Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-03-22
Old Maid and
Preacher
By
ELMER LEWIS
ELMER LEWIS

ELMER LEWIS
There was no one in the village
of Jacksonville who did not know
Sarah Ann Jones, sister Of Hiram
Jones, widower. AS for Hiram, he
ran the sawmill and was a quiet, re-
served man. Sister Sarah originat-
CO all the village gossip and a great
deal more. Few men or women in
the village had escaped her tongue,
and she may be said to have been
friendly with none.
| On a certain Date several things
happened. Sarah Ann reached the
age Of 81. The news spread over
the village that a new preacher was
coming 10 take tie place Of an old
orc who was to be retired, and the
new incumbent was a young man
and single. On this same day one Of
tlie church deacons had talk with
Hiram Jones, and at tie supper
table that evening, after having been
quiet for quarter Of an hour, Hi
ram handed lis cup across for Sec
nd helping Of tea and quietly OBJ
served
Sarah. I hope you won't make
fool Of yourself over this new preach
En-"
sN hat On earth do you mean ?"
she exclaimed as she looked at him
in the greatest establishment.
"Dcn't run after him."
Sarah filled the cup and handed
it back, and after Hiram had stirred
in tie sugar and milk, she leaned
her elbow on the table and said:
81 want to know just what you
mean, sir. run after a preacher Or
any other mani, Sarah Ann Jones !
Have You had a sunstroke, Hiram?
Hundreds AMI thousands of men
have run after me, as you well know,
but when have you ever known me to
run after man? Speak, sir! Your
words are an insult to mel"
"N'cll, don't run after him." brief
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 lin. Hiram finished his bread
and showed back from the table.
Then Sarah rcsorted to the dodge
that had never failed her. She ut
tered a squawk and gasp and fell
out of her chair to the floor. She
struck on Ter 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 hog to feed and
gate to mend, and he was a full hour
about it. '
Sarah lay where she fell for fif-
teen minutes. She was astonished
beyond measure at the actions of her
brother. 1t was his business to SUBJ
pose her struggling in the agonies Of
death, but she heard the blows Of
the hammer at the gate. She arose
and looked out Of the window. The
dodge had failed. She began clear
ing off the table, signing one mo-
mcnt and gritting her teeth the next.
She had finished with the dishes and
was sitting down when Hiram en-
tered. For ten minutes neither
spoke. Then she said:
''Hiram Jones, somebody's been
talking about me"
"Umv'
Somebody's been saying that I
will run after and try to marry the
new preacher that's coming"
'You probably will"
eyes, l probably will: Yes, I
know will Hiram Jones, I'll
spite these people if I die for it,"
Hiram didn't 'Um!" this time.
He pulled off his boots, creased a
stone-bruise with mutton tallow and
then went to bed.
A week later the new preacher ar
rived. He naturally made inquiries
regarding his flock, and he was soon
posted. There was big turnout at
his first service, and Sarah Ann
To,a. ,r,o 4l,oro -, n fco,,t row,