The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-26

After coming to Redwood, Parson
wentworth had had to endure as best
no could the attentions of several I'M
married ladies of the parish. These at
tentions took shape on the evening of
his arrival. He found beautiful table
laid in the dining-room, adorned with
nrecious bits. of silver and china and
odorous with flowers. A particularly
beautiful vase bore a card announcing
that the supper was "the compliment
Of Miss Sophronia Nesbitt.' The par
son ate the supper without thought of
the donor save that it was a most deli
cate welcome, but stood aghast when
he entered his bedroom and found it
likewise adorned with flowers, the
snowy bed turned back invitingly
monagrammed towels and even a be-
friled night garment conspicuous in
its position. The pincushion, an elab-
crate affair in dotted swiss and lace
over blue, was adorned with an in
scription in pins. Welcome dear
brother!" and in front of a very RAM
pant water color in a gilded frame
over the mantel was another card an
nouncing that Miss Celia Smickler had
prepared this room with her best
compliments Descending the stairs,
he found the small parlor or study had
been likewise furnished and adorned
by Miss Julia Bowels, from embroider-
ed footrest and tides to a lava smok-
ing set, which made the parson stare.
How did she know about my after
supper cigar?" he wondered. 1t was
his one weakness.
Afaretta, the middle-aged help in
the kitchen, afforded the parson no
little consolation. She was evidently
ON the side of cefbacy, and she sniff
ed contemptuously over the onslaughts
of the three maiden ladies.
Il doubt if you can hold out, SIR"
she said, grimly. a few days later.
Miss Cely was here this morning. and
the sewing circle is going to begin on
dozen fine shirts for you this af-
ternOon. You're well tekkin' care Of
too we'll, I'm thinkin'. It's no use for
me to say anything. This parish owns
this ere house. and I'm jest an hum
Bile instrument in their hands"
Rev. Alpheus Wentworth was tall
and good looking. He had not arrived
at the age of 35 without succumbing to
matrimony. A brief romance and a
briefer welded life had saddened his
life-but that was ten years ago, and
HoN 81 lile pdllou
take another wife. From the first in
tmation of his coming the parish
snuffed the battle from affair." There
We're three maidens in Redwood ell
gible and willing to become the wife
Of the new parson. BY the time he ar
rived the battle was on and Redwood
was rapturous over a new sensation,
The rivalry was so open and mani
fest that the parish families began TO
take sides. In the invitations to, sup
per and even in outlying places for
over Sunday that at once crowded in
on Rev. ,Alpheus, the parish. prefer
ences We're plainly shown. At some
houses Miss Julia 4Bowles.- dark and
earnest. supposed to be literary and
decidedly superior, was asked to meet
him. AT other houses Miss Sophronia's
adherents gave her the seat next to
him at supper and slyly praised her
industry and cooking. Miss Celia
Smikcler had fever relatives and thus
fewer opportunities, but she made up
for it by being four or five years
younger, and was said to be more
worldly.
The actual arena might well be said
to be the sewing society, where the
rival factions met. over the dozen fine
shirts there was something like open
warfare, but Miss Sophronia created
a most intense excitement in the meet
ing when they were finished by NOV
ing that a dozen new sheets and sets
Of pillow cases be made at the next
meeting for the parsonage. Miss So
phronia's faction had been much de-
pressed by the shirt movement, but
their spirits arose in this affair. Mrs.
Peter Nesbtt, her aunt, moved to in
clude another tablecloth and dozen
napkins.
That will shut out the Bowleses,
she whispered to her sister-in-law.
They are so great on table linen
knew they were going to move ia
BILE cloth or napkins"
1t was certainly the turn of the
Bowles party to do something super
or. In the meantime Parson Alpheus
had spent Sunday with Judge Bowles
at Maple Side had taken tea. with Miss
Celia's aunt and attended family din
ner at DR.. Nesbitt's. He had gone on
his way without displaying any pref
erences; indeed, he modestly talked to
the married women and avoided female
society. From the three candidates he
fairly ran, and it was said that Alta
retta aided and abetted him in several
fights down a rear lane.
But the change from a busy city par