The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-02-09

her for his taking Of, and her refe9.
ences to her trouble" were frequent
and sometimes fearful.
"But just them kind Of widders are
the very kind that up and marry the
soonest" said Sister Phelps to Sister
Brush as the two women. having
completed arrangements for the en-
tertainment of the delegate or dele
gates, went on their way. mind you,
1 don't mean no disrespect to Sister
Todd. and I'd be the last person to
blame her If she took second pard-
ner. No one. can say that she amt
mourned Silas Todd faithful"
That's fact, Sister Phelps. And
that. too, when everybody knows that
he want all that he might of been in
the way of husband. but wen let
that rest. SEEM that it amt becomin'
to speak i'll of the dead. If the min
lister from Zion and his wife come to
the association I think we'd better
send them to Sister Todd's. It'll be
a real nice place for any delegate, for
Sister Todd is such a good cook and
the best housekeeper in town."
1t was about ten o'clock in the
morning on Tuesday of the next week
when Sister Todd heard her doorbell
ring, and her mental comment was:
"Therel I reckon that's my dele
gate! 1 do hope it amt some fussy
old maid, or, worse still, pair of 'em
like those / had to entertain the last
time the association met here. They
was trial, even if they was sisters in
our own church"
But a second trial of this SOFT was
not in store for Sister Todd, fol when
she opened the door she saw In the
little porch in front of her hxuse .
kindly-looking, bright eyed and smil-
ing little man of about 60 years. He
had satchel in his hands. and Sister
Todd was not surprised when he said.
in singularly soft and gentle voice:
II suppose tat this is Sister Todd?
l am Mr.. Matthew Rolfe, one of the
deacons in the church over in Hebron.
have been sent as delegate to the
ocSOCldtAOh anu OnC SOnuAttCC IaSV
sent me here for entertainment"
Sister Todd said afterward that she
had it ION the tip of her tongue" to
say that she did not expect to enter
tain a man, but she checked this in
hospitable remark and said, in some
confusion:
"Well, come in and set down. l.
II have friends in the Hebron
church-the Tylers. Mebbe you know
them?"
"Oh, yes, indeed. They are among
our most useful and active members.
I have known them for years."
That "broke the ice," and Sister
Todd soon found herself chatting
freely and easily with her delegate.
When he had gone to his room her
mental comment was:
swell, he's q real pleasant person,
and If he knows the Tylers SO well
he must be real nice man. I'd no
idee the committee would send me a
man delegate, but can't turn him
out now that he's here, and I'm too
well known in this town for anyone
to pass any remarks about me enter
tainin' gentleman delegate single
or married. I wonder which he is?"
She found out at the dinner table,
for when she referred to her trouble"
and explained the nature of the
''trouble" the delegate said with real
and sympathy:
II know just how to feel for you,
Sister Todd. lost my own dear
three years ago. broke
up housekeeping and went to live
with sister of mine, but she died in
the spring and have boarded since
then, but boarding is mighty unsat-
isfactory to a man who has always
had home of his own. am real
home body and I'll never be satisfied
until have a home my own once
more"
II shouldn't think you would be.
should fly if 1 had to go to boarding.
there's nothing like home of ones
own"
II feel just that way. I'm sorry I
sold OF my things. / planned to have
} niece of mine come and keep house
Tor me, but she died suddenly three
months ago. l feel like fish out of
water without home. And amt
been able to find good boarding
place in Hebron. Hardly any one
axes boarders there. Fact is I've
been thinking of leaving Hebron and
coming over this way to live. have
'eard of chance to buy half inter-
st in a shoe. store over here. and
know all about the shoe business. If
Kings are favorable think I'll buy
md settle here"
"You'd find this q real pleasant
lace to live, and you'd like our min
ster and all our church people here"
81 know / would I don't knoxv