Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-07-04
The One Thing
Needfull
BY T A. michel

strapping youns fellow standing beside
an OK team draw up beside the curb.
He had on linsey woo'sey suit, fan
mel shirt, ara his trousers were tucked
in his bouts IL WAS massive, with
light bair. h.na eyes and a ford com
plexion Ai.o: ether he was as striking
a specimen Of roupg uncouth manly
beauty as bSd ever seen
Il say. neighbur" he said. BE you a
parsonY"
I'm Il clergyman" | replied
He was tal,ina me In wonderingly,
running his eyes over my black suit,
my clei1cDl cui vest. tho gold cross
hanging from NY watch chain. fixing
his eyes at last on my collar
Would you m.nd tellin me-" he said,
how you foi that onT
MY collar Ga. that's very easy.
1t is buttoncd IN the back OF the neck
instead OF the front What can do
for youT'
We'll, when | saw you comm along
was thinkin about gittin married. /
says to myself: What luck. Here's a
parson right handy. =
Have you got your licenseY'
"You bet I've had that a long while"
as the lady prepared?"
81 hain't prepared her. Fact is, |
hain't much of a hand at courtin', and
hain't done that part Of the job yet"
q should think it was the first part
of the job to be done
Naturally it is, but anything we
don't like to do we put off. CONSCIENCE
is done all the other things first. l
got the license. | got you and l got
ten acres o land with house on it.
1 got them all first because they was
the easiest.
"You have your intentions fixed on a
girl, presume
You bet; the Iikeliest girl in these
parts; purity as a 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 askln her would be the easiest
part Of the whole Job"
"But, my friend. having made all the
preparations wouldn't 1t be a great dis
appointments 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.
we all have weak spot about US
somewhere l continued, land / fancy
yours IS want of ability to make a
proposal"
How'd you know thatY
Il guessed it. l would advise you to
pull yourself together and ask the
young lady to be your wife. Then
you'll know whether you need my serv-
fees or not If you do, come to the
rectory"-
whats that?
MY house, where l live. Do you
see the church spire down there2 Well,
my house is next door shall be at
home all day and will 9e happy to
marry you"
w Hat II De tue ududSes
"Oh, anything you care to give. Good
morning"
Hold on, parson Do you know of
anything teller can take to brace
him up for such job?r
Nothing. You must summon up
your resolution A strapping fellow
like you ought not to be afraid of a
girl"
THAT'S just the thing am afraid of.
You don't think I'd be afraid of man.
do your"
Good morning. l shall expect you"
| left him, but before had gone far
looked back and saw him gazing at me
wistfully, as if he thought might help
him if only would But there was no
hope for him except in himself, and,
with an encouraging smile. | turned
again and went on my way.
About O'Clock in the afternoon
there was a ring at the rectory bell,
and the maid who answered the sum-
mons came 10 my study and said there
was a couple downstairs who wished
to see me. She described the young
man who had accosted me in the morn
ing, and, not feeling very sure of him,
i told her to send him up She did so,
and he came into my study radiant.
Il done It," he said exuberantly.
You found it easy enough. didn't
you" l replied when you once got
down to it?"
ooh. yesl 1t was easy enough when
it was all over"
| looked at his license, asked him
few questions, then went downstairs,
where saw a pretty country girl
about seventeen years old. who blush
ed as | entered and twisted her hand
kerchief into every conceivable shape.
In an adjoining room put on my vest
ments and. returning, joined the pair
in the bonds Of holy matrimony But
so intent was The swain on my white
surplice and stole that he heard moth
ing of what said, and | was obliged
to repeat the questions asked before he
responded When the couple was made