Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-07-20
he never heard of her or the man who had

he never heard of her or the man who had
lured her away. M
The year that | met him, he had been
through the West; he couldn't tell what
for, except that he had made money and
wanted to spend it. Vice and luxury were
strangers to him, so his wants were few
and simple.
He came to cabin, one night, and as II
was late, asked to be allowed to stay; til,
man consented, and babe the woman pro-
vide some supper for the traveller.
His host went out, and his voice coult
be heard at some distance from the from
of the house. The woman eyed him closely
from window, then motioning to Bill, lee
him to slide window at the rear of thu
cabin, whispered to him that twas only ;
mile to the next house, slipped a piece o
paper into his hand, and babe him run fol
bis life.
He said he could not tell how it hap
pened, but for the first and only time he
ran from danger. He aroused the people
and was given place on the floor to sleep
Saying nothing about his adventure, he
managed to read by the light Of the Goals
the paper which the woman had given
him. Imagine his surprise when he found
that he had seen his long-lost sister, and
that she had sought to save his life by get.
ting him away from her husband, who
mistrusted that he had money, and would
not hesitate to murder him in order to
obtain it. She said she had witnessed
dreadful things, but begged him not to try
to meet her, as his life would be i'm
periled.
The next morning he determined to
return and have an interview with her,
and possible persuade her to accompany
him.
The house was closed, boards nailed up
before the windows, and no sign of life
upon the premises.
He looked for his horse that, of course,
was gone, and he was about leaving, when
he heard means. Again he listened, and
traced the sound to the window out Of
which he had escaped the previous night.
He wrenched off the boards and soon
found the sister he sought, but she was in
dying condition. She had been terribly
beaten by the brutal husband; upon her
had come the full brunt of his disappoint-
ment when he discovered his victim had
left. She told of terrible sufferings and
crime, but death hastily closed her recital,
and poor Bill held a lifeless form in his
arms. He called in the only neighbors,
within several miles, the people where he
stayed over night Together they buried
the bruised and mangled body, and over the
grave the brother vowed to revenge the
life which had been sacrificed for hun.
He heard of "his man" crossing the
plains, and so had followed, nursing all the
time the deepest hatred in his heart, never
doubling that he should find him. and then
the end was plain.
He held up his hands. 81 have seen
his blood upon them all the way" said he.
"That night" he continued, 81 could
not sleep, and something whispered that
he was not far from me. So | went out
and continued my search. l heard his
voice on the street. l should have known
it anywhere. ! followed him to his cabin
and entered close behind him. had
something to say to him, and you know |
couldn't shoot him down without giving
him chance 'twant in me to do that.
"But he turned upon me quicker than
thought and gave me this shot through
my shoulder. My right arm dropped
poweIless, but Isprang upon him, and as
we closed he gave me a stab in my side,
his own pistol, pointed toward himself,
went off, either by accident or design, |
shall never know which, and we fell to-
gether on the floor.
"That Spaniard came in, attracted by
the firing. had helped his family to food
and shelter, so ! easily prevailed upon him
to go for you, not because | thought you
could do anything for me, but did not
want you to spend your time hunting me
up.
"The wretch died; although | didn't
kill him, meant to, so am murderer
to you, My work on earth is done, and
you had better leave now. am afraid
shall get to care for you if you stay, and
that would be foolish, as there hasn't been
any love in my life. I shan't trouble
you with any more talk. | guess | have
lost my right now to the title the boys
gave me-"
As soon as he was able we went back
into the country and pitched our tent
among the grand old trees. There came
days when the hushed stiffness brought
thoughts o! rest, peace and almost beiev-
ing.
Under the branches where the stray sun
beams touched us with light and healing,
| told the story Of Him whose blood can
wash the deepest stain from human hearts
and hands, and into natures temple came
the great, invisible, loving presence which
stands human as ever, though unseen-in
our very midst, and whose coming into any
life will lift it from it's mre, and dehle-
ment into the lost Paradise which lies
about us everywhere.
As | dwelt upon the wondrous love and
compassion, he asked earnestly, "Why has
my life been so dark and loveless ?"
All, how many aching hearts have asked
that, as they look back over dwarfed and
! thwarted lives.
But there came time when his que5-
tionings ceased, and he changed his life
long burden for cross.
And for years, "Silent Bill" was known
all through tie mines and camps as "The
Big Elder"