The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-20

tween youn me, 1 amt lettin' 'em
know it just yet. 1t don't do to let 'em
get too heady, we know, all at once,
added he with a grin.
That's what's been the trouble all
along" said Joe Cummings gloomily;
we've gin EN- their heads an there's
no tellin' where they'll stop"
There's three things the women
folks do that I'm pizen set again" said
Bill Thompson. zone on ems trailln
their long gowns through the streets
an wearin' tarnal great hats in the
meetin' house, an havin' so many
o'clock teas Tryphena, she'll come
home from them teas an say she can't
eat a mite O. supper, but she'll get me
a bowl O. bread an milk If l want II.
An then she'll talk all the evening
about the nice things she's hao at then
teas"
Silas laughed as he stepped down
from his seat on the sugar barrel.
Suddenly he paused. 81 snum!" said
he. But speakin' O. hats, makes me
think 1 mus be a gettin along nome
with Alvira's. Next Sundays EASTER
We know, an, O. course. Alvira had to
have a brand new hat for the occa-
sion." and he walked slowly toward the
door,
Suddenly he paused. "Isnum! SAID
ne. Il ike 10 NAVE lOl 6Ob oOAAAN
special 1 was a goin to say to ye,' and
turning back he seated himself once
more on the sugar barrel.
Easter Sunday dawned bright and
clear and though coming early in the
season, the air was warm and fragrant
with the breath of spring. Alvira Hol-
brook walked complacently into the lit
tie village church in all the glory OF
new attire. Silas tip-toeing carefully
behind, in his efforts not to tread upon
his wife's long gown. A glossy new
silk hat rested upon his grizzly head,
which, as he seated himself, he did
not remove.
The congregation was large one,
and so intent were the women in ex-
aiming each others attire, the serV-
ices were fairly begun before they no.
ticed that not a man or boy in the
| church had removed his hat. A breath
| less silence seemed to settle over them
as each one gazed with wondering eyes
at her male companion, while the near
sighted parson, bending earnestly over
his sermon, preached on, unconscious
| of anything wrong.
Suddenly, from different parts of the
church, came stifed whispers of:
Take off your hat! Take off your
| hat!" Yet no man responded.
With crimson face and angry eyes,
! Alvira whispered hoarsely: "Silas Hol-
brook, take off your hat!" But Silas,
with his eyes glued to the minister
face, seemed not to hear.
BY this time the female portion of
! the congregation had become restless
and excited, though never in the an
nails of that church had husbands and
sons seemed more interested in a SER
mon.
At last an idea came to Alvira, and
| with the face of a martyr she lifted
her hands, drew out her hatpins, and
| that wonderful concoction of feathers,
| flowers and lace fell softly into her lap.
! Lucinda Peters, who was sitting near,
! Immediately removed her hat, and then
! quietly and decorously, the headgear
| of every woman in church dropped
from it's usual position into the lap of
| its owner.
With solemn gaze still fixed upon his
pastor Silas quietly lifted the glossy
tile from his head and rested it upon
his knees. AS though a silent telegra-
ply had swept through the church
every man and boy quickly followed his
example, and the people once more set
| tied down into their usual Sabbath de-
corum.
A little later Silas and Alvira were
! riding homeward through the golden
sunshine of that lovely spring day. For
time they were both silent.
/ IT suppose, Silas Holbrook," burst
out Alvira at last, you were the insti-
gator of that performance"
Silas chuckled a. little as he answered
slowly: I've allus wondered, Alvira
why 'twant jest as proper fur a man
to sit in meetin' with his hat on as
| twas fur a woman. An so / sorter put
the boys up to try little experiment,
that ALL"
Seems to me I'd use my influence in
a more worthy cause if I was you.'
answered bis wife, drily.
That's so, Alvira, that's So" said
Silas thoughtfully, IAN 1 don't mind
sayin that I've been a thinkin' a good
deel about that crusade o. yourn and il
ye're willin' to take male partner into
the consarn, why, I'm ready to jine
any time We say. But there's one thing
Alvira, it won't do no harm to remem-
Der, once in a while, that air sayin
about castin the beam out'n our own
eyes, a fore we. try to find the mote
in our neighbours. It's sorter humblin'
1 know, but it's mighty good fur the
temper. Don't you think so, Alvira p
Yes, Silas, 1 do meekly answered
the leader of the Pineville Crusaders.