The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1912-04-25
ELMER LEWIS

age OF 81. Inc news 6pIeau oVei
the village that a new preacher was
coming to take the place OF an old
one who was to be retired, and the
new incumbent was a young man
and single. On this same day one Of
the church deacons had a talk with
Hiram Jones, and at the supper
table that evening, after having been
quiet for a quarter Of an hour, Hi
ram handed his cup across for a sec"
pnd helping Of tea and quietly OBJ
served:
"Sarah, I hope you won't make q
fool Of yourself over this new preach
En-"
"What on earth do you mean?"
she exclaimed as she looked at him
in the greatest establishment.
Don't run after him.:
Sarah filed the cup and handed
it back, and after Hiram had stirred
in the sugar and milk, she leaned
her elbow on the table and said:
II want to know just what you
mean, sir. I run after q preacher OF
any other mani, Sarah Ann Jones!
Have you had a sunstroke, Hiram!
Hundreds and thousands Of men
have run after me, as you we'll know,
but when have you ever known me to
run after a man? Speak, sir! Xour
words are an insult to mel"
DWELL, don't run after him" briet
ly but grimly replied the brother. !
His attitude was something new,
and Sarah didn't know exactly what
to think. After a moment she began
to cry. No effect on Hiram. In the
midst Of her tears he buttered anoth-
er slice of bread. Then she dashed
aside her tears and said that she
would see the new preacher hanged
before she would even be introduced
to him. Hiram finished his bread
and showed back from the table.
, Then Sarah resorted to the dodge
that had never failed her. She ut
; tered q squawk and a gasp and tel
8 out Of her chair to the floor. Sht
8 struck on her shoulder, as she had
planned to do, and then turned over
( rolled up her eyes and was goner
Hiram got up and walked out doors
. He had hens and q hog to feed and {
8 gate to mend, and he was q full hou'
!. about It.
g Sarah lay where she fell tor fit
' teen minutes. She was astonishet
, beyond measure at the actions OF he
o brother. It was his business to sup
? pose her struggling in the agonies 0
death, but she heard the blows Q
the hammer at the gate. She aros
and looked out Of tie window. Tn
dodge had failed. She began cleal
- ing off the table, signing one me
- ment and gritting her teeth the mex
;, She had finished with the dishes an
- was sitting down when Hiram e1
!. tered. For ten minutes neths
=. spoke. Then shesaid:
ba "Hiram Jones' somebody's bee
X talking about ma"
n "Ump
st Somebody's been saying that
gh will run after and try to marry Il
is, new preacher that's coming"
ny eYo,i probably will"
C. eyes, I probably will Yes,
er know + will! Hiram Jones, ]
IL spite these people If I die fox itp
Hiram didn't 'Um!" this tin
he pulled off his boots, creased
stone-bruise with mutton TALON q
then went to bed.
!. A week later the new preacher
- rived. He naturally made inqulr
- regarding his flock, and he was 90
posted. There was q big turnout
= his first service, and Sarah A
= Jones was there in q front p
She was among those who remain
to shake hands and introduce hers'
and she fattered herself that |
ths had made a impression. 5
reached home II great good natu
al,els while eating the1 o'clock q
% 4 II - $3.50 I.....s1 d -