The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
THE EXODUS OF
 JACOB CARGREASE
By HARRY J. BURNEY.


 and observed Jacob carsrssss in the act of opening the gate of the lot to allow the entrance of waiting COW. Later he saw Cargrease milking the COW, and alter wards hp saw the pail carried by the said cargrease into tho residence of the stated Miss Charity Jones. Again was there no dsarth of conversation at the sewing circle and the quilting bee.
 No longer could the fact be disguised that "courtin' was agoin' on." The genial Jacob and the cherful Charity had become to know each other and to like each other. When Jacob scalded his hands in the dish water after his humble meals. he thought of Charity; when milk ing had to be done in cold and wet weath- CT, the mind of Charity dweit lovingly on Jacob. And matters progressed.
 When Mrs, Aspasia Dobbins burst into the room occupied by the sewing circle on its regular meetingf day at the home of Mrs. Jsmima Cartwright the assem- hied specimsns of fsmininity knew that there was information to be imparted.
 "Wall, never. None of you can guess what have found out" She gazed around with look ot triumph and mem tally resolved to torment her hearers for few moments before giving the infor- nation for which she knew they longed
 Do tell us Aspasia. Something has shore happened, can tell by your looks
 Charity Jones and Jacob Cargrsase is going to get married Sunday" Mrs. Dop- bins burst out, unable to longer withstand the pressure of the news against her teeth. T have just come from Charity's. ] wanted her to cut a skirt for Emma. and I'd a-sewed it myself this afternoon. Guess what she told me. Said she did net have time to serve me, as she was ct work on Q weddin' dress. Of course I wanted to know who was a-goin' to get married, and l asked her. Me she an- swered, as pert as you please. Well, you could a-hoored me with feather. who to-? l enauirsL Jacob she said, and l felt like shakin her. l never had such a shook in my life.'
 Not within the memory of the oldest member of that carping coterie had the sewing circle had such an interesting meeting. There were some who express ed surprise over the approaching nuptiais; there were others who pretended to have thought that the marriage could not be long delayed. One old maid member opined that Charity had right to ac- company Jacob Cargrease to Hymen's altar if she so minded, and from that moment she was watched with suspicion by her associates.
 From every viewpoint the matter was discussed. There was no doubt but that the sewing circle was resolved to prevent the marriage, if possible. We cannot have our children go to school to wo- man whose husband is toper they argued. We cannot go to house where in resides a whiskey drinker to hays our dresses made, it was pointed out.
 A descendant of the illustrious house of Jones, a member of which in tho days a-Rone had been Lieutenant under Jackson In the Indian war, and of which another noble scion had for years dis tributad the malls to the populace of Smalltown, should not mate with per- son whose antecedents were unknown. Be- sides, the various members of the sew inR circle had not been consulted as to trousseau, as to date. or as to dinner. That settled 1t.
 The husbands of the village heard much of marriage. of propriety; and Of the etsr- nal fitness of things that night. The edict of the wives was that the mannood of Smalltown must be asserted. and that the genial Jacob must be informed that he should hie himself back to the place from whence he came, or to go some where else. He was not wanted in Small town.
 Saturday night twelve of the free hold CTS of the village assembled at the gro- cery store and walked to the cabin of Cargrease. Few and short were the words they said. An invitation from Jacob to enter and share his lonely meal was un- needed They came on business. not for pleasure, they made 1t known. When the first rays of the morning ii shot athwart the eastern heavens, Cargre1se should be gone from smalltown. was the fiat.
 While the village husbands watched, Cargrease packed his few effects in bag, siunE them over his shoulder, took his whiskey bottle from the cupboard. placed 1t in his pocket, said goodbye to those who had done him the honor to see him of, and took his way out of the hamlet
 Miss Charity Jones was informed early next morning of the events of the night. She did not appear at the church that Sunday, and when the good sisters of the