The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-02-01

not DISTURB el. ne information oI
the outbreak reached his ears OF
Friday morning and in the afternoon
having called upon his elders in ro-
tation. he went straight 10 Miss Je-
rHshy's cottoage. Very few people
had ever succeeded In travelling that
pathway from the gate TO the door
without attracting the attention oil
the lynx-like eye OF its occupant, bat
1t so happened that on this eventful
afternoon Miss Jerushy was so abb
sorbed in an argument with one OF
/ her neighbors over the unsound the
ology OF the minister, that she did
not discover his approach until she
saw him standing on the porch.
The sudden vision of the kindly
countenance of this very man whose
influence she was trying to under
mine, abashed and bewildered Miss
| Jerushy so com pletely that she COM
mitted a great sin and (what some
people think is infinitely worse) a
great blunder.
Il will not see him, You will have
| to tell him I am not at home" she
| exclaimed to her companion in a
voice of suppressed emotion, and
| plunging into the parlor closet, shut
the door.
If Miss Jerushy was bewildered by
| the minister's sudden appearance, her
guest was not less so by this I'M
expected command. Hurrying to the
Il II,
hostess, but with a tell-tale face,
which the Rev. Joseph Rowland Gill
was too keen an observer not to see.
We'll, l will Just step in," he said,
coupling the suspicious aroused by
the woman's manner with a certain
scufIling sound and the violent slam
ming Of a door, as if some one in the
house were trying to escape. Mrs.
Lasher backed nervously into the
parlor, seated herself stiffly on the
edge of an old hair-covered lounge
and beckoned the visitor to a chair.
Il am sorry that Miss Jerushy is
not in, but my business is very i'm
portant, l will watt" he said, looking
keenly into the flushed face of his
hostess.
Mrs. Lasher did not reply. The
situation was too terrible to admit of
clear thinking by such slow wits as
hers. Her naturally dull countenance
became absolutely vacant.
'She will not be gone long, I pre-
sume?" the preacher asked.
II don't know" Mrs. Lasher
replied.
You are waiting for her your
self, no doubt"
"Yes-that is to say was-I
mean am; but I must be-be going"
she stammered, trying to overcome |
a feeling Of paralysis in her limbs.
ct will be unfortunate if l cannot |
see Miss Jerushy to-day" the minis
ter continued, ''as she stands in a !
very critical position in the church. |
The session is about to take an action !
that is of the utmost Importance to |
her, and I called to forewarn her of |
the danger she is in"
Confident belief that Miss Je-
rushy's ears would hear these omin-
Gus words led the Reverend Mr.. Gill |
to make this brusque announcement |
in loud tone of voice, and it's effect |
was instantaneous. The weak UNDER
jaw Of the terrified Mrs. Lasher |
dropped perceptibly, and there was a |
sudden sound on the other side of the
closet door as if somebody had utter
er an inarticulate expression of
wrath.
The minister pretended not tot
hear, and addressing himself to Mrs
Lasher in the most impartial and un-
concerned manner, said, you see,
Miss Jerushy has become to be a pub
lie nuisance. She has driven more
than a dozen ministers out of this
church in the last quarter of a CEN
fury, and when l accepted the call,
it was upon an express agreement
that if she became cantanksreus again
the session would try her for conduct
destructive Of the peace of the
church, and if necessary, suspend her
from membership"
This cold, matter-of-fact statement
took Mrs. Lasher's breath away, and
her two fat hands rose up in a ges-
ture of despair.
Il tell you this" continued Mr..
Gill, because you are a friend of
Miss Jerushy's and may be able to
influence her. You are quite sure
that she is not at homer
Mrs. Lashe-'s agony had become
all but uncomfortable. The perspiration
stood in great beads on her retreat
ing forehead.
Its terribly hot" she said, WHIP
ing it away with her handkerchief.
Il thought the day was chilly"
the minister replied.
"Oh, no! You are mistaken-II
am burning up must get some air
and besides, I must be going
home" she gasped, rising and moving
towards the door.