The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-10-23

for college under the Rev. Stephen
Ooyle's instructions he had gone to Har-
ward. had studied for the pulpit, and,
having preached in Boston, had accept
ed call to Brent Hill. -. :
It was, quite natural that he should
seek Susy, and the old servant at the
parsonage was warm in her praises.
He was wealthy man, having inner
tied fortune from his father, and he
WIS eager to help the poor of the par
ish. Susy, having the children under
her control. was able to point out to-
him many avenues for his charity, and
thus added another link to the associa-
ton that bound them together.
He waa q grave, studious man, re-
fined il taste, and of quiet manner,
and he shrank little from the noisy
demonstrations of the country people
around him. It rested him, after a.
round of calls or tho services of the
Sabbath, to talk with Susy, to hear
her low, sweet voice, and see her quiet,
refined movements. He heard of the
gentle charities she performed when
ever he was in the cottages of the
very poor, and memory told him what
little household fairy she had been,
even when a child.
So in the winter evenings, III the
spring walks, he let his heart 60 out to
Susy, and gather her image into its
deepest recesses, while she, unconscious
of her own secret, felt that there was
no happiness SO profound as Cyrus
brought by his mere presence. It was
a quiet. uneventful counting for six
long months, but it bound two hearts
firmly together for life. And Joe, look
ing OH, understood vaguely that Susy
was happy when Cyrus was near, that
service performed for Cyrus pleased
Suyy as we'll. And as events pro-
crossed he understood that Cyr,~
would one day take Susy to the par
sonage as his wife, and that Susy
would be happy there. All this firmly
rooted in poor Joe's clouded brain, and
he knew that trouble to Cyrus would be
sore grief also to Susy.
So, with an allegiance that was
touching, Joe transferred some of his
attention to the young clegyman, and
when he was at the farm would mutter
often:
"Susy likes him, Joe must be good to
him, because Susy likes him"
He 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 the fact that to please him
was to give Susy pleasure.
Summer sunshine was ripening the
grain, and the berries were in ripest
clusters, when Susy had On entire month
of leisure for the school holiday, and
Cyrus won from her promise to resign
her place and be his wife in September
Her simple outfit became h Il daily task,
and the Collingwoods' lent willing
hands to prepare for the wedding. Joe
was made entirely happy by a promise
of home at the parsonage, and the
long summer days seemed too short for
the happiness that filled them.
It was nearly two miles from the
parsonage to the Collingwood farm, but
there were few evenings when Cyrus
failed to walk from his house to Susy's
for an hour or two of the sweet COM
panionship he loved. And his way led
him through lonely stretch of country,
where the farms were scattered far
apart, for Mr.. Collingwood had ought
a farm at some distance from the vii
lage.
By what instinct Joe knew that there
might be danger lurking in the road I
can not explain, but it became his habit,
solely of his own will to follow Cyrus
Portman out of sight himself, till he
saw him safely within his house, and
then limp back again to his own barn
bat
talk of the farm hands about some of
the crimes perpetrated by tramps con-
veyed warming to his weakened mind.
But whatever the motive, he was con-
slant in his unsupported attendance.
The Rev. Cyrus PortMan, secure of
his peace in the love of his congregation,
thinking his village home ever secure
from danger of robbery, Or even the
fear of theft, was careless of the fact
that it was known he carried about him
large sums of money. He drew his in
come 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. He wore
diamond studs and finger ring and
heavy gold watch and chain.
ALI these facts becoming known to
Bob Carter, Joe's old tormentor, led to
the fact that proved the idiots deepest
devotion to Susy. One of the tramps
seeking employment at Brent Hill,
proving a genial companion for Bob
Carter in his drinking frolics and idle
life, became his guest, and the two, I'M
der influence of liquor resolved to rob
the parson.
Hes bound to have pocket full of
money!" Bob said, "and we're half
starved! Well make it more equal
like"
So it befell that one August night,
when there was no moon. Joe, faithfully
trudging upon his self appointed task of
seeing Susy's lover safe in his own home,
saw two men spring upon him as he
passed high hedge.
Taken entirely by surprise, Cyrus
Portman turned to his assallants and
fought for his possessions with the cour-
age of a truly brave man. But they
were two to one, and had thrown HIM
down, when Bob Carter, lifting form
liable club of wood, ordered him to
give up his money and watch. Instead
of complying he struggled more fercely
to free himself from the grasp of the
other rufian. =,
"You will have it, then," growled
Bob, lifting the club, and surely there
would have been an end of all Susy's
dreams of happiness, had not Joe, with!
a cry utterly indescribable, flung him
self between the heavy murderous wea-
pom and Cyrus Portman.
Down came tile wood with sicken-
ing crash upon the idiots back and
head, and Cyrus Portman, with sud-
den wrench, freed himself as the tramp
lodged back to avoid the blows. At
this moment the voices of party of
village merry makers were heard COM
ing up the road, and the would-be rob-
bers and assassins turned and fled.
The calls of the clergyman hurried
the steps of the farmer lads coming
home, and the well-known voices of the
Collingwood boys were soon heard in
eager ordinations.
In hurried words the young clergy
explained the situation
"Poor Joel" he said, looking up as he
knelt to examine the PROSTATE body. I
am afraid his devotion has cost him his
life. Icannot feel his heart beat"
well carry him home," Charlie Col
lingwood said. "Come, boys. it is not
half mile to the farm"
Willing, strong hands lifted tho in
sensible figure, and tenderly poor Joe
was carried to the farm again. Susy,7