Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-07-18
The One Thing
Needful
By F. A. Mitchell


man. was passing along the street
one morning when was hailed by a
strapping young fellow standing beside
an OK team drawn up beside the curb.
He had Oh linsey woolsey suit, d fan
nel shirt. and his trousers were tucked
in his boots He was massive, with
light hair, blue eyes and forid com
plexion. Altogether he was as striking
a specimen Of young, uncouth manly
beauty as I had ever seen.
q say, neighbor," he said, BE you
Darson3e
Pm 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. liking
his eyes at last on my collar.
Would you mind tellin' me" he said,
how you got that on2'
my collarf Oh, that's very easy.
1t is buttoned in the back Of the neck
instead Of the front What can l do
for your
swell. @heh saw you comm along
/ was tninkin' about gittin married.
says to myself What luck! Here's a
parson right handy"
Have you got your license?n
you bet. I've had that long WHILE"
us the lady prepared7"
II hain't prepared her. Fact is,
hain't much Of hand ut courtin', and
I 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 house on it.
/ got them all first because they was
the easiest
"You have your intentions fixed on
girl, presume
"You bet; the lilzeliest 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 a great dis
appointment to you if the young lady
should refuse you?"
by gum! parson. don't talk that
away"
The color rushed out of his face and
ne showed every evidence of terror
1--WE all have weak spot about us
somewhere" / continued, land | fancy
yours is a want Of ability to make a
proposal"
How'd You know thatg'
# guessed it. would advise you to
pun 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 that?p
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
'sWhat'l be the damage?"
"Oh anything you care to give Good
morning"
Hold on, parson Do you know of
anything a Teller can take to brace
him up for such job?'
Nothing. You must summon up
your resolution. a strapping fellow
like you ought not to be afraid of
girl"
That's just the thing am afraid Of
You don't think I'd be afraid Of man,
do your
Good morning. 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 to my study and said there
was 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,
l told her to send Ism 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
I looked at his license, asked him a
few questions, then went downstairs,
where l saw 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
III 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 l was obliged