Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-06-04

, MS VacatlC:.S II 4 &C., DoiIIlg chg Dc
fore a drawing board in the office Of a
! distinguished architect. his fathers
| friend
Douglas was not n brilliant divinity
student, and he was relieved ut last
when he received his degree In theol-
Ogy and found himself appointed to n
| small church in the middle west.
His step WAS very bright the morning
| he first went up the path that led to
| his new home. His artistic sense was
charmed by the picturesque approach
to the church and parsonage. The
view toward the tree encircled spire
was unobstructed, for the church had
been built on the outskirts OF the town
to allow for 4 growth that had not
matcrialized. He threw up his head
and gaZed Mt the blue hills, with their
background Of soft slow moving
clouds The smell Of the fresh earth,
the bursting Of the buds, the forming
Of new life. set him thrilling with n
Joy that was very near to pain.
He stopped halfway up the path
and considered the advantages Of a
new front to the narrow eaved cot
tage, and when his foot touched the
first step OF the vine covered porch he
was far more concerned about n new
portico than with any thought Of his
first sermon
| His speculations were abruptly cut
short by Mandy. who hustled out OF
the door with wide smile Of welcome
on her black face and an unmistakable
ambition to take him Immediately I'M
der her motherly wing She was much
concerned because the church people
had not met the new pastor ut the sta
ton and brought him to the house.
| Upon learning that Douglas had pur-
pOsely avoided their escort. preferring
] to come to his new home the first time
alone. she made up her mind that she
was going to like him.
Mandy had long been fixture I'm the
parsonage She and her worse half,
TASTY Jones. had come to know and
discuss the weaknesses of the many
clergymen who had come and gone,
the deacons and the congregation. both
individually and collectively. She con-
fided to Hasty that she didn't blame
de new parson fer not wantin' to mix
up wild dat ar crowd"
In the study that night, when she
and IIasty helped Douglas to unpack
his many boxes Of books. they were as
eager as children about the drawings
; and pictures which he showed them.
His mind had gone beyond the parson-
age front now. and he described to
them the advantage of adding an ex-
ira ten feet to the church spire.
| Mandy felt herself almost an artist
when she and TASTY babe the pastor
good night, for she was still quivering
! from the contagion Of Douglas enthu-
siasm Here. at last, was a master
who could do something besides find
! fault with her.
Il jes' wan to be on de groun' de
frs time dat Mars Douglas and dat
J ere Deacon Strong clinches," she said
to l1asty as they locked the doors and
turned out the hall light. Did you
done see his jaw" she whispered.
lie look laughin' enough now. but
jes' you wait till he done set dat ere
jaw o his'n. and dar amt nobody
what's goin' ter unsot it,"
Maybe dar amt goin' ter be no
ciinchin'." said IIasty. hoping for Man
dy's assurance to the contrary.
What" shrieked Mandy. Wild dat
ere sncakin' Widow Willoughby al
ready a-tel!in dc deacons how ter start
de new parson a-goln' proper?
| Now, why youse always a-pickIu'
Oh to dat ere widow asked Hasty. al
ready enjoying the explosion which he
knew his defense OF the widow was
| sure to excite
Il dom like no woman what's allus
bragSin' bout her clean floors" an.
swered Mandy shortly. She turned
out the last light and tiptocd upstairs,
, trying not to disturb the pastor.