The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-20
THE PINEVILLE
CRUSADERS.
brook Found "a Way to Humble
Her Proud Spfrft
BY Cornelia Wesson Boyden.

Her Proud Spirit. .
By Cornelia wesson Boyden.
Whats all this Tom fool business
about, anyway Alvira?" said Silas
Holbrook one morning as he was look
ing over his newspaper at the break
fast table.
What Tom fool business are you
talkin' off" answered his wife, as
she finished her second cup of coffee,
and helped herself to another slice of
toast.
"Oh! All this stuff in the paper.
Here's nearly half column all about
the Pineville Crusaders, an your
names in capital letters at the head
ont. 1 snum Alvira," continued
Silas, throwing down the paper and
thrusting his fork little savagely into
huge slice of bacon, sit seems to me
that when you get your name in the
newspaper in capital letters ye're a
maxim ye'rself mighty conspicuous"
We'll, supposin' L be-" answered AL
vira, coolly, you ought to be proud
of 1t. To be the leader of the Pineville
Crusaders is an honor that any woman
might be proud off,
"Sho! now We don't say" answered
Silas, little impressed by Alvira's
important tone. Jest you tell a Teller
what it all means, Alvira, an maybe
III begin to feel proud, too"
Alvira cleared her throat, pushed
back her chair, and lifting her eyes
above her husbands head looked
thoughtfully through the window.
THE Pineville Crusaders" began she
in a deep earnest voice, "are a band of
women, who have organized a crusade
against the growing evil and unclean-
ness of the town of Pineville. Against
the too free use of liquor and tobacco,
all-night card playing and street corner
loating. Against expectorating tobacco
juice on the sidewalk, and all disorderly
habits, that tend to disfigure the public
highway. They pledge themselves, by
single and united efforts, to sweep from
the town all unsightly objects and to
do all their power toward improv-
ing and identifying, nor cease their
efforts until the town of Pineville
shall blossom into a veritable Garden
of Eden
Alvira paused, and Silas' under jaw,
which had dropped lower and lower as
he listened, came together with
snap.
Sounds jest es if We was a readin'
it out'n. book" said he, drawing a
long breath, and slowly rising from
the table, he took his pipe from his
pocket, and began filling it from a jar
of tobacco on the mantle.
Alvira colored as she answered short
| ly.
Lucinda Peters wrote it,"
TESTS 1 thought" answered Silas
| grimly. Il allus knew Lucinda was
| dead set agin the men folk enjoyin
| of themselves. She's got Sam so he
l Iovs l. IL.
he'd never think O. DRAWN a pitcher
| O. cider from his own barrel 'thout
sayin' by your leave. an he's gin up
| the use O. tobacco for good an ALL
| poor feller" and Silas took a long pull
| at his pipe with an air of great salts
! faction.
Alvira sat down the pile of plates
she had been gathering together, and
| eyed her husband Sternly.
ut would be a good thing, Silas
| Holbrook, if some other folks would
do likewise. There's moderation in all
things"
Silas knocked the ashes from his pipe,
placed it upon the mantle, and with his
hands thrust deep in his pockets, gazed
thoughtfully out of the window.
Now, that's jest where we've hit the
last. 90 course, there's moderation
in all things, or should be, but faint
allus the men folks that forget it,"
What do you mean, Silas?" said
Alvira quickly.
"Oh, amt specifyin' anythin' Jest
now, Alvira, an 1 amt sayin' word
agin the Crusaders. Maybe it's goin'
to be fine thing for Pineville, fur,
land knows, the town needs a good
clearin up, comm spring o. the year
An as fur us men folks, well, take us
all together, Alvira, we're a poor lot
a poor lot" and Silas walked out OF
the house with a mournful air.
Alvira tossed her head little i'm
patiently as she ratified the dishes in
tn pan.
I'm a little of that opinion myself, -
muttered she.
A few days after this conversation
the male gossips of the little village
of Pineville were congregated at theil
usual place of rendezvous. Jake Weth-
erell's grocery store. A strange air Of
!, depression seemed to hang over the
little group, usutlly so loquacious.
Suddenly the door opened and Silas
Holbrook walked in, carrying in one
hand huge handbook. Placing it care
fully on the counter he handed Jake
Wetherell a slip of paper with a list
of groceries to be put up. Then seat
ing himself on his favorite sugar bar
rel, he eyed the silent group about the
rusty Olu Stove.
Anybody dead?"
; mot just yet, but we're all on us
; ailin, answered Bill Thompson thrust.
ing his quid further back in his sal.
, low cheek and gazing vindictively al
. a fly perched recklessly on the sawdus
box at his feet.
! "'Tain't smallpox, is it?" inquired
, Silas anxiously.
Joe Cummings, a burly red faced
young farmer, rose slowly to hi
feet.
Now, look here, ST Holbrook," sale
he a little gruffly, don't you go t
, purtendin' you don't know what's
. stirrin' US up when Alvira's the head O
the whole consarn. Jest as though i
want bad enough when Lucinda Pc
|, tiers started the Woman's club, fivt
, years ago, an we've all had to sew OF
! buttons ever since, an get our owl
! suppers club meetin' days. An nov
they've started this crusade to taxi
away all the rest of our privileges
ooh! that's where the shoe pinches
is it?" said Silas, chuckling a little al
he helped himself to lump of suga
! from the next barrel. well, joe it,
the best thing that's ever happened il
Pineville."
so you're sidin' lon O. the winner
folks, be YEP" spoke UP Bill Thomp
son, settling the fate of that doomed
; fly.
Every time. Bill. every time" an
swered Silas, cheerfully. Though be-