Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-07-09
II Was Seffy Who Was Sacked"

IL was SeHy VINO was 'Sdckcu.
So they three went to church on
certain Sunday. Sally sat on the
'women's side" and Seffy and Sam on
the mems side" in full view of the
"audience"-which perceived and I'M
derstood and was ready at the proper
time to applaud, from the preacher to
the sexton-to raise or lower its
thumbs upon the combatants.
When the benediction had been said
Seffy fastened out and found himself
a place-close to the door, according
to his fathers word-in one of the
lines of young men which stretched
on either side of the path from the
church door to the road beyond, at
least a quarter of a mile. But he did
not see Sam. Some one pushed in
front of him. And, instead of COM
batting for his position, he yielded it
and found one further down, still seek
ing the location of his rival. He was
crwded from this one, too, and he let
it go and sought another one because
he had not seen Sam. And il was nee
essary to his fathers scheme, he re-
membered, that Sam and he should be
about opposite. OF course, all this
was error. His place was right by the
church door, That was where Sally
had right to expect to find him. 1t
had become public matter, too. The
public had it's rights. 1t expected him
there, even if he had to shed the blood
of noses to stay there. This had often
happened But he was bewildered in
the contradictory courses advised by
his father, and, finally, seeking that
which seemed best, found that which
was worst. Dull Seffy!
He at last discovered Sam and
found Judgment for himself opposite
and away down near the gate, where
only the married men were-such as
still waited for their wiyes-who ami
ably smoked until they came along.
No unmarried maiden ever expects to
be matched there. And, had Seffy
been as wise as he was not, he would
not have halted there. But he was
deluded by Sam. There he was in the
opposite line, the wrong one, indif-
ferently chatting, and even smoking,
with Hilary Groff-a married man.
Seffy was now so sure of his conquest,
that Sans indifference vexed him. Ev-
identity he did not mean to contend
with him for Sally's arm, and it was to
be cheap and bloodless victory. For
Seffy was one of those who grow brave
as opposition diminishes.
And now they were slowly coming
down-the maidens running the CANT
let of love. o-three-four-
five-a dozen happy matings were
made. Seffy was counting. One poor
chap was sacked" He crushed his
hat over his eyes and charged back
through the lines and across the fields
no matter where. And then came
Sally!-in a trim little hat with a fiut-
tering ribbon that looked for all the
world like the white signal, bearing
straight down upon him! But there
was something in her eyes-expectant
-militant-thatm made them starry. On
she came with her head in the air
looking neither to the right nor to the
left as if she expected to walk home
alone, nearly three miles,
"Oh, no." thought Seffy-and SAM
But a bit of terror smote her face
pale when she had passed the door
alone-and showed more and more as
she went on. Some one laughed-then
there was an unmistakable litter along
the line. Still Sally passed on, keep
ing her temper as never before. Was
not the old man right about the effect
of laughter?
But now the temper loosed itself
slowly--her face was scarlet. She had
nearly reached the married men Some
one whispered:
Gosh Hes Citing even by sacking
her!"
This was repeated, There was more
laughter and more tittering. The
crowd deserted the lines nearest the
church and followed Sally down on
either side in huge tumultuous pha-
lanxes to see what would happen-if
it were possible that she would have to
go home alone. Several young men
who had never dared to approach her
began to think of it. They knew that
rather than not be taken at all she
would take any one Of them! There
was more tumult now than laughter.
And Sallys face grew so white that