The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-12-28
THE MINISTER'S YOUNG WIFI.

10 THIS end committee was an
pointed to wait on the pastor q wee,
later determined tO-as gently as nos
slole-acQuaint him with their decis.
ion.
lhese i've gentlemen Mrs. Post ush
ered with great graciousness into the
tiny parlor. Excusing herself to call
her husband, she gave the visitors ti,re
10 look around the room and find still
more cause for complaint against the
minister's wife.
when Mrs. Post came to West End
sne mad found square parl0r with
four low windows, a brilliant scarlet
carpet and several stiff chairs. With
good taste and the judicious use of
ittle money she had transformed if
pretty rug, in subdued colors hid
the Objectionable carpet Soft inex-
pensive curtains were at the windows
and few good engravings and choice
photographs gave character to tha
white walls.
After a moments delay the minister
entered, and to the annoyance OF all
after him tripped his wife. who draw
Ing low chair nearer to the light.
commenced some embroidery. listen.
ing, meanwhile, with deep attention
to the conversation.
1t was discounted committee
which issued from the low porch an
hour later.
Why didn't you say something?"
asked Brother Mcpherson, impatiently
Of Brother White.
How could l, with the minister's
wife sitting there so smiling and
cheerful?" returned Mr.. White. justly
indignant at the question.
so good Of them to call, wasn't
it. Homer" said Della, enthusiastical-
ly. as she put away the precious Vene-
tian glasses in which she had passed
lemonade to the guests. 1T shows
how fond they are of you.
MIR. Post was leaning on the mantel
and did not seem to hear the remark
He knew very well that those five men
had not come In to make a friendly
call. There had been something at the
bottom Of it. But if there was some
thing wrong. why had they not men
toned it?
AS the months passed by Mrs. Post
went on her way with a calm and un-
disturbed spirit. 1t never occurred to
her that people did not approve Of
her. Everybody had loved her ct
home
There was one place where Mrs.
Posts actions were above reproach,
and even strict old Brother Mcpherson
acknowledged that. This was in the
Sunday school. where the minister's
wife was very successful
There were four girls in her class.
One was Mary White, another was a
young woman from Mrs. Dale's store,
the third was girl about IL and the
fourth. the one person whom fastidi-
ous Mrs. Post disliked, although she
tried hard to combat the feeling, was
Katie Mason, the maid-of-all-work at
the hotel in the town, the place where
men went insane and sober and from
which they emerged fiends. 1t was
not because Katie was a working-girl
that Mrs. Post did not like her-not at
Ill. Della would have loved any one,
stopping to think whether they
washed dishes for a living or spent
heir time in elegant leisure, if they
we're only clean. This unfortunate girl
vas not only untidy in her person, but
she was repulsive in her appearance.
Try as she would. Mrs. Post could not
oring herself to touch her. But she
;oon leared that the one joy of Katie's
lie was to come to Sunday school and
oe near the beautiful lady. The gentle
'oice, the we'll bred manner. the per-
ect toilette, were new to her. and
seemed to lift the minister's wife into
he sphere of an angel. Each Sunday
frs. Post prayed that she might be
bile to say something to help this poor
,irl, whose eyes had first seen the light |
II a workhouse, and whose miserable
ife had been passed in hard labor and
he lowest surroundings.
Ryan's hotel stood on q corner of the |
main street of the village, and it's |
lickering lights burned all night long. |
While from within came the sound of
huffiing cards and clinking glasses.
[atie often worked till midnight, and
vas up again at dawn doing the heavi-
st drudgery.
One day Mrs. Post came in with her |
rms full Of the spring blossoms and
urned the parlor into bower Of beau
Y.
isn't it lovely?" she exclaimed,
caring her husbands footstep behind
er.
Very" he replied absently. Della,
here's a man here who wants you very |
1uch to come down to Ryan's hotel.
here has been an accident, and Katie,
he girl in your Sunday school class,
as been hurt-badly, judge"
She's a-going fast" responded the
ian, touching his hat aykwardly. He
ras the barman at Ryan's. But" as
e said to a crowd of friends later. 81
nows lady when l sees her, and that
here preachers wife's one, you bet.
he turned as pale as a rag, and the
he says. Now, darling. You
ont need to go I'll 60 OF course