Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-07-01

TWO opinions Until the proceeding nlgnt
when she was thoroughly converted to the
Millerite faith by mysterious occurrence
This event was nothing Less than the un.
accountable abstraction of all her hairpins
ordinary phenomenon had on previous oc-
casions, presaged wonderful happenings,
which were regarded by the dress-maker
as visitations from her deceased husband.
Coming at such a time she regarded this
one as conclusive evidence of the truth of
the Millerite prophecy, and she Immediate
ly abandoned all worldly occupations
leaving Mis- Pel'tiah Sanders new dress,
which she expected to wear on Sunday, I'M
completed, to that worthy woman great
wrath-which wrath was only partially
appeased by the reflection that, as the
milliner was also Millerite she could not
have had her new bonnet to wear with it
if 1T had been finished. The pastors of the
two churches preached earnestly against
the Millerlte doctrine, as ''unscriptural
and unedifying," but in spite of all their
efforts the heresy crept in among their
flocks, and many, like Mis- Deacon Spet-
tigue, felt that it would be wisdom 8 part
not to clean houses or buy their summer
bonnets until they were sure that the
world was going to last
That night was spent by most OF the
Millerites upon their house-tops. Some
were in state Of religious exaltation, a
few women were hysterical, but most of
them viewed the matter in an astonish-
ingly practical light, and seemed to take
great satisfaction in the prospect of get
ting the better of their unbelieving neigh
bors.
They sang and prayed all through the
night, and with greater fervency as the
last watch drew near.
The cracked old bell in the church stee-
pie struck the hour.
A breathless hush followed. For an
hour there lasted silence that could be
felt
But instead of the sound of the last
trumpet came the cheerful crow of the
cocks from the barn yards. A rosy flush
crept into the eastern sky. Some sleepy
robins aroused themselves and poured forth
jubilant song. The dawn came on, fresh
and dewy and sweet, and the busy old
world moved on, with its burdens of joy
and sorrow, as if it were full of youth
and freshness and nobody had ever dream
ed Of its end.
In the flush of the early morning Judith
Sinclair and her lover walked across the
fields to Upper Saltwater, where they were
to be married.
Eneas Sinclair had retired to his own
house, and barred the door against all in
truders. There were rumors abroad that
he was hopelessly crazed. Some of the
Mlllerites believed that this disappoint-
ment was only trial of their faith, but it
was apparent that Hneas Sinclair's faith
was gone.
To Judith and her lover it seemed that
the old world, with its doubts and breads,
had come to an end, and new Eden had
dawned.
But the blissful illusion was shockingly
dispelled. From the shadow of a clump
of trees, beside the way, the insane old
man, Judith's father, suddenly rushed up
on them. He heaped imprecations upon
his daughters head. but his fury seemed
to be chiefly directed towards the young
man. With the strength and quickness
which madness gives, he raised his heavy
gun and aimed blow at his head. But it
fell-not on Frank Pritchard's head but
on that of the little hunchback, DR.. Peleg,
who threw himself before him. Then, ap-
parently terrified at what he had done the
maniac fled. Frank Pritchard raised Dr.
Peleg's head from the ground.
''He saved my life," he said, but he
gave his own.''
The hunchback opened his eyes with an
effort and looked wistfully up into Judith's
face as if for some sign of gratitude.
Its no more than he ought to have
done! He told father-he set him on! He
must have-there was no one else!' she
cried excitedly.
You don't think that of me, Judith
You can't think that!' he moaned. 81
was afraid he'd do it, and I've been
watchin' him, SOS to prevent it. Some
times the devil told me to keep out the
way; it want none Of my business; but I
didn't, and the Lord let me save him for
you and Pm thankful. I'm ready to go,
now-ready to go! And, mebbe, Judith
in the New Jerusalem-things will be-
different atween you and me-"