7
d buz-z-z-z-and so much further ava
d why il was Donald after all, and !
Il was not a pulpit she was looking a
Il Just "a
p Betty, Betty Bettyl" in deep an
, earnest whisper. "Sit up my deal
n pretend you were faint, your head fe
e forward you we're fast asleep an
everyone can see you, it's disgracefu
a Sit up, there, there, are you bette
dear?" This in a louder tone-"Tak
d my fan and I will help you into tn
n fresh airl"
K And Betty, blushing with confusio
l. at having fallen asleep in church, ber
= her head and leaning on her mother
d arm managed somehow to stumble (
the porch.
D. And the two good parsons were fu
Of concern, as they joined the ladi'
le later
q, Well, il had been close and II
church was very warm, and there Ia
a. been large congregation
" Poor Miss Betty-would she tai
> a glass Of wine before starting on b,