The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-08-18


the world belonging to young men of tn
present day. When he reached the pave
ment he saw the stately towers of tn
church in which he was called to minister
and beyond, the exquisite parsonage, it
picturesque walls draped with ivy. Nj
M'Murray's carriage rolled by again, ane
soft, tender little Clara beckoned smillngly
to him with her white, jeWelled hand.
was high path and a fioWery one tha
opened itself before him. No wonder tina
the doubt suggested itself to him as he
stood hesitating, whether it was worth Civ
ing it up for bit of Quixotism-a roman
tic feaIty to a boyish fancy.
Later in the afternoon the Major stood
leaning against pile of bales in front OF
of the warehouse, loftily tapping his chin
with his dog-headed cane and listening to
Mr. NJ M'Murray. That gentleman, in his
lose Proctor, had resoTted to the despe-
rate remedy of an appeal to Standish. The
old man kept his malicious eyes fixed upon
him, and grinned with enjoyment at his
evident embarrassment, but under the
grin he looked haggard and anxious.
$50 the boy has a mind to take the part
of his old friend? He'd stick by the hulk
because it is going down? Tut, Tut !
There's stupidity for you.''
81 do not talk in metaphors about
hulks. | only thought it likely, from my
knowledge OF you. You might presume
on your acquaintance with the lad and his
generous nature to draw him into trouble,
and warn you what the result will be to
him.
cit will ruin him to be known even as
my friend? | understand y
"M'Murray hesitated. After all, why
not give Standish hint OF the detective
on his track. If he would escape, all diff
ficulty would be over. Enquiries Of q
significant kind have been made for you
this week, Major Standish," he said.
$50 7 have been told.'
81 do not know to what part of your
past career they refer.'
Sand you had better not ask too closely,
Mac. Dan. Standish has led hot life,
tell you." That made the deacon shudder
from hat to boots.
"Well, have discharged my duty, he
said, after an irresolute pause. 1t is most
probable that young Proctor will come to
seek you this afternoon
"And if he comes, | am not to see
him?' With an attempt at a jocular tone
that had more terrible force in it even to
the cold-blooded hearer than any painful
outcry. "Why, man, am pushed near
er to the wall to-day than anybody
knows. AS for this boy-well, no matter
what he is to me. gave up something
for him once. 1t seems as If | had the
right to ask his help now, When-When
death has me by the throat" He looked
yacantly, quickly about HIM, at the boxes,
the cars rattling by at the head OF his cane.
NJ Murray thought he had been drink
ing. "I'm sorry Troubled myself about
it," he said, with dignity. Good day,
Major Standish.
"Good day" affecting flourishing
bow with his unsteady hand. Take old
Dan to point your next sermon, will you?
I've lived by my wits. I've made my
self the companion of poets-of mobiles,
sir land now, when the ends comes, dit,
man, haven't friend"
M'Murray hurried nervously away pick
ing his steps among the boxes and bales.
Standish stood moment looking at the
ground, and then turned and stamped up
the narrow, ricke.y stairs that led to the
top of the building. He did not know
what especial sin of old times was coming
back to give him the last blow, nor did he
care. That was all fair enough. 1t
seemed to him, sometimes, comparing his
life with that of other men, that he had
lived Just like beast, from hour to hour,
out of whatever impulse was in him. He
was ready to meet any old abomination OF
his past life and take the punishment.
GIVE had the dance and I'll pay the
piper" he said, kicking omen the door Of
his room and going in.
"But-the boy?'
"Now the Majors cockloft was in reali-
ty garret room covering the whole sixth
story of the warehouse. The beams over
head, the upholstered walls, the half-dozen
squat-dormer windows, the bare floor,
were as clean as lime and scrubbing could
make them.
1t looked, in fact, like great plain with
a little camping ground at one end, in
which was CRATE with a good fire, an
army-cot neatly maize up, table with pens
and pencils laid in exact order, the Men Of
Our Day, out of which the Major furnished
obituaries at ten minutes notice for the
Camera, and an old volume of Appleton's
Cyclopedia, out of which he drew it's sup
plies of science. Great decency and Glen
illness every where, but nothing to eat. Il
there had been, perhaps the Majors acts
i'm the next hour would have been less
guilty in the eyes of religious people; but
when it comes to looking out in the world
from starving body, a man is apt to slip
the orthodox restrictions and follow his
own notions of right and wrong.
He took off his black coat carefully,
hung it up, threw his braces loose down
I Il Ii irt p1a