The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-27
to Harvard, Ind studied for the pulpit,
and, shaying preached IN Boston, had &C.
rentni n cnll IN Brenf Hill AEEE ~

cepted n call 10 Brent Hill. /.
II was quite natural that he should see
Susy and the old servant at The parsonag
: was warm In her praises. Hc was
wealthy man, having inherited o forum
from Ills iathcr, and Re wa eager to hcl
tho poor in Ills parish. susy, having til
children under her control, was able |
point out to him many avenues for hi
charity, and thus added another link t.
tho associations that bound them together
He was u grave, studious man, refine,
In taste, and OF quiet manner, and IL
slirank a little from tho noisy demonstn
tons Of tho country people around him
1t rested him, after Il round OF calls or TIN
services Of the Sabbath, to talk with Sisy
10 hear her low, sweet voice, and to SCI
her quiet, refined movement. lie hear,
OF the gentle charities sheperiormcd when
ever he visited the cottages OF the yer!
poor, and memory told him what Il it'll,
household fairy she had been, even whcl
Il child.
So, In the winter evening evenings, Il
the spring walks, he let his heart 80 OH
to Susy and gather her image into It!
deepest recesses, while she, unconsciou.
OF her own secret, felt that there was ne
happiness so profound rs Cyrus brought
by his mere presence. II was II quiet, I'M
%eventfnl counting for six long months, bu,
It bound two hearts firmly together fol
life. And Joe, looking on, understood
vaguely that susy was happy when Cyrus
WIS near, that n service performed for Cy'
rus pleased Susy well. And rs
events progressed l,e understood that Cy.
rus would one day tako Susy to tho par
sonago Us his wife, and that Susy would
DO happy there. All this was firmly root.
ed in poor Joe's cloudcd brain; and he
knew that trouble to Cyrus would be sore
grief also to Susy.
So, with m allegiance that was touching,
Joe transferred some Of his devotion 10 the
young clergyman, and when he was ut the
farm would mutter often:
"Susy likes him; Joe must be good TO
him, because Susy likes him."
lie was grateful for the kindly words Of
Cyrus, his many gifts Of clothing and
money; but the great claim that he held
over Joe was tho fact that to please him
was to give Susy pleasure.
Summer sunshine wps ripening the
grain, and the berries were in richest clus-
teri, when Slsy had iii entire month OF
leisure for the school holiday, and Cyrus
won from her a promise to resign her
place and be his wife in September. Her
simple outfit became her daily task, and
the Collingswoods lent willing hands to
prepare for the wedding. Joe was made
entirely lappy by Il promise Of q home ut
the parsonage, and the long summer days
seemed too short for the happiness that
filed them.
1t was nearly two miles from tho par
sonage to the ~Collingwood farm, but there
were few evenings when Cyrus failed to
walk from his home to Susy's for an hour
or two OF the sweet companionship he
loved. And his way led him through q
lonely stretch Of country, where the farms
were scattered far apart, for Mr.. Colling-
wood had bought u farm ut some distance
from the village.
By what instinct Joe knew that there
might be danger lurking in the road, lean
not explain, but it became his habit, sole.
ly Of his WI will, to follow Cyrus Port
man out Of sight himself, till he saw him
safely within his house, and then limn
back again to his own burn chamber. It
may have been that the talk OF the iarm
hands about some Of the crimes perpetrat-
ed by tramps conveyed 4 warning 10 his
weakened mind. But, whatever the mo-
tive, he was constant in his unsupported
attendance.
The Rev. Cyrus Portman, secure Of his
place in the loyc OF his congregation,
thinking his village homo ever secure
from danger Of robbery, or even the fear
Of theft, was careless 0 ithe fact that it was
known he carried about him large sums
Of money. He drew his income quarterly
from a Boston bank, and was apt to carry
large rolls Of bank notes in his pocket-book,
ready for his own expenses and charities.
tic wore diamond studs and finger ring
and a heavy gold watch and chain.
All these facts becoming known to Bob
Carter, J0e's %t0rlnentQr, led to tho lMot
that proved the idiots deepest devotion to
Susy. One OF the tramps seeking employ
ment at Brent Hill, proving congenial
companion for Bob Carter in his drinking
irolics and idle life, became his guest, and
the two, undcr the influence OF liquor, re-
solved to rob the parson.
"He's bound to have 4 pocket full Of
money" Bob said, land weir half starry
cd! Well make it moro equal like"
So 1t hefel that one August night, when
there was no moon, Joe, faithfully trudS-
ing upon his self-uppointed task OF seeing
Susy's lover safe in his own home, saw
two men spring upon him as he passed a
high hedge,
Taken entirely by surprise, Cyrus Port.
man turned to Ills assallants and fought
for his possessions with the courage OF a
truly brave man. But they were two to
one, and had thrown him down, when
Bob Carter, lifting i formidable club OF
wood, ordered him 10 give up his money
and watch. Instead Of complying he
struggled more tierccly to free himself
from the grasp Of the other rulIian.
"fou will have It, them srowled Bob,
lifting the club, and surely there would
have been M end OF all OF Susy's dreams
OF happiness had not Joe, with a cry ut
terly indcsoribable, flung himself between
the heavy murderous weapon and Cyrus
Portman.
Down came the wood with a sickening
crash upon the idiots back and head, and
Cyrus Portmm with q sudden wrench,
freed himself rs the trump dodgcd back to
avoid the blows. At this moment the
voices Of 4 party Of village merry-makers
were heard coming up the road and the
would-be-robber and assassins turned and
fled.
The calls Of the Clergyman hurried the
steps OF the farmer lads fast coming home,
and the well.known voices Of tho Colling-
wood boys were soon heard in eager ex-
CARNATIONS.
In hurried words the young clergyman
explained the situation.
"poor joe" he said, looking up'as he
knclt to examine the PROSTATE body. II
nm afraid his devotion has cost him his
life. cannot feel his heart beat"
"Wcll carry him home," Charlie Col
lingwood said: "Come, boys, it is not half
n mile to tho farm.">
Willing, strong hands lifted tho still
insensible figure, and tendcrly poor Joe
was carried to the farm again. Susy, sit.
ting still upon the wide porch, thinking
Of her lover, saw the procession enter the