Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-24


for vhcm It was offered had risen with il.
The funeral was arranged for two days
later. and Gideon found that bis services
had been so seriously, yet 50 humbiy,
counted upon by the friends OF the dsaa
man that he could scarcely find 1t IN nus
heart to tell them that it was the function
of the local preacher--sn older and more
experienced man than himself IF 1t Is,
said Jack Hamin, coolly, I'm afraid ne
won't get yaller dog to come to his church;
but if you say you'll preach at the grave,
there amt man, woman or chilo that will
be kept away. Don't you 60 back on your
luck now; it's something awful and niger
like. Talk of revivals! You could give
that one horse show in Tasajara a hundred
points and skunk them easily" Indeed,
had Gideon been accessible to vanity, the
spontaneous homage he met with every
where would have touched him more sym
patheticaliy and kindly than it did; but in
the utter Inconsistencies of his own power
and the quality they worshiped in him ne
felt alarmed and impatient OF what ne be-
lieved to be their weak sympathy with his
own human weakness. In the depth OF his
upselfsh heart, lit, it must be confessed,
only BY the scant, inefficient lamp Of his
youthful experience, he really believed he
bad failed in his apostolic mission because
he had been unable to touch the hearts OF
the Vigiantes by oral appeal aud argument
Feeling thus, the reverence of these irrelig
ious people that surrounded him, the taclie
Welding of their habits and prejudices to
bis half uttered wish, appeared to him only
temptation OF the flesh. No one had
sought him after the manner of the camp.
meeting; he had converted the wounded
man through common weakness OF their
humanity. More than that, he was con-
scious of growing fascination for the
t1uthfulness and sincerity of that class, par
ricularIy Of Mr.. Jack Hamln, whose CONVEX
sation he felt he could never attempt, yet
whose strange friendship alternately thrilled
ard frightened him.
1t was the evening before the funeral.
The coffin, half smothered in wreaths and
flowers, stood upon trestles in the ante room;
a large silver plate bearing an inscription
on which for the second time Gideon read
the name of the man he had converted. 1t
was a name associated on the frontier so
often with reckless hariihood, dissipation
end blood. that even now Gideon trembled
at his presumption, and was chilled by a
momentary doubt Of the efficiency OF his
labor. Drawing unconsciously nearer to
the mute subject of his thoughts, he threw
his arms across the coffin and buried his
face between them.
A stream of soft music, the echo of some
forgotten song, seemed to Gideon to sud-
denly fill land possess the darkened room,
and then to slowly die away like the open.
ing and shutting of a door upon flood OF
golden radiance. He listened with hushed
breath and beating heart. He had never
heard anything like it before. Again the
strain arose, the chords swelled round him,
until from their midst tenor voice broke
high and steadfast, like star in troubled
skies. Gideon scarcely breathed. 1t was
a hymn-but such hymn. He had never
conceived there could be such beautiful words
Joined to such exquisite melody, and sung
with O grace so tender and true. What
we're all other hymns to this ineffable yearn-
ing fer light, for love, and for infinite rest?
Thrilled and exalted Gideon felt his doubts
. creed and scattered by that Illuminating
cry. Suddenly he rose, and, with a troubled
thought, pushed open the door to the sitting
rom. II was Mr.. Jack Hamlin sitting be-
fore parlor organ. The music ceased.
ut was you" stammered Gideon.
Jack nodded, struck few chords by way
of finish, and then wheeled round on the
music.stoo toward Gideon. His face WAS
slightly flushed. "Yes. | used to be the
organist and tenor in our church in the
States. used to snatch the sinners bald
headed with that Do you know, | reckon
I'll sing that tomorrow, if you like, and
may be afterward we'il-but-" he stop.
ped-"we'll talk of that after the funeral.
It's business" Seeing Gideon still glancing
with troubled air from the organ to him.
self, he said Would you like to try that
hymn with me? Come on"
He again struck the chords. AS the
whole room seemed to throb with music,
Gideon felt himself again carried away.
CHANGING over Jacks shoulders, he could
read the words, but not the notes; yet hav-
ing q quick ear for rhythm he presently
Joined in with deep but uncullivated bari
tone. Together they forgot everything else,
and at the end of an hour were only recalled
by the presence of slightly sdmiring con-
course Of votive-o offering friends who had
gathered around them.
The funeral took place the next day at
the grave dug in the public cemetery-a
green area fenced in By the palisading tules.
The words of Gideon were brief but humble;
the strongest partisan Of the dead man
could find no fault in confession of human
frailty in which the speaker humbly con-
fessed his share, and when the hymn was
started by Hamlin and taken up by Gideon,
the vast multitude, drawn by interest and
curiosity, joined in asa solemn amen.
Later, when these two strangely assorted
friends had returned to Mr. Hamlin' rooms
previous to Gideon's departure, the former,
in q manner more serious than his cynical
good humor, began: 81 said had to telk
business With you. The boys about here
want to build church for you, and are
ready to plank the money down if you'll
say it's CO.. You understand they aren't
asking you TO run in opposition to that Cos
pei sharp-excuse me-thst's here now, nor
DO they want you TO run side show in con-
nection with it. They want you to be indie
pendent. They don't pin you down to any
kind of religion, you know; whatever you
care 10 give ,hem-Methodist, Roman Cath,
olic, Presbyterian-is mighty good enough
for them, if you'll expound it. You might
give little of each, or one on one day and
one another-they'll never know the differ,
ence if you'll only mix the drinks yourself.
They'll give you house and guarantee you
$500 the first year
Hestopped and walked toward the window.
The sunlight that fell upon his handsome
face seemed to call back the careless smile
to bis lips and the reckless fire to his brown
eyes. II don't suppose there's a man
among them that wouldn't tell you all this
in a great deal. better way than ] do. But
the darned fools-excuse me-would YOU
have me break it to you. Why, l dom
know. l needn't tell you that like you
not only for what you did for George; but
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