The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-02-14

ready struck eleven, and / was begin
ming 10 think of going home, when
/ observed a tall, well-dressed gentle
man come down the road, and pause
before the Maynard place. :
Beginning TO get more interested, l
bent eargerly forward TO watch his
movements. He waited at the gate. a
moment as if to make sure that the IN
mates Of the house were at rest, and
then passed cautiously down the garden
path TO the house, where he paused, and
glancing up at Bertie's window, uttered
low but peculiar whistle, which was
answered in moment by the raising OF
sash sufficiently high for him to spring
| into the room when it was lowered as
cautiously as it had been raised.
could have gone home fully con-
vineed of B critics perfdy, but | re-
solved to find out who the midnight Wis
itor was; and so / waited in the chilly
air of spring midnight for him to come
out again; but it was an hour from the
time he entered ere he did come, and
even then he fingered at the window for
a goodnight kiss from the fair occupant
of the room, before taking his way back
to the town, whittier ! undertook to fol-
low him; but being an old man, | could
not walk as fast as he, and
finding very soon that could
not oYertake him, / turned my steps
homeward, for once in my life foiled.
And perhaps for being thus foiled, |
grew more angry with the girl.
"She will not find me as lenient now
as she did before /, one of the pillars
of the church, cannot see such iniquity
and let it GO unpublished. The church
must deal with her!" said to myself,
a little spitefully, | think.
Accordingly, the very next day, tax
ing Brother Gregg with me, / repaired
to the Maynard place, where | found
BERTHE seated with her parents in the
parlor, !.
81 am glad that you have come"
said Mrs. Maynard, reaching out her
hand to me. "Bertie seems ailing to-
day. ] never saw her look 50 miserable.
Perhaps you may cheer her up little. +"
"The wages of sin is DEATH" said
Brother Gregg, sternly.
What do you meant" Asked the
lady, in Enlightened tone. while a
! spasm of intense pain passed over the
girls face, turning it almost deathly in
appearance.
For an explanation refer you to
Brother Mar" he answered, without re-
: laxing one feature of his stern visage.
: Tell all l must, there was no hel p for
! it now; and though / wished myself a
hundred miles away, told what had
seen, while the mother listened with
/, gasping signs, and the daughter sat with
? her face buried in her hands, trembling
! violently. When l had finished, Mrs.
J Maynard asked sternly:
"Bertiel what have you to say to
this?
The girl rose instantly to her feet
! She was calmer now, though her face was
). death-like in its pallor.
. . q have no reply to make, my mother, y
J she responded. What have done am
not ashamed Of, and may do again.
may have secret, but if / have all the
= blood-hounds in the world shall not hunt
! it from me.
Brother Gregg grew little angry al
= this, and said tartly
Miss, if you keep on this way, you
. will have to get out from the shelterine
/ arms of the church,"
, How her eyes blazed | saw at once
! that we were taking the wrong way tC
q bring the erring child to His fold; and
! said kindly:
. Sister BERTHE, if you have done wrong
: confess your fault, and strive to do bet
= ter. 1t is an awful thing to dare an AL
mighty God, as you are doing"
= But my words were of no use. In m,
> anxiety to mend matters, | only mad,
/ them worse, for, drawing up to her full
7 height, she said proudly:
I Deacon Mar, | have no confession t,
4 make to any one besides my Maker, and
4 he, knowing my intents, does not wisl
: any. This is ALL have to say. Pleas,
consider me no longer member of you
. church."
d | would have expostulated, but sh
Is gave me no chance, for when she hat
Q. ceased, with the dignity becoming
g. queen, she passed out Of the room; an,
% though called several times afterward
y never again had chance to conyers
with her. From that time she was al
y ways mot at home" when any Of tn
e members called, and after awhile sh
IF was turned out of the church. Subse
If quently much sorrow came to this BOO
d girl. First, the young people, even he
At best friends, refused to associate wit
Re her, and afterward sickness and deaf
came to her home, robbing her of thos
" who loved her best-her parents.
q. lpitied Bertha more than / can toll
as saw her bending over the new-mad
ii grave, weeping bitterly for the mothe
" who had loved her so we'll, and steppin
" to her side, ] placed my hand upon he
! fair young head, and said, as kindly !
| knew how:
" The Lord loveth whom he chaster
Il eth" ''oA
|. "Then, Deacon Mar, trust that Fl
st loves me" she returned sadly.
h A few moments afterward she took
strangers arm and walked slowly hom,
q. ward. And that was the last time ii
10 was ever seen in Elton. The next da
10 the Maynard house was closed, and on
As was q placard bearing the words. @Fo
sale" with directions to inquire at d al,
"a tant city.
d, How my heart ached then! Where /;
le all the world was the poor child? / feai
> ed that she had no fr;aod, - -