The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-05-31
The excitement of the onlookers

The excitement of the onlookers
grew more and more intense. They
were six and six and it was the
preachers deal. His eyes were
bright, and he was breathing quickly.
Parker was born fighter and moth
ing gave him more joy than the heat
of the battle itself. He riffled the
cards. Jim cut. He dealt and turned
Jack. Jim laughed.
'You know the trick" he said.
Oats one game" said Parker, and
bent over the cards as they came to
him. He did not hear light step
outside nor did he see shadow that
fell across the open doorway. He
was just about to lead when a cold
voice, full of contempt, broke upon
his ear and made him keep the card
he would have played poised in his
hand.
"And so these are your after-meet-
ing diversions, are they, Parker?" said
his masters voice.
Stuart Mordaunt was standing in
the door, his face cold and stern,
while his informant grinned mali
ciously.
Parker brushed his hand across his
brow as if dazed.
"Well, Mas Stua't, he do play
mons'tous well fu' preachah," said
his tempter.
The preacher at these words looked
steadily at Jim, and then the realiza-
~ l.. L.
The tiger in him came uppermost
and, with flaming eyes, he took a
quick step toward Jim.
"Stop," said Mordaunt, coming be-
tween them; don't add anything
more to what you have already DONE"
MAS Stua't, H." Parker broke
down, and, turning away from the
exultant faces, rushed headlong out
of the place. His master followed
more leisurely, angry and hurt at the
hypocrisy of trusted servant.
OF course the game was over for
that day, but Jim and his companions
hung around the smoke-house for
some time, rejoicing in the downfall
of their enemy. Afterward, they
went to their cabins for dinner. Then
Jim made mistake. With much
laughter and boasting he told Mandy
all about it, and then suddenly awak-
ened to the fact that she was LISTEN
ing to him with a face on which only
horror was written. Jim turned to
his meal in silence and disgust. A
woman has no sense of humor.
"Whaih you gwine?" he asked, as
Mandy began putting on her bonnet
and shawl with ominous precision. .
'I's gwine up to de big house, dat's
whaih rs gwine."
"What you gwine daih, fu'?"
~ gwine tell Mas stua't all erbout
hit"
"Don't you dahl" -
"Heish yo' mouf. Don't you talk to
me, you nasty, low-life scamp. rs
gwine tell Mas Stua't, an hope an
pray he'll tex all de hide often yo'
back" ::
Jim sat in bewildered misery as
Mandy firted out of the cabin; he
felt vaguely some of the hopelessness
of defeat which comes to a man
whenever he attempts to lay sacrili-
gious hands on a woman's religion or
what stands to her for religion.
Parker was sitting alone in his
cabin with bowed head when the door
opened and his master came across
the floor and laid his hand gently on
the negroes shoulder.
Do
he said, softly.
ooh, rs back-slid, rs fell from
grace" moaned Parker.
"Nonsense," said his master, "you've
fallen from nothing. There are times
when we've got to meet the devil on
his own ground and fight him with
his own weapons"
Parker raised his head gladly. "Say
dem wo'ds ag'in, Mas Stua't," he said.
His master repeated the words, but
added: "But it isn't safe to go into
the devils camp too often, Parker"
II amt gwine into his camp no mo-.
Aftah dis rs gwine to STAN outside
an hollah in" His face was beaming
and his voice trembled with joy.
II didn't think I'd preach tonight"
he said, timidly.
"Of course you WILL" said Nor
daunt, land your mistress and I are
coming to hear you, so do your best"
His master went out and Parker
went down on his knees.
He did preach that night and the
plantation remembered the sermon.
The Editors Oath.
Mr.. J. Horace Mcfarland, writing
in the Worlds Work of the trials and