The Opelousas courier., 1901-12-21

OF lace and counted LnEeS ao~cA pS"A
buttons, large and small, before she
looked up into the sweet face oil the
pastors young wife. The rosy cheeks
were pale now and the pretty mouth
was slightly drawn. 1t seemed is II
it would not take much to cause HATS.
Posts blue eyes to fill with tears.
Mrs. Dale shrewdly guessed as mucn'
but she said nothing. except to wish
| her customer a pleasant good morning
| as she went away.
Della Post knew well enough what
/ 10 surnise from the remarks made py
| the portly widow. Somebody must
have been criticising Homers SER
/ mons. or Mrs. Dale would not have
| defended them.
Into the door of the pretty gabled
| cottage which the good people OF west
| End had provided for their pastor the
| young wife went and straight into the
| tiny study where her husband sat at
his desk.
"Has something troubled you, De-
Lila. dear?" he asked kindly, laying
down his pen.
Nothing much" but as If to con-
| tradict her words she sat down In an
easy chair and commenced to cry.
What can 1t be-" thought the min
lister, as he vainly tried to soothe his
wife.
In a few moments the story came
| out; for Della Post was very young
indeed-only just 19-and she had not
learned to keep her troubles shut up
| within her own heart, rather than add
| another burden to the n who was so
dear to her.
Mr.. Posts face cleared.
"Is that all, child? I certainly
thought you had bad news from home.
OF course, everybody does not like my
preaching. How could that be posi-
BILE? i do my best, and, with the
Lords help, l trust that some word
may comfort or cheer a longing lonely
| soul"
"You are 50 good" replied Della,
and Homer, I do not help you at all.
/ was never cut out for a preachers
wife. Do you remember how I
laughed that day at Sister Hathaway's,
when she was telling about her sons
misdeeds? Wasn't it awful? And how
she glared at me-"
Mrs. Posts tears had quite disap-
peared now, and her husband looked
down lovingly at the sunny face
"Oh, dear, I entirely forgot those
biscuits. They'll be all burned up"
With a gay laugh she sprang down
the stairs singing. and the minister
turned again to his work.
"She little knows how much she
helps me with her sweetness and cheer
mess" he murmured. But I must be
more particular about my sermon next
Sunday. noticed that Brother Nc
Pherson spoke coldly to me last week
land I fear that / do need Sister Dale's
kindly words.
Mr.. Post had married Della Harold
about a year before. She was the
daughter of a wealthy merchant and
entirely without the experience need
full for a preachers wife, although she
was q happy Christian and loved her
husband dearly.
"Mr. Post is not q brilliant preach
err" said Brother Mcpherson that even
ing at an informal meeting held at mis-
own house. "He is sincere and good.
L believe we could get along with him
II he were alone, but his wife
There was an expressive pause, and
then Brother White took up the tale.
Eyes, Brother MCPHERSON, IT s 1.-THE wife
that Is the trouble. Not that / see much
amiss in the little girl, myself. She's
just the age Of my Mary, and / doubt
IL I should dare to recommend her
to any one of our young preachers
but all the women are against her"
At Mr.. Whites remark, Mrs. Nc
Pherson shifted audibly.
81 don't know as it's more the wom-
en- than the men; but / do think that
the way she wears her hair In that
sort of pug on top. and them curls
around her face. is a shame and dis
grace for a preachers wife. VI ct least
} for our preachers wife"
81 There was q general chorus OF dis
1 1 6C11L 4IOm LAC WOulCA Jul NIL VI
Pherson added, with a sly look at his
wife:
"It's very becoming to her, Mar
garet"
/ TO this frivolous statement his wife
vouchsafed no reply.
AS the conversation became general
, bits of criticism might be heard.
ttshe has four silk dresses"
. "And a hat To match each one"
!, "And a sealskin cloak
This last item of attire seemed te
be particularly objectionable and the
2 talk was waxing warm when Mrs. Har
per, a little palefaced oma who had
hitherto kept silence. said quietly.
) "Mrs. Post. was very good to my
. Davie when he was sick. It was shs
who was with him when he"
The poor mother could not say more
, and the meeting vas most effectually
b broken up. However, 1t was settled
! between the men, nearly all of whom
were leading members of the church
that q change would be desirable.
To this end q committee was ap
pointed to wait ON the pastor a weel
j later determined to--as gently as pos
sibie-acquaint him with their decis
ion.
These i've gentlemen Mrs. Post ush
ercd with great graciousness into til,
tiny parlor. Excusing herself to cal
. her husband, she gave the visitors tim,
to look around the ROOF and find still