The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-10-31
The Minister'S
Wooing
By JULIA TRUITT BISHOP


CCopyright, 1908, BY Daily story Pub. CO..
III ANDl said little Mrs Darrow,
A who the new boarder had ir-
Eitated to the last degree.
Somehow, it had come to be under
stood that every single minister of her
persuasion should board with Mrs.
DarroW; and that without exception
they were all benedicts when their
term Of ineumbency had expired. Her
husband had been a minister, in the
first place, and though he had passed
to his reward many years before, her
house was still a home for all the
brethren who wandered her way. The
last minister, 8 WidoWer Of several
years standing, had been mothered by
Mrs. DarroW, and by her had been in
troduced to that pretty Mrs. Ingle, who
was just laying aside second mourn
ing" and Yenturing into the lavender
which was so becoming AS a result,
fhey hdd been Harr a7 Just before t6
annual conference which called him
20 another fold, 1t was conceded that
Mrs. DarroW had some talent as a
matchmaker. Mrs. DarroW had heard
1t whispered about, herself, and while
denying that she had anything to do
with it, there had been a twinkle in
her eyes. 1t was not good for any man
to live alone, least Of all 8 minister.
She had been a minister's wife-she
hoped she knew what was best for all
Of them.
And now had come this tall and
handsome man of 30-and still un-
married. On Sunday, Mrs. Darrow,
from her coign Of ventage in the Amen
corner, looked abroad over the congre-
CATION and saw what a large contin-
gent there was of devout young wo-
men; picture hats waving airy plumes;
curling tendriIs Of hair; eyes softly
dropping; flushed cheeks--she knew
all the signs Of interest in a Christian
life that were visiable when the min-
lister was young, did that astUte little
woman in the amen corner, Why,
there was even old Miss Fannie Jen-
nings in the very first row, hanging
on every word the minister uttered,
with such a loOk!-and casting scOrn-
ful giances between whiles at the
younger sisterhOOd. She'll come to
see me now from morning till night,
said Mrs. DarroW to herself when she
should have been thinking Of higher
things; and after she had marked the
text in her Bible she wandered on
mentally into a thoughtful review Of the
picture hats and the faces under them.
And Mrs. Darrow and circumstance
proceeded to lay traps for the Rev.
Marcus Pairing. When he emerged
from his study at the call for dinner,
blushing young ladies we're there, be-
ruined and white-aprOned and pretend
ing to help Mrs DarrOw serve the
meal: and the Rev. Marcus ate absent
" ana went back to his study without
even an apology. When he was ready
for prayer meeting on Wednesday
evening. and came forth to walk to the
church with Mrs. DarrOW, white gar
ments glimmered through the moon
light. and Mrs. DarroW said inno-
Gently:
"Oh, Mr. Fairing, Daisy came over
this evening. and made her stop and
go to prayer meeting with u"
And the young minister walked be-
side Mrs. DarroW and helped her ovel
the rough places, and talked to her
ana a pretty girl went home from pray
er meeting with flushed face and tear
fuI eyes.
Mrs Darrow talked In the most Inn
personal manner, at the Sunday even
Ing table:
Juliet Marcy sent me word 70 CONF
by for her this evening-but It Is s.
Tar out Of my Wayand I ind that
don't get about as easily as / used. I
is such q pity-ghe won't have an
company"
The minister looked up IN surprise
lIra. Dane lives next DOGS to Mis-