The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-04-02

peevishly, that she wished the Meth.
odists had never come to the settle.
ment. Morton had been in . hope
full state Of mind, and they had driv-
en- him to wickcdness. Otherwise he
would doubtless have been Chris
tian by this time.
And now Mrs. Wheeler, ON her
part, thought-but did not say-that
II was most absurd for Mrs. Goodwin
to complain of anything having driv-
en- Morton away from salvation, since,
according to her Calvinis,ic doctrine,
he must be saved anyhow if he were
elected. 1t is SO easy to be incon-
sistent when we try to reason about
Gods relation to his creatures; and
20 easy to see absurdity in any creed
but our own.
The twilight deepened, and Mrs.
Goodwin, unable now to endure the
darkness, lit her candle. Then there
was a knock at the door. Ever since
Sunday, the mother, waiting between
hope and despair, had turned pale at
every sound Of footsteps without.
Now she called out ''Come in!" in q
broken voice, and Mr.. Brady entered,
having just dismissed his school.
ssTroth, me dair madam, it's not
meself that can give comfort. I'm
sure to say something not intoirely
proper to the occasion whiniver l
talk to anybody in throuble--some-
thing that Jars loike varb that disa-
grees with its nominative in number
and parson, as ! may say. But !
thought I ought to come and say you,
and tin you as / don't behave Morton
would do anything very bad, an I'm
shocre he'll be home afore the wakes
out. I've soiphered it out by the
Rule Of Thray. As Morton Good
win wuz to his other throubles-com-
in out al! roight-so is Morton
Goodwin to his present difficulties.
Ii the first term and the third is the
same, then the sicond aud the fourth
has got to be idintical. Perhaps I'm
:alkm' too larned; but you're an ed
dicated woman, Mrr. Goodwin, and
you can say that my demonsthration's
entoirely corrict. Morton II fetch
the answer set down in the book
livery tonne, without any remainder
or mistake. Thajr's no VULGAR frac-
tions about him."
"Fractious, did you sayY spoke in
Job Goodwin, who had held his hand
up to his best ear, to hear what Bra.
dy was saying. mo, / don't low he
was frsctious, fer the mos part. But
he's gone now, and he'll git killed
like Lew did, and well all have the
fever, and then they'll be war with
the British, and the 1njuns ill be on
US, and it pears like as If they want
no eend of troubles a-comin'. Heyw
At that very moment the latch was
jerked up and Henry came bursting
into the room, gasping from excite
menf.
"what is its Injunss' asked Mr..
Goodwin, getting to his feet.
But Henry gasped again.
"Spake" SAID Brady. "Out wild
it!'
"Mo,t's-a. put,in'-Dolly-in the
stahle!' said the breathless boy.
s'Dolly's in the stable, did yos,
say?r 4ur,ied Job Goodwin, sitting
down again hopelessly. "Then some
boeiy-lninns, robbers, or some
body-'s killed Mort. and she's found
her way back"
While Mr.. Goodwin was speaking,
Mrs. Wheeler slipped out Of the
open door, that she might not in
trudc upon the meeting; but Brady
oral newspaper that he was-wait-
ed, with the true journalistic spirit,
for an interview. Hardly had job
Goodwin finished his doleful speech,
when Morton himself crossed the
threshold and reached out his hand
to his mother, while she reached out
both hands and-did what mothers
have done for returning prodigals
since the world was made. Her hns-
band stood by hewildcrcd, trying TO
collect his wits enough to under
stand how Morton could have been
murdered by robbers or Indians and
vet stand there. Not until the
mother released him, and Morton
turned and shook hands with his
father, did the father get rid Of the
illusion that his son was certainly
dead.
"Well, Norton" said Brady, com.
ing out Of the shadow, "l'm roight
glad to see ye back. l tould 'em
ye'd bay home to-noight, maybe. l
soiphered it out by the Single Rule
Of Thray that ye'd git back about
this tonne. One day fer sinnin', one
day fer throying to run away from
yersilf, one day for repintance, and
the mkt the pro,iigal son falls on his
mothers neck and con6sses his sins y
Morton was glad to find Brady
present; he was safeguard against
too much Of scene. And to avoid
speaking Of subjects more unpleasant,
he plunged at once into an account
Of his adventure at Brewers Hole
and Of his arrest for stealing his own
horse. Then he told how he had
escaped by the good Offices Of Mr.
Donaldson. Mrs. Goodwin was Sc
cretly delighted at this. It was q
new bond between the young mar
and the minister, and now at last she
should see Morton converted. The
religious experience Morton reserved
He wanted to break it to his mother
alone, and he wanted to be the FIRST
to speak Of it to Patty. And SO i
happened that Brady, having gotten
as he supposed, a full account 0
Morton's adventures, and being eagel
to tell so choice and fresh a story
found himself unable to stay longer
But Just as he reached the door i
occurred to him that il he did no
tell Morton at once what had hap
pened in his absence some one els'
would anticipate him. He had sol
possession Of Morton's adventure
anyhow; SO he Strengthened himsel
up against the door and said:
| can did ye hear what happened
to Koike, the whole ye was gone
Moirton?''
'Nothing bad, l hope," said Nor
ton.