Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-01-20
THE TWO DELEGATES.

To some people ten dollars would seem
small amount of money; TO old Mrs.
Dale, whose nephew in California had
sent her that amount for birthday pres
ent, it seemed small fortune-a fortune
TO be spent thriftily and with wise FORE
thought.
While she pondered the best way 10
invest her unforeseen wealth, the new
minister made his first visit to part Of
the town appropriately named "Sandy
Flats" and knocked at her door.
Being new minister, and unacquainted
with the circumstances of his parishion-
ers, he asked her, rather perfunctoriIy,
whether she cared to entertain one of the
delegates TO church council that would
soon meet.
Joy radiated from the old lady'S face
never before had she been asked to do
such thing-and never before had she
been able. AT last she had found a way
to spend her ten dollars. Wisely spent,
it would be enough to entertain a visiting
minister for the three days during which
the council would last-entertain him in
delightful opulence.
"That will" she answered promptly,
"and glad of the chance. Thanks be,
Pm able to entertain preacher with all
ease, for l've come into some money un-
expected. I'll get ready my spare room
right away"
Now in Mrs. Dale's cottage-shantY.
some persons would have called it-there
was no such thing as spare room; but
she made one by moving cot into. the
kitchen and "redding up" her own room
for the expected guest.
Having laid in certain necessary stores,
and given orders to black Cyrus, the
hackmsn, TO meet the very first train on
which delegates were expected to arrive,
and TO fetch her preacher in proper style,
Mrs. Dale, in flutter OF pleased ex-
pectancy, bided his coming.
The only stranger 10 arrive on the early
train was a fine looking gentleman, whom
the venerable hackman at once accosted.
Good mornin', sirp he said. 81
wonder, now, if you happens to be the
preacher the Widow Dae's lookin' for ?"
After consulting card in his pocket,
the gentleman declared that he was in
deed the preacher with whom the recep-
ton committee had decided to burden
Mrs. Dale.
Black Cyrus laughed cheerfully at the
joke. claw, sir. you amt no burden for
old Mis- Dale" he declared. "She been
fixin' for you right smart while. She
say she amt never been able TO have one
before, but now she got money - her
nephew out West sent her ten dollars.
Yes, sir, that's right smart heap OF
money for old Mis- Dale, but she done
spent it, every dollar, reckon, buyin
provisions SOS she can treat you same as
preacher ought TO be treated"
The hack was rickety, and its noise, as
it trattledalongtow Sandy Flats, drown
ed any reply that the preacher might have
made.
Mrs. Dale, in readiness for her guest.
cast an approving eye over her spare
room," which was spotless, with snowy
curtains and immaculate bedspread; a
pitcher filled with fresh water was ready
on the washstand for the minister's bath,
and another pitcher, without a handle,
was filled with big bunch of lilacs from
the bush in the front yard.
"It does smell just like flower garden
in the spring of the year," Mrs. Dale said
to herself. "lt's wonderful how bunch
OF posies does tighten up room. | do
hope my preacher'll like the smell OF lay
locks; some folks are curious about flower
scents. mind once wastin' a whole
bunch OF white teas on lady who was
afflicted with rose cold Poor thing, the
only effect the roses had on her was TO
make her sneeze. hope my preacher
won't be constituted that way"
Patting the bedspread into more rigid
smoothness, she llmped-tor severalyears
her rheumatism had forced Mrs. Dale to
use crutcf-into her kitchen, which ad-
joined the guest chamber. Here the
smell OF fried chicken rose from a skillet
on the stove; kettle beside the skillet
boiled busily; pan of biscuits, covered
with a cloth, was on the stove hearth
ready TO pop into the oven the minute
the delegate should arrive, and teapot
and coifeepot waited TO receive their
measures Of tea or coffee, according 10
which the minister preferred.
being preacher, and needing more'n
common TO be strengthened, sense he'll
want Coffee" she said 10 herself, as she
Strengthened the cloth, gave final polish
TO the shining knives, and moved the yel-
low bowl of lilacs exactly to the ce1tse
of the table, where, providentially, it hid
a patch.
She had just completed the last touch,
when loud "Wh-o-o oa - came from
outside. Old Cyrus wished to warn her
OF the arrival of the delegate, so that she
might hurry Hospitality forth TO meet him.
Land, Pm all OF a furry '' she said
to herself. 81 do hope he'll be pleased
with the spare room-and like the scent
of laylocks.
"Come right in p she called cheerily
from the porch. "The steps are little
mite steep, making my crutch liable to
slip, or I'd meet you at the gate. Cyrus,
fetch in the genteman's suit case"
"Yes'm, I'm aiming to-" remarked Cy-
rus. leisurely flicking fly from the horses
back. "Yes'm, il was mighty lucky you
sent me 10 meet the early train, for your
preacher was the only delegate that