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

l.
Anyway, | didn't do anything wicked
II wasn't anything mean | lust did il
Tor fun, and | don't see the use of their
making great hullaballoo about il. |
don't care if they know il was me.
They darcn hang me, and they darcn't
put me in Jail. I'd notion TO get up
and tell on myself: | felt like q sneak
not To. But | wanted you 10 get the
fifty dollars, you see. Good gracious :
you've got TO have it, Seth. You must
tell
won't ever tell anything on YOU,
Chad, said Seth. You wouldn't like
me any moro if did"
Yes, would" Chad declared eagerly.
Il wouldn't like myself" said Seth.
But, you see the boy who did that
ought 90 be punished"
Chad forgot, for the moment, who
" the boy " was, in his eagerness that
Seth should have the money. Bat i'm vain
he argued. Seth declared he never would
tattle on Chad. 80 Chad made up his
mind that he'd tell on himself. 81 won't
be a sneak" That's what he said To
himself. Ii was a favorite expression
with Chad.
The episode at the matchmaking was
the general theme of talk for the next
lew days. IL was trifling matter TO
engage Il whole village; but curiosity
was excited. They wondered who the
offender could be. Was il or was il not
Seth? These people had been interrupted
once before in their religious services.
They felt that somebody was interfering
with their rights-that they were being
abused. And the more they talked
about IL the more outraged they felt.
And the more outraged they felt the
harder il grew for Chad TO confess him
self the offender at the meeting.
But one morning he found himself
fairly started for the minister's house.
lie didn't 90 "cross lots" which he
might have done, and saved half the
distance. He went roundabout. When
he reached the gate, he faced about, and
walked away from il IA fast as he could
for half block. Then he walked back
To 1T, and went slowly up the terraced
steps. Perhaps he would then have
gone straight forward up the walk to
the house, but for those two sheltering
fir-trees on the edge of the terrace. He
hid behind one of these till he could
gather courage. When he got on the
porch, i think he would again have hid
behind something il there had been any
thing To hide behind or hc would have
run away If he hadn't seen Mrs. Heming-
way, the minister's wife, looking at him
from the window. He tried to think of
something to say, so rs to put away the
real crrand as far as possible. But sud
denly the door opened, and there stood
the minister. Good morning, my bow"
he said, kindly. "Come in To the FIRE"
Chad walked in, looking like little
sheep. He sat down with his cap hang
ing on his fist. The other hand grasped
his leg for moment, then il was tucks
into the pocket of his trowsers The
minister waited for Chad TO state his
errand. But Chad sat there as if he
never meant to let anybody know what
he'd come for.
" Is it very cold out?' asked the min
lister.
Yes, sir" Chad answered. taking his
hand from his pocket, and hiding il with
the other under his cap. Then he crossed
his legs, and looked as though he was
getting ready TO say something. so the
minister waited to hear him announce
the occasion of the call. But Chad lust
uncrossed his legs.
is your father well%' asked the min
lister.
" Yes, sir" Chad answered, hooking
back his right foot TO the chair leg.
Another period of silence ensued.
Is your mothers health good this
winterY' said the minister at length,
wondering what allied this boy, usually
so much at his ease.
Chad answered Yes, sir" as before,
and hooked back his other foot. Then.
as he realized his awkward position, he
brought both feet forward and placed
them quite precisely in order, with toes
turned out at tdancing-school angle. But
he soon fidgeted them out Of place. while
trying as hard as he could to think Of
some easy, pleasant way of telling all
about il.
DO you go to Sunday-school? was
the nextquestion Chad heard. lie wound
one leg around the other and said he did.
Then he unwound his legs, and stood his
teet close up 10 the stove to warm. like
fiat-irOns on end.
What did Santa Claus bring you 2"
Chad jammed his cap between his
knees, and answered, a microscope"
Were you at the watch-meetingW
Here was Chad's chance. He screwed
himself sideways in his scat, and hueeed
the back Of his chair with both arms. as
if to hold himself to his object. His
cheek was burning, his eyes down-cast,
his voice dry and cracking, as nc an
swercd
Yes, sir; and know who it was
who il was that got the best Of you-that
wished the folks happy ncw-year, you
know"
You do? Who was it?"
VIII get the money if I tellg'
" Certainly you will" the minister
answered
No hoaSing| asked Chad, growing
bolder; ON be sure to get it?0
3" To be sure you'll get it,"
" II was me" said Chad, but didn't
mean any harm by it,"
The minister looked at Chad i'm a
vague way for moment, and then he
broke into hearty laugh. " You've got
he best Of me again" ne said. Well.
III sec that you get the money, but
doubtless you'll be fined to that amount.
and will have to pay il back. So YOU
won't make anything"
Chad looked q little blank. "Anv-
way, ! feel better for owning up." he
said at length, and I've found out. too.
that Seth wont tell on n teller"
When the matter came up before the
church it was argued by some that Chad
deserved more credit for bringing the