West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-10-20

sV"PPtu ldughlng Tor the moment, and
looked little frightened when ne saw
how IN earnest the people were To bring
/ the offender Ia light
Mrs. Mason, who had been sitting near
Seth and Chad, now went over and spoke
10 Seth's father.
That was Seth who called out" She
said; 4" know it was. saw his lips
move"
Seth was scared when he saw his father
coming over 10 him. The father looked
angry as he charged the ofense upon
Seth.
Mrs. Mason says she saw your lips
move"
Its lie," cried the boy, kindlinp
Indignantly. Then he burst out laugh
ing, AZ the funny part of the affair came
over him again.
Seth, you know it was YOU" said
Mrs. Mason
"Of course il was" added Mrs. Palat-
kin. "l know it by the way he keeps
laughing"
1t wasn't; didn't do it," Seth de-
clared.
It's just like him; he's always up 10
some mischief" said somebody else. :" |
know he did it,"
81 know | didn't" said Seth.
DO you know who it was?" asked
his father.
By this time a third of the congrega-
tion had gathered around Seth.
Yes, | know" Seth answered.
Who was itY' asked a half dozen
voices.
l." amt going TO tell"
Then il looked 80 funny to Seth To see
all that crowd of people around him.
that he laughed in their faces. When
Seth wanted To laugh he couldn't help
laughing, any more than Vesuvius could
help belching. He wasn't one of the
kind who can laugh in their sleeves.
There are forty dollars you can
have, if you'll tell, one said.
He ought to be punished, whoever il
was" another argued. Everybodyll
think it's you unless you tell"
1t wasn't me, and it'll be mean to
blame il on to me-" Then Seth giggled
again.
"Then tell who it was" said the
father. You're foolish not to, when
you can make forty dollars by telling.
Think what lots of things you can buy
with it. Come, Seth, tell" he con
tinued, coaxingly, "and I'll give you
another ten. Then you'll have ffty
dollars-a half hundred-about as much
as | can make in a month. And you can
make 1T by just speaking a name"
Come, let us have it," urged Mr..
Arthur Matthews "Who was III"
Seth just looked at Mr.. Matthews, and
seemed ready to burst into another laugh.
Why, how contrary We bep said
Mother ketchum, eying Seth over the
tops of her spectacles :" Why don't We
tell and be done with il, so the folks can
go homer
But Seth repeated: 81 amt goin' to
tell"
" If he was my boy, I'll be bound he'd
tell purity quick" Mother Ketchum adj
dressed part of this remark to Mrs.
Leonard, standing on the right. Finally
the minister spoke:
" We are determined, if possible. to
discover the reckless individual who has
had the temerity to interrupt our solemn
service, and to bring him to punishment.
This is the second time our service has
been interrupted. We brought the other
offender TO light, and we shall discover
this one. BE sure of that my guilty
friend. That which is hidden shall be
revealed. We offer for information of
the offender standing reward of fifty
dollars"
Here Seth's father pulled at the min
lster's sleeve, TO say that his offer of
ten dollars was only TO Seth, and the
pastors proclamation was amended ac-
cordingly. Then the people went to
their homes, discussing the matter as
they went.
Of course it was Seth" said Chad's
father, who prided himself on his lawyer
like ability of seeing through people.
You'll be willing to give up Seth
now, | suppose" said the mother to
Chad.
don't believe it was Seth" This
was all the answer Chad made.
When Seth had got home, his father
scolded him for not speaking and claim
ing the money.
" You've got to tell" insisted the
father. I'll fog you if you do not"
" I'll take the whipping" answered
Seth, with his voice trembling; "but /
won't tell"
When Seth had gone 10 bed, his mother
came and sat down beside hil. She
wanted him TO have the money; and no
wonder, with seven little mouths i'm her
nest to be fed.
" Just think" she said, what you
could do with all the money. You could
get you a new suit of clothes, and new
cap, and some boots"
Poor Seth thought of Chad's hand
some new winter suit, and of his own
shabby jacket, and n great lump came
up in his throat.
wouldn't get any good Of the
money" the boy said. You and father
would take it all; ] know you would"
The mother thought he was yielding.
and hastcned to assure him that ne
should have every penny to spend for
himself But Seth had no thought of
telling when he made the remark: he
just wanted TO re-enforce himseif-to
have better excuse for refusing to tell.
Then you can look "a we'll rs Chad "
the mother added. "He wont be
ashamed Of you then"
"Chad amt 'shamed of me now" said
Seth, with quiver in his voice. He
likes me better than any the other
fclers. He wouldn't like me il / was to
tell he hates tell-talc."
So the mother found there was no
hope of getting the secret from Seth.
The next day, as he was going for the
milk for breakfast, he was joined by
Chad
"My goodness, Seth, you're q bully