The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-25
The One Thing
Needful

By F. A. Mitchell

an OK team drawn up beside the curb
He had on a linsey woolsey suit, fan.
mel shirt, and his trousers were tucked
| in his boots. He was massive, with
light hair, blue eyes and a ford com
plexion. Altogether he was as striking
specimen of young, uncouth manly
beauty as had ever seen.
Il say. neighbor," he said, "be you a
parson"
I'm clergyman" replied.
He was taking me III wonderingly,
running his eyes over my black suit,
my clerical cut vest, the gold cross
hanging from my watch chain, fixing
his eyes at last ON my collar.
Would you mind tellin' me-" he said,
how you got that on?'
My collar? Oh, that's very easy.
instead of the front. What can l do
for your
We'll, when | saw you comm along
/ was thinkin' about gittin' married.
says to myself: What luck! Here's n
parson rigr. handy"
Have you got your license?"
You bet I've had that a long while"
as the lady prepared"
II hain't prepared her Fact is,
haint much of hand at courtin', and
l hain't done that part of the job yet"
Il should think 1t was the first part
of the job to be done"
Naturally 1t IS. but anything we
don't like to do we put off. CONSCIENCE
is | done all the other things first.
got the license, l got you and | got
ten acres o. land with house on It,
/ got them all first because they was
the easiest"
"You have your intentions fixed on
girl. presume.
You bet the likellest girl in these
parts; purity as new red wagon"
"And you have every reason to sup
pose she is ready to marry your
Reckon, Leastaways. she acts that
way But | hain't certain. If / was
certain, askIn' her would be the easiest
part OF the whole job"
But, my friend. having made all the
preparations wouldn't it be great dis
appointment to you if the young lady
should refuse your"
by gum! parson. don't talk that
away"
The color rushed out of his face and
he showed every evidence of terror
I'VE all have a weak spot about us
somewhere" | continued, "and | fancy
yours is want OF ability to make
proposal"
How'd you know thatf'
Il guessed it. would advise you to
pull yourself together and ask the
young lady to be your wife. Then
you'll know whether you need my sery. |
Ices or not. If you do. come to the
rectory'-
What's that?"
MY house. where I live. Do yoJ
see the church spire down there? Well, /
my house is next door. | shall be at I
home all day and will be happy to
marry yo1."
"What'll be the damage?'
ooh, anything you care to give, Good
Hold on, parson. Do you know of
anything Teller can take to brace
him up for such job?'
Nothing. You must summon un
rour resolution. A strapping fellow
ike you ought not to be afraid of
girl"
That's Just the thing I am afraid of.
You don't think I'd be afraid of a man,
10 you?"
Good morning. / shall expect you"
left him, but before I had gone far
ooked back and saw him gazing at me
as If he thought might help
him ii | only would. But there was no
rope for him except in himself, and.
With an encouraging smile, | turned
gain and went on my way.
About 3 o'clock In the afternoon
here was a ring at the rectory bell,
nd the maid who answered the sum
mons came to my study and said there
vas couple downstairs who wished
o see me. She described the younG
nan who had accosted me In the morn.
ng, and. not feeling very sure Of him,
told her to send him up. She did so,
nd he came into my study radiant.
II done It." he said exuberantly.
"You found it easy enough. didn't
ou," | replied, when you once got
own to itT'
"Oh. yes, 1t was easy enough when
was all over"
looked at his license. asked him a
aw questions, then went downstairs,
here l saw a pretty country girl
bout seventeen years old, who blush
/ as / entered and twisted her hand
erchief into every conceivable shape
4 an adjoining room put on my vest
rents and, returning, joined the pair
the bonds of holy matrimony. But
, intent was the swain on my white
Irplice and stole that he heard moth
Ig Of what said, and was obliged
repeat the questions asked before he
,spouded. When the couple was made
lie the groom dived down into the bot
I'M of his hreeches pocket. fished out
rev. two or three rusty nails. a sta
e and a silver dollar The dollar he
lnded to me.
/ gave ii TO the bride. She took IL
illingly. evidently not realizing that
was too small for me to accept for q