The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-26
His AdSsqtufs.

before me and grasping my hand
heartily.
clad to know you | replied.
Indeed, I've been longing for some
one to talk to, for it seems to me that
this journey Is interminabie. +"
SLOW train--bad road" said my
new-made friend, throwing his high
hat on the back OF his head and bit
Ing the end of OF cigar. "Oh. ]
see you smoke. Don't fill your pipe.
Take one Of these excellent made
by one Of my congregation.
II only smoke pipe,v said,
stretching the truth a little that he
might not feel offended. Then
pressed my face against the window
and peered out into the dismal coun-
try through which we were running.
Now we were plunging through Ione-
~ stretches OF dark woods; now run
ming across wide reaches Of newly
cleared fields, with here and there
a log house rising above the waste OF
fallen trees, just visible in the half
light Of the moon which was rising
above the mountains few miles
away. Following us was a white,
smooth road that glistened in the
moonlight close to the track Once In
a while we lost 1t in the darkness OF
the woods, but az quickly as we
emerged into the more open country
we could see 1t at our side again,
hugging us close, which, / reflected,
was but natural in such dreary land.
Fine land. eh?" said DR.. Buckle,
II don't think, as my third son,
clever lad, If there ever was one,
says. It just happens that | know
this region pretty we'll There! Did
you see that place where the road
crossed a creek on wooden bridge?
That was where they dropped me.
Dropped your" ventured, in
Quiringly.
Pardon me, / thought / had been
telling you about it, returned the
minister, fitting his tile further back
on his head. What memories the
sight Of that place engenders. You
see, sir, some ten years ago had
charge in this very locality--at Pole
vile, five miles down the road.
There were two churches, one at the
village and the other back In the
country some six miles, and / alter
mated between them. The charge
was indeed poor one, but was
a struggling young divine then, with
a wife and four little ones to sup
port, and | was glad enough to have
a snug parsonage, a salary Of FIVE
hundred dollars per year and an av-
erage Of three donation parties per
/. annum. It was the salary question
that eventually drove me away from
the place-a change for the better,
to be sure, as / have now splendid
church in Huntington. BY the by, I
wish II you ever stop there you would
give us call and see our new pulpit
furniture.
"But your story" interrupted,
for saw that he was prone to wan
der from the subject OF his dis
course.
"Ah! there was forgetting my
tale to speak Of pulpit trappings.
Your pardon. The trouble was that
fully four-flfths OF my salary was
paid by two families, both wealthy
farmers, the Bunders and the Spring
houses. Unfortunately for me, these
families had been at odds for years
over matter Of a line fence. In the
west there would have been some
lead exchanged, but this is peace
able country, and so they contented
themselves by QuarreIing in court and
never passing word elsewhere. To
the rule, however, there was one ex-
lception- Henry Bunder and Kate
Springhouse.
The doctor was evincing such gar
rulity that felt a little uneasy and
broke again the thread Of his story.
See here, think know the rest.
They sang in the same choir; they
loved; you married them clandestine-
ly; salary cut off; left you par
sonage, five hundred dollars per year
and three donation parties"
True, true, said the divine, strok-
ing his long beard, "but that was not
what was going to tell you about.
proposed to relate the events as
they affected me and not the young
couple; to tell you how the wedding
ended where the road crossed the
bridge, May / go on?"
by all means. Your pardon; / be-
lieved that l had OWNED your tale"
In general, yes; in detail, no. But
to continue. was not aware of this
exception until one October night
just about ten years ago, when a
loud banging at the parsonage door
awakened my wife and me from our
sleep. At nv ranilasf Mrs. nunl.1a