The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-05-16

accused first come forward and face
them. Seraphiny struggled to her
feet-her defiance all gone--and
dragged her trembling limbs past her
admirers to the chair placed for her.
Aunt Maria wept aloud, and Bar
bars Warren alphabetically kept
her company. A number of other
matrons muttered distressed "Uh
mes!" but not few of the younger
spirits to whom Seraphiny had been
an unconquerable rival giggled ma
liciously. Brent Carter, Hiram Bad
gett and half-dozen other beaux
looked somewhat disturbed, while
Clip Cummins, sitting in open
mouthed distress, would have served
as model for a statue of misery.
ave is found de young woman
guilty of willful theft" the spokes-
man deacon said gravely and inn
portantly, and proceeded to detail
the punishment to be meted out to
the delinquent. Ten dollars was to
be imposed as "a fine-one-half to be
paid to the owners of the confiscated
sap, the other half to go into the
treasury of the Big Rock church. In
addition to paying the fine, the
offender was to remain for the space
of six months away from any town
whatever, and if at the end of the
time she could bring certificates Of
good behavior and proof of having
remained away from any towns, as
stipulated, she would be received
back into the church from which she
was now summarily turned out.
There was a low murmur Of con-
versation like the buzzing Of bees,
which was silenced by the preacher
again rising.
impressively, 'jestice, de Book say,
should be tempered wild Mercy De
offender is young-she is never been
guilty o. misdemeanor befo'. De
punishment is heavy-mos' too heavy
fun huh shoulders. 1 wants tub axe
de cong'ation eff de willin' let some
body act ez huh substitute eff dat
somebody willin'?"
A vote was taken after some de-
murring, and the pastors propo-
sition agreed to. The preacher then
looked over the crowd.
''Who willin' teck de punishment
Std dis maiden?" he asked.
There was long silence. To pay
over ten hard-earned dollars (heavy
punishment itself, to stay away
from the delights of town for six
months, to promise exemplary be-
havior for that length of time-who
could do it? Hiram Badgett could
not, neither Brent Carter nor Elisha
Swope.
"Who willin' teck de punishment
std dis maiden?" repeated the good
man. Then with great shutting of
feet Clip Cummins parted himself
from the crowd-Clip WHOM Seraph.
my had wounded and mistreated
thousand times-and came forward,
with great beads of sweat on his
black forehead, his big hands tremb.
ling.
Lay de punishment on me, sistuhs
and bredderin', std o. on de
woman!' he said humbly, as huh
substitutes!
And thus it was settled. Seraphiny
went to church and town when she
got ready, and Clip stayed at home
and worked and hoped.
And when the six months were up,
one September day, in a north-bound
Jim Crow car, going on twenty-mile
journey, and wearing chip hat with
daisies on it, and a pink lawn dress
trimmed with black velvet ribbons,
was young woman, bright-eyed and
graceful-Seraphiny herself, with the
added beauty of happiness sitting
upon her. With her was dark
youth who walked with shuttle
a youth whose long neck was envel-
oped in tall celluloid collar, and
whose lank form was clothed in a
new suit of respondent blackness.
His wide mouth smiled continuously
in the exuberance of his joy. Clip
had been promoted that day from
the lowly and uncomfortable posi-
ton of n substitute to the exalted
and happy state of husband!-N.
Y. Evening Post.