The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-29
BY HILTON R. GREER.

Etc.
BY HILTON R. GREER.
MARK what 1 tell you" said Mrs.
CASTOR. Hell be dead in love with
Arabella Buckley in less than three
MONTHS
"Or more likely Leonora Page. the
milliner," suggested Mrs. Gray, some-
what timidly.
what! A clergyman fall in love with
a piece of airs and nonsense like her?
Never in the woGId!'
I'm sure she's good-enough look
ing" returned Mrs. Gray, with more
spirit than she usually displayed.
AS if a man of his calling married
a woman on account of her pretty face!
Leonoras pretty enough, I'll admit, but
she's too flighty and rattle-pated to
suit one of his studious habits and
tastes"
II should think Arabella would be
more to his liking" ventured pale
eyed little woman who always made 1t
a point to agree with the strongest
side of an argument.
"Of course she would" pursued Mrs.
CASTOR, anxious to follow up the ad-
vantage already gained. "She's just
Oul u COllSSCy 10 PAClbJ anu c1SOOAAA-
plished, and is just the sort of girl to
catch the fancy of minister. Besides
she has a wonderful voice and as
leader of the choir will naturally be
thrown more in his company than any
other girl in town."
Mrs. HUMPHREYS, pretty little
widow who sat off at one sideg what
ever she may have thought in regard
to the discussion, maintained dis
Greet silence. For once she took no
part in the ceaseless chatter of her
townswomen, to whom the smallest
morsel of gossip was a dainty feast.
The truth was, she had already
formed plans of her own anent the dis
posal of the new minister's affections.
The coming of the new pastor had
always been attended with some degree
of interest on the part of the good peo-
pie of Rayville, but when it became
generally known that Rev. James Bax-
ter, who was soon to assume the pas
torate of their church. was young,
good-looking, and still in a state of
single blessedness, the interest, espec-
tally of the female contingent of the
town, waxed to fever heat.
The mere fact of his being unmarried
gave rise to a natural superstition that
he might perhaps desire a suitable
help-mate to aid him in his pastoral
work Woman-like, they began to cast
about for the one most likely to catch
his critical eye.
Many secret preparations had been
made by scheming maids and matrons
in anticipation of the opening sermon
and the village milliner and dressmaker
were taxed to their utmost to keep up
with orders.
When the eventful Sabbath arrived
at last everybody, from the tiniest tot
in the place to the oldest inhabitant, at
tended services. The little church was
packed to the very doors with a curious
and expectant congregation.
The Widow HUMPHREYS was there,
plump, rosy and smiling, and looking
irresistible in a hat and dress of be-
witching pink Before leaving home she
had prepared a tempting Sunday dinner
with the intention of asking the new
preacher home with her to dine II she
could do so unostentatiously.
But alas! How our best laid plans
oft result disastrously. At the close
of the services Arabella Buckley sang a
solo which her admirers pronounced
"iust heavenly and after the audience
| had been dismissed with benediction
Mrs. HUMPHREYS was so hemmed in by
the crush of escaping men and military
that by the time she edged up near
| him engaged in earnest conversation
with the entire Buckley family.
Her disappointment heightened when
| she saw him a few moments later
walking by the side of Arabella, who
shot CLEANS of triumph from the cor
ners of her pale-blue eyes.
She's an artful thing!" thought the
widow as she went slowly homeward
revolving new schemes in her wise lit
| - l.
| ten-year- old daughter, she managed to
dispose of a goodly portion of the re-
past which had been prepared for the
preacher, but the thought that he must
| at that moment be engaged in a tete-
a-tete with Arabella detracted from
any pleasure which she might have
felt.
He tarried at the Buckleys till late
| in the afternoon and Arabella came
out on the porch to bid him goodbye
All this the widow saw from a friendly
window and the fact caused her no lit
tie annoyance.
Next morning dawned dark and blus-
terry and served to increase rather than
| improve her ruffled feelings.
"Drat that wind" she exclaimed, as
a bowling blast struck the house and
clatter of falling tins came from the
pantry. TITS enough to tax the pa
thence of a saint"
'Tts an ill-wind that blows nobody
good, mommy," said Madge, who was
always saying and doing things beyond
her years.
tut, tut, child! What do you know
about such old maxims that you should
be quoting them to your, elders?"
but, mommy. Miss Arabella taught
us that yesterday at Sunday school and
she told us the prettiest little story
about It."
(Which doesn't make II true by am
I meansl | had that old saying drilled
| into my head long before Arabella
Buckley was born and I must say I've
never found an ounce Of truth in IL e
this day"
Awed into silence by the sudden Ill.
humor of her mother, the child turned
her attention to a whlrlwind OF dust
and leaves outside. Meanwhile Mrs
HUMPHREYS. busled In household du-
ties, still kept up a wrathful TRADE
against the wind, which, in spite of her
objections, continued TO slam doors
unceremoniously. TO play hide and seek
underneath her best linen table-cloth
and 10 howl through the lattice like
a wandering ghoul.
ITS more than human endurance
can stand" she murmured. Here n
Is after II o'clock and I'm not We,
through with my mornings work"
The thought that others might be
undergoing the same experience as her
self was some consolation and her