Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-11-09

hall had to be procured, for the chapel
would not hold the crowd. A brief con-
cert was given first to get the people
in good humor, and to whet their
anxiety, and though the performers
were well received, little attention
was paid to them, but everyone was on
the qui vive for the greater drama of
the evening. The minister was in his
glory.
When the concert was over, he well
coined Lucindy and Maria Ann to the
stage, where they sat, one on either side
of him. The reports began. First one
from Lucindy's side, then one from
Maria AIMS, and so alternately
through. 1t was very close! The peo-
pie were leaning forward, eager and
anxious for the issue. The reports
came thick and FAST and the excite
ment grew as the sums increased. The
climax was to be the reports of the two
leaders themselves, and here Lucindy
had shown her shrewdness. Maria
AIMS side had begun to report first.
and so their leader was compelled tc
state her amount first. There was a
certain little reserve fund in the peck.
ct of her opponent with which young
Mrs. Worthington was somewhat &C.
quainted, and it was to be used in case
Maria Ann should excel her. Maria
made her report, reading from her
book:
"'Co'din' to de returns made by may
patty, which you hev all hyeahed, they
hev collected one hun'crd an eight
dollahs; addin' to that what hev col.
lected by myself, fifty-two dollahs. I re.
| dollahs."
Down in her lap Lucindy did some
| quick, surreptitious writing. Then she
stood up.
"'Co'din' to de returns from which
my patty hev made, an which you hev
all hyeahed, they hev collected one hun
'erd an two dollahs, an I, by my indi.
vidual etfort''-she laid wonderful en-
phasis on the last two words, "bring in
sixty dollahs, mekin' the total one
hun'erd an sixty-two dollahs, which I
submit to de chu'ch."
There was a burst of applause from
Lucindy's partisans, but Maria Ann
was or her feet:
II forgot" she said, "de last donation
received. Mrs. ledge Haines was kim
enough to give me a check fu' ten dol
labs, which didn't add at fust, an it
brings my collection up to one hun'erd
an seventy dollahs." g..
The volume of applause increased at
Maria AIMS statement, but it wavered
into silence as Lucindy arose. She
smiled down upon Maria Ann.
''I'm mighty thankful to de sister,"
she said, ''fu' mindin' me o. some'p'n I
mos nigh fu'got. Mis- Carline Worth
ington desired to put her name down
on my book flu twenty dollahs, which
brings my collection to one hun'er an
eighty dollahs."
Mrs. Worthington looked across at
Mrs. Haines and smiled. That lady
raised her chin. An ashen hue came
into Maria Ann Gibbs face.
With great reclamation the watch
was awarded to Lucindy woodward,
and in congratulating her Rev. Eleazer
Jackson held her hand perhaps little
longer than usual. Mrs. Worthington
was standing near at the time.
IF had known it meant this" she
said to herself, II wouldn't have given
her that $40" The lady saw that she
was likely to lose good servant. When
the meeting was out the preacher
walked home with Lucindy.
On the following Thursday night the
Afro-American Sons and Daughters of
Hagar gave dance at their hall on Main
street. Maria Ann Gibbs, the shining
light of Bethel church, went, and she
danced. Bethel heard and mourned.
On the next Sunday she went to
church. She walked in with Nose
Moore, who was known to be sinner,
and she sat with him near the door, in
the seat of the sinners.
Rev. Eleazer Jackson went past Lu-
cindy's house, and they walked to
church together. Lucindy had increased
her stock of jewelry, not only by the
watch, but by a bright gold ring which
she wore on the third finger of her lett
hand. But if Maria Ann cared, she
did not show it. She had found in the
tents of the wicked what she could not
get in the temple of the Lord.-Satur-
day Evening Post, Philadelphia.
Couldn't Fill His Teeth.