The times., 1901-05-26
THE DEACON'S SINFULNESS

That afternoon the Deacon's wife called
upon her minister. And you wont think
any real harm OF the Deacon?" she said.
| as she rose to leave the little study where
she had been cioseted FOR some time. Il
thought maybe you might help NETS for
his good, yoG know-but I'd never forgive
myself II folk, got to talking about It."
The following sunday the Rev. Collie
Hatchley gave his people an earnest ii-
rect talk on the sin of self-indulgence
| aiong tne me OF any one particular pas
sion HRS Parker. glsncing out OF the
corner or ner eye at her husband. saw the
coloring coming and going in his thin
Iace ara the ever-deepeulng concern in
He was very silent during the ride home
after church. At dinner ne ate scarcely
/ anything. Mrs. Parker did not know
whether to be relieved or troubled.
All the afternoon the Deacon sat silent
IN his big chair. his closed Bible on his
knee When the twilight came. and Maria
had gone out TO tea with Joe, he rose and
/ oesan pacing slowly up and down tho
shadOwy room.
Feeling badIy?'' his wife asked. at last
Betsy, lm7-he stopped IN front of her
II m wrestling. That was a powerful
sermon this morning. | see my sin clear
at least. and 7 m wrestling
Betsy rocked uneasily. Il don't knows
I'd take ii too much to heart. Tyson" she
said with womanIy inconsistency
The Deacon had gone over to a little cor
I ner cupboard and taken out a pile Of yell
| low tickets. From there to the stove was
/ but step or two; the next moment thew
were curling and writhing Cd The hot Goals
Betsy" the Deacon said breathlessIv
We put my sin behind me. but I can't
put the consequences III have to bring
| it before the next general meeting. I need
discipHning. Betsy To think that / a
deacon in the church. should have gone on
so wlcksdiy spending money where II
wasn't needed, and SO much good waiting
TO be done! we been an extravaganI
self-indulgent sinner. but, thank the
Lord l see my wrong-doing now
/ Deacon Tarker.' his wife had seized
breathe word of this, at general meet
ing or anywhere else, In''-she broke of
abruptly Though 1t was Against all rule
TO cook anything on Sunday night the
Deacon had wheat cakes and maple syr-
up and ham and eggs for supper
EOr day or two the sense of victory
over self kept the Deacon's spirits up;
then the outer man began to triumph over
the inner. Deprived of its one stiTnuIaut
the Deacon's life seemed duh and yaDid.
He gave up his trips to town. spending
chair.
Il believe he'll do himself harm. fret
ting after those tickets, Mrs. Parker said
to Maria one morning. IF he'd 90 70
town, twould hearten him up-but he
won't.
Perhaps it's spring fever" Maria sug-
gested- "iJOe's been complaining some OF
Mrs. Parker grasped the suggestion ca
geriy. Il shouldn't wonder IL it was.
Anyhow, a tonic won't hurt him none.
III drive in this afternoon and get him
She made as good time as old JIm's
powers would allow. On her return she
steered a straight course for the Deacon.
armed with the bottle of tonic and
SPOON As she pulled of the outer wrap
per, a yellow ticket fen from it to the
floor. unseen by the Deacon, however.
Hastily picking it up, MRS Parker drop
ped it into her pocket A little later she
took il out TO look at Suppose this
should happen to be the lucky NUMBER
was the thought that ran through her
mind. From supposing, Sne passed, with
alarming rapidity, to Wishing from wish
ing to hoping, from hoping to planning,
from planning to worrying
Her final fall, however, did not come
until the next day. The issuing of the
automobile tickets was to end at noon. At
breakfast Mrs Parker announced her IN
tentiOn of going to town again Wnen
she drove into the yard, on her return,
there were several parcels on the seat be-
side her.
said. going out to the carriage.
Il guess L know what I'm about the
mother answered shortly.
The Deacon felt worried about his wife
during the next few dayS-she wasn't her
self, somehow As for Mrs. Parker. she
avoided her husbands mild glance in the
oldest manner Those faded eyes seemed
possessed of a new power, TO pierce down
TO the very depths Of her troubled con-
science Especially did she shun them
after stiu another trip to town She was
restless and irritable all that evening. and
though she went early to bed. it was only
TO toss and turn miserably- Late at night.
lying wide-eyed in the moon-lighted
room. she decided she could stand 1t no
longer She woke the De<con up at once
Sick Betsy? he asked anxiouSly.
Sick at heart, Deacon. I got a ticket
Wits your tonic that day. 1 didn't know
it It'll l got home. II must have been
bewitched, the way it upset me- It's the
first time I've ever taken any interest in
the business-Tve only been angry at the
way you've gone on about en- But, all
of a sudden, / felt $ if 1 wanted to get
the lucky number. 1 went in town and
bought a lot of stuff the next day, IN the
little time there was left.
"Oh, Betsy the Deacon's voice be-
spoke relief He had always found her
superior strength of mind and will a little
overpowering He felt now as il the
scales were shifting, to settle, finally,
into a more equal balance.
'T was a silly, silly thing" his wife
went on; but I did want TO win
''WelI-weil-Im sorry for your disaP-
pointment, Betsy
Butch, deari''-for once in her life
Mrs Parker was hysterical-'I wasn't
disappointed Deacon, I've won the aiitO-
modify Emilia Elliott in the New York
Evening Post.