The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-24
W0OING OF THE MINISTER

The most careless observer among the villagers might have noticed some thing unusual in the Reverend MT. Wiggleworth's manner that night. The Widow Mclean was the first to see 1t; she dropped her eyes in blush- ing confusion and did not lift them until the end of the service. when she led the choir in triumphant song.
 MT. Wigglesworth was a bachelor and a scholar. d little seamy along the back. a little frayed out at the wrists, timid .self-conscious, gentle, forget full man with dreamy patient eyes for eve rturned inward on brain toiling with distractions.
 Miss Eliza Ellington noticed it, and as the sermon progressed the mem- bers of the flock turned in their seats and stared at each other. Some mys- terious change had taken place in him. He stood erect. his figure was animat- ed. he looked years younger, in his usually pale cheeks the color came and went. and his eyes were alight with en- thusiasm.
 As the congregation passed out from the church. on all sides there was un- stinted praise of the sermon.
 The minister hurried home to his modest room. flung himself into chair by an open window, and gazed on the beauty of moon flooded southern night. The perfume of the jessamine that climbed about the window was in his nostrils. the exquisite song of a mocking bird pouring forth its mel ody from near tree was in his brain.
 She loves me-" he muttcred, and again "she loves me"
 He knew women so slightly. Seen through veil of mystery, they were StInh fnrf1iH n and the priest in him giving place to the men. he had often longed to lift that veil. He had felt sudden heartache for ties he had never knowu--sW aet. warm, hu- man ties.
 That night, as he had gone up the steps of the church the Widow Mclean who was as comedy and young and pretty as any girl among his flock, had stepped on her dress and fallen dowi- ward. The minister had lifted her to her feet. her soft fingers had closed over his hand. You are so good she had murmured. and with a quick spontaneous burst of passion, and d n1odesty that was enchanting. she lifted his hand, pressed her warm, red lips to 1t. and glided into the church
 An hour passed. the minister had not moved from his chair; another hour; he sprang up. If she ever doet it again I will marry her." he declared enthusiastically And in the morning when the breeze fluttering at his win dow binds awoke him. If she evel does 1t again." he muttered hal awake. he sprang to his feet. II wal marry her anyway" he vowed.
 He could hardly wait. so eager 6 lover had he become by afternoon, fol the return of the small colored bo! ;AA zR t4,,A tt,. most tlmid men he had trusted his fate to 8 written message.
 The afternoon was hot. Eliza FL lingtOn. who had spent the morning ir the household work that was always sc much harder on Monday, had taker some sewing to the cool shadowet depths of the grape arbor 1t the back of her simple home. Her sewing lay beside her untouched. Her figur. dropped, her eyes were downcast, hel delicate brows archcd with melau choly She could not escape the knowl edge that thoughts of the minister hat become a source of disquietude.
 All unaware the little love god hat nestled in her heart. Poor starved heart that refused 70 be old at thirty that cried out for the rights that be longed to its womanhood.
 In the quiet nook and upon tho solitude of her thoughts little negro boy with outstretch?d hand that i.eld { note obtruded himself.
 s.he read the note. turned it over there was no address. and read agair words that sunk into her brain.
 She looked at the small boy wonder ingly. piteously. "Is there not some mistake?" she asked. tirnidly. Joy wa! slow. to enter where sorrow had SC recently dwelt.
 When the minister read the not, that the colored boy brought him. un consciously he repeated the words h, had used the night before. "She love: me" But a great dismay had faller on the man. for the yes that he SC srdently waited for had been writer In a neat. precise hand by another, hy
 Sunday, MAJOR MAX DIsCoURs