... Paul.... Um-hm.... Say, Mr. Bangs, have you ever tried
to fit yourself with a Bible name?"
Galusha smiled and said he never had. Primmie, who had been silent for
almost three minutes, could remain so no longer.
"I think Solomon would be the right name for you, Mr. Bangs," she cried,
enthusiastically. "You know such a terrible lot--about some kinds of
things." This last a hasty addition.
Zach snorted. "Solomon!" he repeated. "Dan Beebe--Ras Beebe's cousin
over to Trumet--named his boy Solomon, and last week they took the
young-one up to the State home for feeble-minded. What name would you
pick out of the Bible for yourself, Mr. Bangs?"
It was then that Galusha made the reply to which reference has been
made. His smile changed and became what Primmie described as "one of his
one-sided ones."
"Ah--um--well--Ananias, perhaps," he said, and walked away.
Zach and Miss Cash stared after him. Of course, it was the latter who
spoke first.
"Ananias!" she repeated. "Why, Ananias was the feller that--that lied so
and was struck down dead. I remember him in Sunday school. Him and his
wife Sophrony. Seems to me 'twas Sophrony; it might have been Maria,
though. But, anyhow, they died lyin'."
"That so? I thought they lied dyin'."
"Oh, be still! But what did Mr. Bangs pick out THAT name for--of all
names? Can you tell me that?"
Zacheus could not, of course, nor did he attempt it.
Pages:
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361