The Snowflake herald., 1915-04-02
Md Maid and
Preacher
By
ELMER LEWIS
ELMER LEWIS

-. was no one in the village
Isr Iossrsonville who did not know
p'' S Ann Jones, sister of Hiram
sir'u nidower. AS for Hiram, he
jolI1, ~. sawmill and was a quiet, re-
HD u .1' man. Sister Sarah originat-
s''I g w tbe village gossip and a great
4 a. more. Few men or women in
90 rilIsee had escaped her tongue,
ot .bo NAV be said to have been
IenJly i5e with none.
wv n, certain date several things
ononod, Sarah Ann reached the
pn # 81. The news spread over
i, I, village that a new preacher was
" .,,;nc TO take the place of an old
pn y, who was to be retired, and the
Y~ '.r incumbent was a young man
~ ~ sncIe. On this same day one of
4, ll' ,brrch deacons had a talk with
pi,'m Jones, and at the supper
,bs that evening, after having been
~st ~; for quarter of an hour, Hi
Landed his cup across for a Sec
Nd rl helping of tea and quietly OBJ
gTed:
aS,rab. I hope you won't make a
h1 1of Yourself over this new preach
a.
Wbat on earth do you mean ?"
no exclaimed as she looked at him
the greatest astonishment.
Don't run after him."
Sarah filed the cup and handed
4back, and after Hiram had stirred
n tbe sugar and milk, she leaned
NJ ll IIN
hr elbow on the table and said:
q want to know just what you
mean. sir. | run after a preacher or
nrother mani, Sarah Ann Jones!
i Have you had a sunstroke, Hiram?
Hundreds and thousands of men
have run after me, as you well know,
but when have you ever known me to
run after a man? Speak, sir Your
words are an insult to mel"
well, don't run after him." brief
y but grimly replied the brother.
His attitude was something new,
al Sarah didn't know exactly what
bthnk. After a moment she began
bGv No effect on Hiram. In the
midst Of her tears he buttered anoth-
\ slice Of bread. Then she dashed
gde her tears and said that she
would see the new preacher hanged
before she would even be introduced
to him. Hiram finished his bread
and showed back from the table.
Then Sarah resorted to the dodge
that had never failed her. She ut
tered Squawk and a gasp and fell
out Of her chair to the floor. She
struck on her shoulder, as she had
planned to do, and then turned over,
rolled up her eyes and was a goner.
Hiram got up and walked out doors.
he chad hens and a hog to feed and a
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 sup
pose her struggling in the agonies of
lath, but she heard the blows of
ne hammer at the gate. She arose
md looked out of the window. The
lodge had failed. She began clear
nS off the table, signing one mo-
!, nent and gritting her teeth the next.
me had finished with the dishes and
vas sitting down when Hiram en-
F'ed' For ten minutes neither
P'ke' Then she said:
IN Hiram Jones, somebody's been
4IAng about me-"
Tmp
IN somebody's been saying that I
W.. WILL run after and try to marry the
Ts W, preacher that's coming"
YOU probably will"
Yes, I probably will! Yes, I
. raS , l will! Hiram Jones, I'll
F,ls heSe people if l die for it!''
D. nlfam didn't 'Ump this time.
4o,i NJ PplIed U of his boots, creased a
SFYuv'Oru8e with mutton tallow and
uen Went to bed.
,,a, a week later the new preacher ar
nool % ;. lie naturally made inquiries
Da5a Salqlng q his flock, and he was soon