The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-27

elasped hands that day with some
parishioners who had never been In
her house before.
The village merchants dropped in
for a few moments at supper time.
while there was a lull in the business
of the day, and even the busy DOCTOR
after making a professional call next
door, ran in for a cordial handshake
with the pastor leaving in the lat
ter's hand a receipted bill for all m
debtedness. The pastors eyes had
filled at this, and after the doctor had
gone he hurried to find his wife and
share the surprise with her, but
thoughtful sister who had observed
the scene reached her first. and the
little pleasure of telling her was de-
MED him.
Late i'm the afternoon Miss Black,
representative of the most wealthy
family in the parish, had swept
through the parlor, pausing long
enough TO superintend the hanging or
a fine engraving she had brought.
1t was soon after Miss Blacks de-
parture that a fine seal pocketbook
was first noticed among the gifts
spread out in the study. No one knew
just who put it there. More than one
fingered it curiousiy and one or two
surreptitiously opened it to see if
there was anything inside. And the
pastor smiled a little as he heard it
whispered from one to another that
the pocketbook was empty
II was late before the weary hostess
heard the gate click after the last
guest. and later yet before she could
find time to examine the gifts For
cross. sleepy little ones must be put to
bed and the confusion that reigned in
their home be reduced to some such
order as would permit hreakfasting
there tolnorrow-or-no-i was to-
Inv
through the kitchen that little cooked
food remained from supper. Not only
had a multitude been fed, but more
than one mother had carried home II
few pieces of cake to Tommy or Jane,
who had been unable to attend. But
there were uncooked provisions in
abundance; the shed was filed with
fuel. and the stable with hay and
grain for the pastors horse, while the
study was filled with goods of every
description--vases, tides, splashers
among which the pastor was helpless
~ cropping.
you will be able to appreciate these
things better than /, my dear" he
:aid. "Some of them look very pref
W but / don't know their uses
Mrs. Tyler sighed as she glanced
around. There's a good deal here L
haven't any use for" she sad. but
1 oughtn't to say it, Ezra, for they
chair and the lamp and picture, not to
mention all the provisions and dear
ar. Holmes bill that has worried me
so. Only--there wasn't any money at
all, was there, Ezra ?"
Il think not, Martha
You do so need a new overcoat,
and / was hoping it would come to-
day or the money to buy it,
Never mind, my dear; don't let us
depreciate the gifts we have by sigh
ing for those that failed to come.
can do without coat very we'll. My
old ore is quite whole"
but so shabby, Ezra. And I'm
sure some of the people feel it a dis
credit to the church for you to Wear
it,"
well, Martha, if it's essential to
the welfare of the church for me to
have new overcoat. the Lord can
provide it. And in any case the peo-
pie can't complain that their pastor
carries shabby pocketbook. Just see
this, Martha"
What good is a pocketbook with
nothing to put in it?'' grumbled the
tired wife, opening it listlessly. But in
moment her manner changed. For
accidentally slipping her fingers into
one of the pockets, she felt a paper.
and drew forth a crisp new bill--a
twenty-dollar bill.
For a moment they looked at each
other in delighted surprise. Then the
same question sprang to the lips OF
both: Who could have done it? You
don't think it could have been Maria,
do your he asked, wistfully.
But Mrs. Tyler settled the question
with prompt negative. 1t wasn't
likely that his sister had sent it after
negiecting him so many years. 1t was
much more likely to have been Miss
Black or some of their people.
Though 1 don't know who there is In
this parish" she said, "who would DO
so generous thing and keep it se-
cret"
Mr.. Tyler had several matters to at
tend to in the city. There were er-
rands for several parishionerS, and he
desired to spend some hours in the
public library, and carry out long
cherished plan of visiting one of the
city missions. But he obeyed his wife's
instructions and went first to the cloth
iers', coming out in a new stylishly
made coat with no sense of the change
save that he was more comfortable. He
carried the old coat in bundle. which
he forgot and left in the next place he
entered The errands finished the
mission came next, then the library.
He was hurrying through the winter
twilight to the station with a vague
fear that he had read too long and
might miss his train. when a hand
on his shoulder stopped him, and he
turned in wonder. to confront a blue
coated policeman.
81 reckon you're the man we want"
remarked the policeman. while an ex-
cited looking young man behind him
cried breathlessly. That's him; hold
him: don't let him get away"
Excuse me. SIR" said the bewilder-
ed minister. "but I really cannot be
delayed. fear / have already missed
my train
well, / reckon you have, my
friend replied the officer grimly But
the city'll be pleased to give you free
entertainment, so don't let that trou-
BILE you. The best thing you can do
is to come along quietly"
But. really, sir, you are laborinS
under a misrepresentation; you can
nave no possible business with me.
can't /? Well l know a man that
mas then. Just come along and you'll
ma out, my professional friend. I've
seen your kind before. You do the
country parson act fairly, but it's a
little overdone"
Ihey had reached the police station
before Mr.. Tyler could be made to
understand 1a