Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-12-20

ing word. And while he turned the
horse homeward, and drove along APP
parently absorbed in thought, she sat
IN silence, waiting for him to speak.
Il m not going to have any mani
don't care who he is-bossing me
around" at length the deacon broke
forth, giving Jerry an emphatic cut
with the whip, which surprised the
steady animal into a quick trot.
Mrs. Marvin made no reply and pres
emily the deacon continued:
''Of course twas me he was driving
at with all his talk about being at peace
with your fellow man. / guess if a man
is cheater, and deceiver, and sneak,
it isn't required for decent men to be at
peace with him. And I'd like to have
any man dare say don't do my proper
share toward the church and in giving
to the poor. No hungry man was ever
turned away from my door. Why don't
you speak?" and the deacon turned
tiercely on his unoffending wife.
Eyes, deacon" she said, shrinking a
little farther back into her shawl.
''And so far as keeping peace goes,
nobody ever hears any quarreling on
my farm. I'd be willing to compare my
record with any farmer round about
here"
Eyes, deacon again murmured his
wife.
How vainly does human nature strive
to draw the covering of the virtues over
the one fault which troubles the con-
science. A piece of marble to be of use
to the sculptor must be without flaw.
What if the WhitenesS be without a
stain ; what If in most parts it be firm
and solid the one break mars it's beau
ty and ruins the design.
The truth was that the strife of which
Father Levitt was thinking was between
the deacon and his brother There had
been a dispute about piece Of land, in
which both claimed the right of posses
sion, and each accused the other Of
trickery. And while the deacon was q
prominent member in the church, his
brother had, as he expressed it, ''no
time for such feeling" and he often re
marked in way that reached the dea-
cons ears, that it was evident enough to
him that religion was only Sunday
coat that was left off all the week to be
kept clean.
Moreover, this same brother had a
handsome son, who had dared to look
longingly upon the deacon's only child, a
lovely girl of eighteen. This was the last
straw which entirely upset the deacon
equanimity, and when he next spoke
after some time of silence-it was on
this subject.
"And you needn't encourage Ellen in
any thoughts of that young jackanapes,
her cousih. know what he's up to,
but if catch him making love to her,
I'll teach him lesson that he'll not
soon forget. Do you hear?"
Eyes, deacon" and the timid little
woman sighed, for she knew that Ellen
heart had already gone beyond recall.
On went old Jerry, up and down the
hills, now plunging through drifts and
now trotting lightly over the soft, level
masses of snow. AS they reached the
brow of the last hill the deacon uttered
an exclamation of surprise and touched
the bay smartly with the whip.
"What is it?'' asked Mrs. Marvin,
aroused from the reverie into which she
had fallen.
GA fire.
cit looks near our house." she said,
excitedly.
cit IS our house., answered the dea-
con from between his teeth, as he urged
IIlC uOlSC W Ills NiuiChCSG pdCCs NClGtlCl
| one spoke again, but both watched with
bated breath the column of smoke ris-
ing into the air. The only house near
by was the deacon's brother, and they
could see persons hurrYing from thence
to the scene of the disaster. The horse
stopped short with a snort of dismay, as
they meared the burning house. Sud
denly Mrs. Marvin sank over against the
Il
He threw his arm around her as he looked
to see the cause of her alarm. His
terrified eyes could scarcely credit the
sight. At an upper window with the
cruel flames wreathing her around,
stood his daughter crying aloud for help.
AS the deacon, stupefied with horror,
gazed at her, she fell across the sill, her
golden hair floating across her out
be unable to move but he found his
voice.
''Oh, Lord, he cried out, ''onIy save
her and I'll make it up with Brother
Abram. I believe, after all, he was
right. I'll say so, any way. Oh, Lord,
I'll do anything
''Will you let her marry James?"
The deacon was startled. He glanced
down at his wife, but she lay white and
motionless, seemingly unconscious. Had
the voice come from Heaven?
eyes, Lord" the deacon cried out in
reply, ''only save my daughter"
But almost before the deacon had fin
ished his prayer, and in much less time
than words can record, a young man
dashed from across the way with a lad
der which he placed against the house.
and mounting to the window, drew the
fainting girl into his arms and descended
in safety, then carrying her to her uncle's
house.
After that some one came and led ole
Jerry in the same direction, the deacon
who was quieting his wife's alarm, max
ing no objection. 1t was their nephew
James who helped them out of the
wagon, assuring them that Ellen was
unhurt. Aunt Martha, fussy, CHEEKY
little body, met them at the door, utter
ing many EXPLANATIONS of dismay anC