The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-06-06
The One Thing
Needful
By r. A. Mitchell

man. vas passing along the street
one morning when l was hailed by a
strappinC young fellow standing beside
an OK team drawn up beside the curb
Re had on a Hnsey woolsey suit, fan
mel shirt, and his trousers were tucked
IN his boots. He was massive, with
light hair, blue eyes and forid com.
plexion Altogether be was as striking
a specimen Of young. uncouth manly
beauty as had ever seen.
Il say. neighbour" he said. ''be you =
parsoni"
I'm a clergyman" l replied.
He was taking me in 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
1t is buttoned in the back Of the neck
instead Of the front What can do
for you:'
We'll, when | saw you comm along
l was thirkin' about gittin' married. ]
says to myself: What luck. Here's a
parson right handy"
Have you got your license"
"You bet I've had that long while.
rs the lady preparedT'
az haln't prepared her. Fact is,
-. ..,..,L - n b,rd NJ cnurtiD' and
hain't done that part Of the job yet.
Il 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.
got the license. l got you and | got
ten acres O. land with a house on II.
/ got them all first because they was
the easiest"
"You have your Intentions fixed on
girl. | presume"
You bet; the likeliest 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. II was
certain. askln' 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 il the young lady
should refuse you?"
by gum! parson. don't talk that
away"
The color rushed out Of his face and
he showed every evidence Of terror.
1--WE all have a weak spot about US
somewhere" continued. "and | fancy
yours Is a want OF ability to make
proposal"
How'd you know thatY'
81 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-
ices or not. If you do. come to the
rectory"-
What's thatT'
"My house. where | live. Do you
see the church spire down there? Well.
my house is next door. shall be at
home all day and will be happy to
marry you"
"what'n be the damage?"
''Oh. anything you care to give. Good
morning"
Hold on. parson- Do you know Of
anything g feller can take to brace
lin up for such jobT'
Nothing You must summon up
your resolution. A strapping fellow
like you ought not to be afraid Of r
girl"
That's just the thing am afraid Of.
You don't think I'd be afraid Of man.
do you?"
Good morning. l shall expect you. "
left him. but before I had gone far
looked back and saw him gazing at me
wistfully, as IL he thought might help
him IL only would. But there was no
hope for him except in himself. and,
with an encouraging smile, I 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 to 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 1t easy enough. didn't
you" | replied. when you once got
down to itY'
"Oh, yes! II was easy enough wher
II was all over"
l looked at his license. asked him q
few questions, then went downstairs
where l saw'a pretty country CIR
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 pail
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 l said, and was obliged
TO repeat the questions asked before ht
responded. When the couple was made
one the groom dived down into the bot
tom Of his breeches pocket, fshed out Q