Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-01

aAlO It's emu Is DIiLeE. 1 10 not Know
as he ever told me his true name. l
call Paul by mothers maiden name.
Paul Minden need not blush for
Paul Clifford's sins"
We could not keep Margie with
US; we knew by the blush that
burned in her cheek, and the un-
natural light in her eye. One No
Yember afternoon we wheeled her
couch in front of the western wind
oWs, that she might see the sun go
down behind the clouds that he had
tinted. Lifting herself forward she
took PauPs hand, and pointing it to
the clouds she said, ''lt is beautiful
there, Paul"
"Y es, mamma"
at is . great deal more beautiful
beyond there, my darling; l am
very tired and am going there to
rest. Some day you will come l
will be there to meet you-remem-
Der Paul"
Turning to me she said, 81 shall
find it all as l have pictured it there,
Faith, green pastures and" Her
head fell back upon the pillow, there
was gentle sigh, the spirit was re-
leased, and Margie entered the fair
land and found rest beside the still
waters.
Paul was like his mother, but his
natural impulsiVeness was so tenn
pered by early sorrow that we had
no fear that he would give his fancy
too much breadth. Father fell asleep
for the last time when Paul was
ready for college. We lifted the
sods and laid him by mother and
Margie, and then sold the old home
stead and went to the town where
Paul was to study.
never asked Paul what profess
sion he wished to follow, but one
day he told rue he should enter the
ministry. 81 shall be a home mis-
sionary, and l shall join the Metho-
dist church." he said. We had heard
that Paul Clifford was in the West /;
| knew that my Paul meant to find
his father, and this was the way he
meant to do it.
Paul accepted no particular field,
but, as an independent missionary,
he took broad circuit. Twas with
him when, in the fall of IS, he de-
termined to hold a camp-meeting in
part of the SOUTHWEST that vas
opposed to anything Of religious
order. Gamblers, outcasts from
every land, fOrgers, robbers, COM
posed the population. Many efforts
had been made, but no successful
meeting had been held. There were
stories told of ministers who had
promised, at the point of the bowie
knife, never again to set foot in that
country. ] trembled for Paul, but
be told me my fears were vain. 81
shall have my meeting, and shall
live; and believe" he said, fixing
his black eyes upon me with look
so much like his mothers, 81 shall
meet him there"
Paul leased a place called Cold
Spring, where a fountain of clear,
an evergreen grove, and conceived
the idea of having dinner IS well
SIS a meeting. 1--WE must have
something novel to attract, Aunt
Faith. Once here, l know l can i'm
press the people as they have never
been before. There .is' a witchery
in sloquence, and a power in the
truth"
An advertisement was circulated
promising a camp-meeting such as
had never been held before, and q
dinner gotten up in the best manner,
and the best of liquor was to be
served. We reached the ground a
little late. / could see Paul was 4
little anxious for the success of his
scheme, and was unusually pale.
The grove was filed with people,
men, women and children, carrying
all sorts of faces, and dressed in
every kind Of costume. There were
mothers with babes hanging On
their arms, coarse men with rifles
in hand, and ugly dogs at their
heels. There were gamblers with
keen blades shining beneath their
coats, and there were few we'll
dressed gentleman and ladies who
were attracted by the novel arrange
ment. Paul entered the rude pulpit,
and thrill of pride went over me
as that noisy assemblage hushed
into silence, when, in = clear, nelo-
diOus voice he pronounced bless
ing upon the people and the food
they were about to partake. l did
not hear all he said, but knew
there had been power in the words,
for as l looked around l saw many
of the mothers faces wet with
tears.
/ was standing by the most pow
erful-built man ! ever saw, not
large, bat of well-knit strength,
and as caught sight OF the pistols
in his belt and heard the muttered
threats, trembled for Paul. This
man shouted to Paul in tones that
cut like knives: "You have lied, Mr..
Preacher. Where is the liquor you
promised ?" Paul raised himself TO
his full height, and with q look that
seemed 10 embrace every man, wO-
man and child of that vast multi
tude, he pointed to the fountain that
sparkled and leaped in the sunshine.
"Therew he said, in tones that vi
brated through the woods, and
came back to US, echoing, "There!
There! drink of that clear spring,
bubbling up from the bosom OF the
earth, and then come up hither, and
l will tell you OF fountain clear as
crystal flowing from the throne on
high, whose depth no man can meas
ure, and whose waters cleanse from
all stain"
/ did not hear any more, for the
man beside me turned his face to-
ward me, and muttered a curse. l
shuddeTed, for ! knew those eyes
with darts of fire leaping from them,
and those sneering lips, with their
cold smile had haunted me for
years. Paul Clifford stood beside
me. Icould touch his garments. l
started to make my way to Paul,
when there was a sharp click, a
fash: "AuRt Faith, 1 am shot"'-
Paul cried; then throwing his arms
up, he fell back upon the green
sward.
Paul Clifford" +" 1 shouted, lit is
you who have done this; you have
shot your own son; you have killed
Margie's Paul" With 3 wild cry
the man Ieaped forward. Make
room, men; stand out of the way;
give him air. He will not die
Margie, Paul I did not mean to for
sake you. Twas hunted to DEATH"
stand back, all of yOu," l said;
Paul Clifford, do not touch a hair
of the head you have laid low: he
does not belong TO you; you have no
place here"
lifted Paul's head TO my lap
The warm blood was streaming
from a wound in his breast, and
the soft curls were damp with
desth's dew.
"Aunt Faith he murmured, 4
forgive him!'
20, God! he forgives me; my muir
dered boy fOrgives me-" the man
groaned in agony.
~ es, he forgives you, Paul Cliff
ford; be came here to save YOU"
"Cal him back to life. The God
you believe in will hear you. Pray,
o pray"
Paul reused himself looked