The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-01-23

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that there was no happiness SO profound as
Cyrus brought by his mere presence. II wa.
a quiet, uneventful courliDg for six long
months, but it bound two hearts firmly to-
gether for life And joe looking on, under.
stood vaguely that Susy was happy when
Cyrus was near, that u service performed fol
Cyrus pleased Susy as we'll And as events
progressed he understooh that Cyrus would
one day take Susy to tue parsonage as his
| wife, and that Susy would be happy there
All this was firmly rooted in poor Joe's
clouded BRAIN and he knew that trouble to
Cyrus would be Il sore grief also to Susy.
| So, with allegiance that was touching, Joe
transferred some of his devotion to the Young
clergyman, and when he was at the farm
would mutter often:
"Susy likes him, Joe must be good to him
because Susy likes him" ...
Summer sunshine was ripening the grain
and the berries were in ripest cluster when
Susy had al entire month of leisure for the
school holiday, and Cyrus won from her the
| promise to resign her place and he his wife
| in September. Her simple outfit became hel
daily task and the Colllngwoods lent willing
hands to prepare for the wedding. Joe was
made entirely happy by the promise of q
home at the parsonage, and the long summer
days seemed too short for the happiness that
| nlleu thenl.
1t was nearly two miles from the parson-
age to the Colllngwood farm, but there were
few evenings when Cyrus failed to walk from
| his nome To Susys Tor an hour or Two OF the
sweet companlonsllip he loved. And his way
led him through stretch of lonely country,
where the farms were scattered far apart, for
Mr. Collngwood had bought a farm at some
distance from the village.
by what instinct joe knew that there
| might be danger lurking IN The road, can
not explain, hut II became ms habit, solely
on his own will, to follow Cyrus Portman,
"ut OF sight himself, Till he saw him safely
within bis house, and then limp back again
TO his own barn chamber. III may have been
| mat the talk OF the 1arm hands about some
OF the crimes perpetratea ny tramps conveyed
| the warning to the weakened mind But,
whatever the motives, he was constant in his
unsuspectlng attendance.
Rev cyrus Porlnan. secure OF his place in
the love of his congregation, thinking his
nome ever safe from danger OF robbery, or
even the fear OF theft, was careless OF the fact
NAT IL was known that lie carried ABOUT him
large sums OF money. He drew his income
quarterly from Boston bank ana was apt 10
carry large rolls 81 bank notes IN his pocket
ready 1or MS own expenses ana charllits.
He wore diamond studs and finger ring, and
II heavy gold watch and chain.
All these facts became known to Bob Car
Ter, Joe's tormenlor, and led TO the act that
proved the idiots deepest devotion to Susy.
One OF TIE tramps seeking employment at
Brent Hill proving congenial companion
tor Bob Carter in his drinking froics and idle
NE, became his guest and the two, under the
Influence of liz Tor, resolved to rob The
parson.
He's bound to havea pocketfull OF money,
Bon SAID, land we are hall starved wen
make 1t more equal Ike! T.
90 IL oefell That one August nlgh', when
there was no moon, Joe, faithfully trudgig
upon his self-appointed task ofseeing Susy's
lover safe in his own home, saw two men
spring upon him as he passed high hedge.
Taken entirely by surprise, Cyrus Porlnlan
turned to his ASSISTANTS and fought for his
pn sessions with the courage OF a truly brave
man. But they were Two To one, and had
thrown him down, when Bob Carter, lifting
a formidable cluo OF wood, ordered him to
give up his money and watch. Instead OF
complying, 1t struggled more Hereby to free
himself from the other ruf1an.
You VIII have 1t, then, growled Bob, lift
ing the club, and surely there would have
oeen an END 10 all ousy S dreams OF happi-
ness had not Joe, with a cry utterly inde
scrlbaDle, hung himself between the heavy
mnrderous weapon and Cyrus Portman.
Down come the wood with crash upon
the idiots back and head, and Cyrus Port.
man, with sudden wrench freed himself as
The tramp lodged back to avoid the blows,
AT this moment party of village merry
makers were heard coming down the road,
ana me would-be robbers and assassns turned
ana fled.
The calls of the clergyman hurried the
Steps OF the farmer lads coming home, and
the well-known voices OF the Colingwood
boys were soon heard in eager ordinations.
ln hurried words the young clergyman eX-
planned the situation.
Poor doe" he said, looking up as he knelt
tn examine the PROSTATE body. 81 am afraid
his devotion has cost him his life. cannot
feel his heart beat"
wen carry him home" Charlie Colling-
wood said. Come boys, 1t is not half Il
NY LING, snohs nahus i'i,eu 'hg s'pl ihsen-