The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-04-11


keepers, though l hope it'll never git
down to where the ministers can run
it. And the devil comes along and in
one night-why, all you got to do is
look at it. You'd think we needn't
ever trouble to make it better. That's
what the devil wants US to do-wants
us to rest easy about it and paints it
up to look like a heaven Of peace and
purity and sanctified spirits. Snowfall
like this would Of made Lot turn the
angel out of doors and say that the old
home was good enough for him. Go
morrah would Of looked like Puritan
village, though I'll bet my last dollar
that there was q lot, and whole lot,
that's never been told about Puritan
villages. A lot that
what never was:" interrupted Mr..
Peter Bradbury. whose granddaughter
had lately announced her discovery
that the Bradburys were descended
from Miles Standish. What wasn't
told about Puritan villages?
Cant you watt" Mr.. Arp's ac-
cents were those Of pain. Haven't I
got any right to present my side of the
case? Amt we restrained enough to
| allow Of free speech here? How can
we ever git anywhere in an argument
like this unless we let one man talk at
time? How
go on with your statement" said
Uncle Joe Davey impatiently.
Mr.. Arp's grievance was Increased.
"Now, listen to you! How many more
interruptions are comm? I'll listen to
the other side, but I've got to state
mine first, haven't I? If I don't make
my point clear, what's the use Of the
argument? Augmentation Is only the
comparison Of two sides Of question,
and you have to see what the first side
is before you can compare it with the
other one, don't you? Are you all
agreed to that?''
"Yes, yes" said the colonel. go
ahead We won't interrupt until you're
through"
The argument" grew heated. Half
a dozen tidy quarrels arose. All the
sages went at it fiercely except Roger
Tabor, who stole quietly away. The
aged men were enjoying themselves
thoroughly, especially those who quar-
relied. Naturally the frail bark Of the
topic which had been launched was
whirled about by too many side cur
rents to remain long In sight and soon
became derelict. while the intellectual
dolphins dove and tumbled In the
depths. At the end of twenty minutes
Mr.. Arp emerged upon the surface, and
in his mouth was this:
Tell me, why amt the church-why
amt the church and the rest Of the
believers In q future life lookin' for
immortality at the other end OF life
too? II we're immortal we always
have been. Then why don't they ever
speculate on what we were before we
were born? It's because they're too
blame selfish: don't care fapdoodle
about what was. All they want is to go
on livin' forever"
Mr.. Arp's voice had risen to an acrid
triumphancy, when 1t suddenly falter-
ed, relapsed to q murmur and then to a
stricken silence as tall, fat man Of
overpowering aspect threw open the
outer door near by and crossed the
lobby to the clerks desk. An awe fell
upon the sages with this advent. They
were hushed and after a movement In
their chairs, with a strange effect OF
budding, sat disconnected and atten-
tive, like schoolboys at the entrance Of
the master.
The parsonage had big, fat, pink
face and a heavily undershot jaw,
what whitish beard he wore following
his double chin somewhat after the
manner displayed in the portraits Of
Henry VIII. His eyes, very bright
under puffed' upper lids, were intoler-
ant and insultingly penetrating despite
their small size. Their irritability held
kind Of holiness, and yet the person
age exuded frost, not of the weather,
all about him. You could not imagine
man or angel daring to greet this be-
ing genially-sooner throw kiss to
Mount Pilatus!
"Mr. Brown" he said, with ponder
GUS hostility, in a bull bass to the
clerk-the kind Of voice which would
have made an express train leave the
track and 60 round the other way
do you hear me?
"Oh, yes. judge" the clerk replied
swiftly in tones as unlike those which
he used for strange transients as a
collectors voice in his ladylove's ear
Is unlike that which he propels at de-
linquents.
"Do you see that snow?" asked the
parsonage threateningly.
Eyes, judge" Mr.. Brown essayed
a placating smile. Eyes, indeed. Judge
Pike"
"Has your employer, the manager
of this hotel, seen that snow" pursued
the parsonage, with gesture OF un-
speakable solemn menace.
"Yes, sir. think so. Yes, sir"
aDo rou fb;nly bo fu1lv understands