The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-23

breast unique distinction in all the
throng that filled the carriages.
flaming miniature device such as that
blazoned upon the big banner made
of silk-the white lamb, browsing in
the midst of a desert, on flourishinG
pine tree!
AS the cavalcade slowly wound its
way down the principal street peo-
pie stared and the irreverent boot
blacks running beside the carriages
made hippant remarks and vented
themselves in cat-calls. No one of
the paraders paid the least attention
to these outrages on devotion-least
of all the cook in the purple hat. She
was serious, the ride was rite, her
mouth was set in Sombre lines. She
was almost awful in her dignity. AS
her carriage passed close to the curb,
however. l detected recognition in her
eye. For a moment pride fought
losing battle with the desire to grin,
the upstarting muscles labored in vain
to spread, and then the whole face
gave way in contagion of smiling
self-consciousness like the sun shining
through black clouds.
"Lawde,' said the cook to her COM
panion, "ef dere ain't my Mister.
Amt he jest hatchery er circumscrib-
OILS mani"
At the supper table, the cook circu-
lated about in nervous attentions. Her
hat and mits had of course been re-
moved and the red silk badge was
missing Her waist of jet, however,
still testified of the glory of the IAN
nerversity." Plainly the desire for COM
ment was upon her, like the thirst for
drink.
What did that badge you had on
mean?"
The smile again illuminated the
fo nf he T.an - che
exclaimed, did you see me, Mister?
What dat bout dat badge? OATS de
secrut er de Lodge. / dassent tell dat
ter nobody-dat's de secrut.'
Recalling the white lamb and his
remarkable forage, / was inclined to
believe it mystery of parts.
The cook still fingered. Finally it
came out. docs yo' reckon yo's
got er superspurious dime er bout
yo'? Days goin ter be er entertain
ment ct de Lodge. What dey do?'
| Sells things-selIs things ter eat. yas-
sir. thankee sah!''
Coin ter be any dram drinkin'? p"
she repeated Indignantly. "Din' l tell
yo' de Lodge was er 'ligious instertu-
tion?"
The entertainment came off. 1t
was a matter of record, duly eVinced
from the rambling testimony of some
day morning in the Mayors court
| The preacher was there, central
| figure in the resulting catastrophe as
| he had been in the original rucus.
| Details came slowly except as the
| police told of the exciting raid and the
| hair-breadth escapes. 1t turned out
that the preacher had wooden leg
That defect, however, had not cooled
| his ardor for the fray Witness one
| of the rouuG-hatted deacons, whose
| features were as green as envy where
the preacher had landed with the
| gavel of the Lodge. Sisters and broth
| ers crowded the room as witnesses
| Strange to say. not one of them knew
anything of the fight or it's causes
They had heard "sumpin' er nuther
| bout er rucus," but as to where, when
| and by whom the turmoil had arisen,
they were in the ignorance of the be-
nighted lands without the Lodge. Only
the deacon would talk.
Dat preacher said he, was "er
did he have to go "trapassin' er
bout wild de women folks on er wood
en- laig? OATS what he wanted TO
| know''-and, fore de Lawd, when he
misappropriated him er bout hit at de
festbul, eff he didn't up and hit him
on the haid wifi er wooden hammer
Widout norating er word,-and dat's
the Lawd's troof!
well. yassir, he mout have been er
little dramy-leastways dey wuz err
bottle broke in his pocket i'm de serum
mage an hit t'smelt lax kawn.'
''Nawsir," concluded the deacon as
he left the stand. II want nowise
drunk kase 1 doan't never tech hit
ceppen Use sick"
From which it may be inferred that
the preacher had a misery in his
haid."