The Portland daily press., 1878-09-28
sYou seew said Caldwell, I'VE must burn

''You seei" said Caldwell, 1--WE must burn
more hay. No man will throw away his life
in this way"
John had revived by this time. "There is
no time to burn hay. Lower me again. l am
ready. l will not come up so soon again."
The rope went down again. Minute after
minute passed before the signal was given.
1t was feeble then, two faint pulls; but the
weight was double on the rope.
"He has tied en- the bodyD' they muttered,
tugging away.
Two bodies-two dead bodies, as it seemed
were brought out and laid on the grass.
Strangely enough, it was Nicholas HARBOUR
who revived first. His youth and temperate
life told in his favor. When he opened his
ewes, Sarah Cleyedon was Echafng his hand.
When he stood up, she held it still. as though
she had been his wife, and did not blush be-
fore all the people. 1t seemed natural and
right in the sight of God that it should be so.
"Who was it that saved me"' he said.
The crowd drew back. The stranger was ly-
ing on the grass, his rags covered with clay
and blood, a darker pallor on his face. But
there was in 1t look which had not been
there for years; a look Which belonged 10 The
innocent boy which he once was.
The clergyman was seized with great
trembling; he pushed them aside, ran, and
threw himself down beside him, held him to
his breast, rubbed the cold hands. They did
not warm in his.
An hour ago he could have saved this man,
soul and body. Now
81 am afraid it's of no use," said Mr.. Holt
''The poor fellow has given his life for YOU"
Nicholas drew back to make way for the ply
sicians
He stood under the cedar. Sarah spoke to
him and touched him, but he did not see nor
hear her. The blood of his Ibrother cried
against him from the ground. He remem-
bered Jack, when they were at school togeth-
er. What warEl-hearted, gallant little chap
he was. How he fought all his battles for
him. All the years between were wiped out.
He thought of one day, when their mother
took them home on halfholiday. How
happy they were; how they hung about her !;
and when they fell asleep, how she knelt by
their bed, her arms about them both. The
very last thing, they heard her whisper, 'tMy
boys-my boys" He knew now that he
could have saved his brother, and did not.
There was sudden stir about the pros
trate body. Old Mr.. Holt uttered fervent
"Thank GodW
''Do you feel better now, my dear sir?'
asked DR.. Peters.
Mr.. Harbour kneeled down beside him.
SACK" he cried, "Jack!"
Jack opened his eyes and shook his head.
NCFSl AiC1 iiO IuutlcItl. DUn
disgrace yourself with these people, Nick
Mr.. Harbour glanced around quickly. 1t
was disgrace, damning and lasting. It was
to acknowledge his convict father; to give up
Sarah, the life which he had planned, for the
hourly steady companlonship of this man.
But his face glowed with the old love of his
youth.
''Ths is my brother, gentlemen" he said.
"My mothers son."
There was moment of startled silence.
"Sir," said Mr.. Holt, "your brother is a
brave man." They all had something hearty
and cordial to say. Jack was the hero of
Kerr's Ford.
'tBless my soul, sir" said the old gentle.
man, drawing Nicholas aside presently, ''I
understand your trouble. My boy Tom was
in precisely the same case. I cured him,
No better man now in Detroit. Sober, God
fearing"
"Cared him-h w?"
"Kept beside him, night and day. Never
let him touch drop of the aceursed stuff
Oh, it can be donel Aud of course it's your
duty-a much nearer duty than the people of
Kerr's Ford.''
enough to him. For two years he followed it.,
needs not to say with what pain and prayers,
and sometimes utter hopelessness. His chief
helper was Sarah Clevedon. He had thought
poor, drunken Jack would be the bar between
them; he proved the strongest bond to bring
them together. She recognized as nobody
else did, the man he once was and yet might
be, and Jack, when with this gracious, simple
woman, woke to bis old self again.
Rose-windews, and caste, and social posi-
tion slipped strangely out of the cleIgymaus
sight. during these two years of work for his
brother and for God; and when, at the end
of them, ne asked Sarah to be his wife, he
did not even remember his convict father, nor
any other consideration than that they loved
each other.
There is no more sincere man in the minis
try nov than Nicholas Harbour, as the peo-
pie at Kerr's Ford and Coalport will testify.
His brother Jack comes to pay him yearly
visit. He is in business, free-handed, mer-
ry fellow, who will never be rich, people say.
But his cure is thorough. He joins in all Of
Sarah's admiration and exaltation of her
husband.
''Nicholas is like st. Augustine" she said
to him, the other day. 81 was afraid once he
would be spoiled by the world. But you
came just in time to save him, Jack.'
''Save him? st. Augustine? I cannot
understand you," exciaims the puzzled Jack.
Nor does her husband quite solve her mean
ing